Light

Scientists at the University College London have set a new world record in wireless data transmission speeds, sending a blistering 938 Gigabits per second (Gbps) over the air through a combo of radio and light technology.

Many indoor plant enthusiasts know that mirrors can be used to direct more sunlight onto plants that need it. Scientists have now developed a method of applying that same principle to tree seedlings that are struggling to grow in shady forests.

Astronomers have watched a supermassive black hole take two bites of a star, and predicted when it might go back for a third. If it does, this should make for an intriguing stellar light show.

For babies born with a certain heart defect, implantation of a "shunt" is essential to their survival. A new type of shunt can be expanded using light after it's been implanted, potentially eliminating the need for more heart surgeries down the road.

Honeybee Robotics has outlined a plan to build a kind of power grid on the Moon, with a network of Statue of Liberty-sized towers containing solar panels and batteries that provide power and communications, and even act as streetlights.

It's ironic that in places where drinking water needs to be checked for microbes the most, labs that can perform the analysis are least likely to be present. A new "lensless" device could help, as it uses light to detect harmful microorganisms.

A new kind of 3D display could take the form of an acrylic cube with an image inside, which can be erased and rewritten to easily. The new technique can be used to make 2D, 3D and even animated images.

In a massive study of 85,000 people, tracking 13 million hours, scientists at Flinders University have found that night-time exposure to light increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, independent of daytime activities.

A pair of night-vision glasses would change the way we navigate the late hours, from driving to walking home in the dark. This vision is nearer to reality, as researchers simplify how light is processed, trading bulky lenses for cling-wrap-thin film.

Applying red-light therapy to a damaged spinal cord protects and regenerates nerve cells, leading to a return of motor and sensory function, according to new research. The treatment could expand limited treatments for people with spinal cord injuries.

Feeling limited by your smartphone's puny light? If so, you might want to check out the phone-mountable Wuben E1. It's currently on Kickstarter, and puts out up to 300 lumens as compared to the iPhone 15's measly 50.

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, farther away than the Sun, has sent data through a laser over a record-breaking distance, and done so even faster than expected. The breakthrough could help establish high-speed communications with human colonies on Mars.