Light

When it comes to regular photovoltaic panels, the fewer shadows that are cast upon them, the better. An experimental new device, however, actually generates electricity via the contrast between shadows and light on its surface.

A breakthrough from an international team of researchers raises hopes of a new, targeted approach to regenerative medicine, demonstrating how violet light can be used to switch on a drug and promote growth in highly selective areas.

Next-gen 3D cameras are on the way, capable of rendering spatial images in unprecedented resolution and speed. The MegaX research camera captures single-photon light levels at up to 24,000 frames per second, paving the way for safer autonomous cars.

Although they don't have eyelids that they can close, fish do indeed sleep – and as is the case with humans, sleeping is crucial to their health. According to a recent study, though, city lights may be keeping them awake at night.

Doctors fight cancer with everything from radiation to chemicals to light-reactive particles, with mixed outcomes. Now, a new study has combined two approaches – chemotherapy and light therapy – into one drug, with promising results.

While we've certainly heard of epoxy resins that harden when exposed to light, usually all of the substance has to be exposed. A new additive causes resin to solidify when even only a bit of it gets lit up, however – plus it works underwater.

For many cavity-prone people, tooth-brushing often just isn't enough. It was with such folks in mind that a new mouthwash-based system was recently developed, which reportedly uses light to kill problematic bacteria.

One of the challenges in designing micro air vehicles lies in the fact that if their battery is big enough to provide much range, it's too heavy for them to carry. Scientists have developed an alternative, in the form of a sun-powered flapping wing.

Semi-transparent solar cells could be built into the glass roof panels of greenhouses, capturing light at wavelengths that plants don’t use anyway. Models suggest that in some cases these greenhouses could become completely self-sufficient.

In search of advanced medical devices that can be ingested by the human body and don’t need to be surgically removed after, scientists at MIT have developed a new technology that would instead break them down by exposure to certain kinds of light.

In 2018, researchers created the world’s fastest-spinning object that reached 60 billion rpm – now that seems like the teacup ride at Disneyland. The same team has broken its own record, creating a new nano-scale rotor that spins five times faster.

A new study from the University of Manchester is questioning common consensus, arguing perceived color can influence circadian clocks. Animal experiments suggest exposure to yellow light at night from screens could be confusing our body clocks.