Biomedical Optics: Bringing Bright Ideas into Clinical Use
Optical scientists are developing new technologies for cancer detection, microbe analysis and other medical marvels. But how do these advances make their way to the physician’s office?
01 May 2026
The Lasers That Make Your Screen
Advanced laser technology stands behind one of the most common consumer products—displays. They are key to industrial production of flexible OLED and microLED screens.
01 May 2026
Restoring a Century-Old Zeiss Refractor
After a hundred-year journey and a restoration that revived its precision, a 1923 Zeiss refractor still serves sky watchers in Belgrade.
01 May 2026
A Portable Optical Clock Goes to Sea
A new ytterbium-171 timepiece could provide precision support to navigation systems.
22 April 2026
A More Versatile Photonic Chip
Researchers stack tantala and lithium niobate to build a device that can produce bespoke colors.
23 April 2026
A fogbow arcs across the foggy Murodo Plateau. This ghostly twin of the rainbow is born from the same optical phenomenon as its colorful sibling.
24 April 2026
May 2026 Issue
LATEST NEWS
A More Versatile Photonic Chip
Researchers stack tantala and lithium niobate to build a device that can produce bespoke colors.
23 April 2026
A Portable Optical Clock Goes to Sea
A new ytterbium-171 timepiece could provide precision support to navigation systems.
22 April 2026
Dragonfly Vision Offers Clues for Deep-Tissue Optogenetics
Uncovering the molecular pathways that enable the insects to see deep-red light could inspire new experimental tools.
16 April 2026
Tiny Robots Clean Up in Laser Tests
Nanoscale devices containing carefully arranged gold rods can move bacteria from point A to point B.
15 April 2026
Vector Photonics Achieves Free Space Comms with PCSELs
Startup and Fraunhofer UK successfully demonstrated practical, long-distance optical communication links.
13 April 2026EDITOR'S PICKS
James Webb Space Telescope: A Sparkling Optical Success
Superlatives strain to characterize the excellent performance of the astronomical community’s latest infrared telescope, which is beaming back dazzling and confounding images of the universe.
01 July 2023
The small heat-affected zone of laser pulses, and their potential to etch tiny features with little damage to the surrounding material, helped launch the sector of laser micromachining.
01 October 2020
Examining an optical phenomenon that makes an observer look like an angel.
01 May 2022
The curved surface of a glass of tea
The curved surface of a glass of tea and the liquid within refract and focus sunlight into a bright, concentrated spot, which diffuses into an amber-tinted conical shape.
01 February 2024
Stress Revealed in Color
A fogbow arcs across the foggy Murodo Plateau. This ghostly twin of the rainbow is born from the same optical phenomenon as its colorful sibling.
24 April 2026
Hanging onto the AI Juggernaut
The optics and photonics industry faces the possibility of both ups and downs in the burgeoning “AI Economy.”
01 May 2026
New Applications for Frequency Combs
Nathalie Picqué spoke with OPN about novel uses for the established technique.
01 May 2026CAREERS
Building the Optics-Professional Pipeline
Kipkemoi Elvis Samuel discusses his work in removing obstacles for students to get an optics education in Kenya.
28 October 2025
My Congressional Fellowship: A Career Door-Opener
Eager to work toward solving big societal problems like climate change, Claire Cody left the lab for the world of scientific policy.
21 October 2025
Journeys in Optics: Falko Schmidt
Falko Schmidt discusses his career trajectory, cofounding a startup and sustainability in the lab.
16 September 2025
Journeys in Optics: Winnie N. Ye
Winnie Ye talks about overcoming challenges she faced during her career and the importance of diversity, collaboration and mentorship in research.
26 August 2025
AI-Generated Podcasts for Science Communication
Researchers found that artificial intelligence could help disseminate scientific studies in a clear, easy-to-understand format.
30 June 2025