Category Technology/Electronics

A transmission electron microscope image of ribbonfish skin shows random arrangements of crystalline quinine embedded in cytoplasm (a). The arrangement of crystal layers reflects light across a broad spectrum. The cytoplasm and crystal layers are reproduced in (b) — red dotted line (5 mm scale bar) and then turned into a fractal pattern with random changes introduced in (c). Credit: Werner Group/Penn State

A nature-inspired method to model the reflection of light may have applications for developing better broadband reflectors and custom multi-spectral filters for a wide variety of applications, including advanced optical coatings for glass, laser protection, infrared imaging systems, optical communication systems and photovoltaics, according to Douglas Werner, John L. and Genevieve H...

Figure 2: This shows the restoring force against the growth of fluctuations. When the amplitude is lower than the threshold value, the amplitude approaches zero and is stable (black). Separating from the center, when the amplitude exceeds the threshold value, the amplitude abruptly grows red. Credit: National Institutes of Natural Sciences

In the Large Helical Device (LHD) at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Japan, researchers have developed the high-energy heavy ion beam probe, in order to perform potential measurement inside plasma that was generated in the LHD and have clarified the mechanism of this new phenomenon.

Seeking to achieve nuclear fusion, research on plasma of >100,000,000 C is being conducted around the world...

With this triboelectric nanogenerator and two-stage power management and storage system, finger tapping motion generates enough power to operate this scientific calculator. Credit: Credit: Zhong Lin Wang Laboratory

These generators harvest energy from irregular human motion such as walking, running or finger tapping. The system uses a small capacitor to capture alternating current generated by the biomechanical activity. When the first capacitor fills, a power management circuit then feeds the electricity into a battery or larger capacitor. This 2nd storage device supplies DC current at voltages appropriate for powering wearable and mobile devices such as watches, heart monitors, calculators, thermometers – and even wireless remote entry devices for vehicles.

By matching the impedance of t...

A nanophotonic incandescent light bulb demonstrates the ability to tailor light radiated by a hot object. Credit: Ognjen Ilic

How photonics can reshape the spectrum of light, and rehabilitate Edison’s light bulb along the way. The incandescent bulb is an example of a high temperature thermal emitter. It is very useful, but only a small fraction of the emitted light (and therefore energy) is used: most of the light is emitted in the infrared and in this context wasted. Now, MIT researchers describes another way to recycle light emitted at unwanted infrared wavelengths while optimizing the emission at useful visible wavelengths.

While as a proof-of-concept the research group built a more energy-efficient incandescent light bulb, the same approach could also be used to improve the performance...