Collaborate Disseminate
The term “adaptive optics” sounds like something that should be really complicated and really expensive. And in general, the ability to control the properties of optical elements is sufficiently difficult …read more Continue reading A Tiny Forest of Resistors Makes for Quick and Dirty Adaptive Optics
Multiple people have recently shared this exciting demonstration (nitter) with us – visualizing airflow using a smartphone, called ‘background-oriented schlieren’. On a hot summer day, you might see waves in the …read more Continue reading Observe Airflow Using Smartphone And Background-Oriented Schlieren
Researchers in Germany have demonstrated quantum entanglement of two atoms separated by 33 km (20.5 miles) of fiber optics. This is a record distance for this kind of communication and marks a breakthrough towards a fast and secure quantum internet.Con… Continue reading Record-setting quantum entanglement connects two atoms across 20 miles
If you are a Hackaday reader, you probably know what a Fresnel lens is. You find them in everything from overhead projectors to VR headsets. While it seems commonplace now, …read more Continue reading The Origin of the Fresnel Lens
Researchers in Japan have clocked a new speed record for data transmission – a blistering 1.02 petabits per second (Pb/s). Better yet, the breakthrough was achieved using optical fiber cables that should be compatible with existing infrastructure.Conti… Continue reading Blistering data transmission record clocks over 1 petabit per second
While originally designed to put light where the sun don’t shine for medical purposes, [Nava Whiteford] says the Wolf 5151 Xenon endoscopic light source also works well for microscopy and …read more Continue reading An Illuminating Look at a Wolf 5151 Light Source
If this is the easy part of making a complete reflector telescope from a single piece of glass, we can’t wait to get a load of the hard part! A …read more Continue reading Watch a Complete Reflector Telescope Machined from a Single Block of Glass
There should be a line of jokes that start “A physicist and an engineer walk into a bar…”. In my case I’m an engineer and my housemate is a physicist, …read more Continue reading The Light Guide Hiding In Your Extrusion
Researchers in China have developed a new type of adaptive liquid lens that changes its focal distance when a voltage is applied. Made using a new electrically responsive fluid, the lens is small, lightweight, and could be easily manufactured for use i… Continue reading Electrically active fluid helps new liquid lens change focus
What’s better than a 100MHz scope? How about an optical one? Researchers at the University of Central Florida think that’s just the ticket, and they’ve built an oscilloscope that can …read more Continue reading Your Next Oscilloscope Might be Optical