Subscribe now

light

Technology

Lasers smaller than a human hair emit doughnut-shaped light

Incredibly thin, hollow wires made from gallium and nitrogen can produce laser beams that are hollow with a ring-shaped cross-section, and that could be used to create optical fibres out of thin air

News

Subscriber-only

Schematic image of GaN hollow nanowires on a sapphire substrate.

Physics

Einstein may be wrong about how mirrors travelling at light speed work

News

Subscriber-only

abstract image of light

Technology

Spiral scratches on contact lenses can turn them into multifocals

News

Free

The new design could be used on contact lenses

Chemistry

Light-sensitive molecules could make carbon capture more efficient

News

Free

Space

Galaxy smash-ups may explain strange light from early universe

News

Free

Ant head with compound eyes

Technology

‘Insect-eye’ compass can navigate by the sun even on a cloudy day

News

Subscriber-only

Nobel prize for physics goes to trio who sliced up time with light

Physics

Nobel prize for physics goes to trio who sliced up time with light

News

Subscriber-only

Definition

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

light

Free

Technology

Extremely thin lightweight lenses take amazing images of the universe

News

Subscriber-only

Technology

Thin reflective film that mimics butterfly wings can keep cars cool

A thin, multi-layered film inspired by the structure of vibrant blue butterfly wings could help vehicles reduce energy used for cooling

News

Free

Gold nuggets - thin gold wafers can generate their own glow

Physics

Gold flakes glow when they are bathed in light and now we know how

News

Subscriber-only

Physics

Quantum randomness of empty space can be controlled with a laser

News

Subscriber-only

Sunlight coming out of the optical fibre

Physics

Sunlight could cool an atom to its coldest possible temperature

News

Subscriber-only

Can recreating black holes in the lab solve the puzzles of space-time?

Physics

Can recreating black holes in the lab solve the puzzles of space-time?

Features

Subscriber-only