Ben Pilkington

Feature Writer

B.A. (Hons) English Language and Literature, M.St. English Language and Literature

Ben Pilkington is a freelance writer who is interested in society and technology. He enjoys learning how the latest scientific developments can affect us and imagining what will be possible in the future.

Since completing graduate studies at Oxford University in 2016, Ben has reported on developments in computer software, the UK technology industry, digital rights and privacy, industrial automation, IoT, AI, additive manufacturing, sustainability, and clean technology.

Ben is happiest on a bicycle, loves sleeping in a tent or under the stars, and can’t function properly without coffee.

Articles from Ben

Laser Safety: Guidelines and Best Practices for Laser Users and Operators

Laser radiation safety is of paramount importance in the safe design, implementation, and utilization of lasers, with a focus on minimizing the risk of accidents, especially those involving eye injuries. The potential for even small amounts of laser light to cause permanent eye damage necessitates strict government regulations on the sale and use of lasers.

25 Apr 2023

iPronics: Making Photonics Viable with Programmable Chips

Spanish photonics pioneer iPronics Programmable Photonics is making photonic computing and telecommunications applications commercially viable with the world’s first reprogrammable general purpose photonics integrated circuit (PIC).

21 Feb 2023

Combining Microscopy and Spectroscopy to Analyze Ancient Egyptian Papyrus

Researchers recently used cutting inspection techniques combining microscopy with spectroscopy to shed new light on millennia-old Egyptian papyrus, uncovering new information about this ancient historical period.

25 Jan 2023

Novel Blue Quantum Dots Offer Cutting-Edge Imaging Techniques

A new fabrication method for quantum dots could lead to more effective and efficient quantum dot displays, especially due to improvements in the generation of blue-colored quantum dots. The process has been called a “bottom-up, self-organizing chemistry” by its designer, Dr. Eiichi Nakamura of Tokyo University.

5 Dec 2022

What is Phase Contrast Microscopy?

Phase contrast microscopy manipulates phase shifts in light as it passes through transparent specimens. By converting phase shifts to changes in amplitude (brightness), the method enables scientists to view organic and biological samples with high levels of detail without needing sample preparation, staining, or labeling.

26 Oct 2022

What is Transmission Electron Microscopy?

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) – a bespoke tool for materials scientists for decades– is used in almost every technological field of endeavor. There are TEM applications across industry, forensics, and advanced research.

24 Oct 2022

Why is the Use of Electron Microscopes Important in Studying Cells?

The study of cells has been enhanced by data from cutting-edge electron microscopes for decades, and electron microscopy will likely remain important in cells well into the future.

23 Aug 2022

How are Photonics Used to Improve Agriculture?

The agricultural sector is turning to photonics to harvest productivity gains that will enable it to keep providing food in years to come.

23 Aug 2022

Recent Developments in Optical Sensors

While low-cost and readily deployable sensor products are entering the market at an ever-increasing rate, the roster of novel applications for optical sensing continues to grow. This article highlights some key recent developments in optical sensors.

22 Aug 2022

How Do Space Telescopes Work?

US President Joe Biden unveiled the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in July 2022. The joint NASA, ESA, and CSA mission is building on the success of previous space telescopes – notably, the Hubble Telescope – to provide the most detailed and captivating look at our universe.

22 Aug 2022