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Optogenetics Helps Control Excitation Waves in Heart Cells

We depend on electrical waves to regulate the rhythm of our heartbeat. When those signals go awry, the result is a potentially fatal arrhythmia. Now, a team of researchers from Oxford and Stony Brook universities has found a way to precisely control these waves - using light. Their results are published in the journal Nature Photonics on 19 October.

20 Oct 2015

MIT Spinout Develops Smartphone-Powered Eye-Test Device

After five years of development and about 40,000 tests worldwide, the smartphone-powered eye-test devices developed by MIT spinout EyeNetra is coming to hospitals, optometric clinics, optical stores, and even homes nationwide.

20 Oct 2015

EPFL Startup Creates UV Light-Based Sterilization Kit for Hospitals in Developing Countries

Between 5% and 10% of patients admitted to modern hospitals in the developed world acquire one or more infections. The risk of health care-associated infection in developing countries is 2 to 20 times higher than in developed countries. In some developing countries, the proportion of patients affected by a health care-acquired infection can exceed 25%.

20 Oct 2015

Complex Coating Designs

Coated laser optics are used to optimise the characteristics of the laser beam however, losses occur at each surface due to reflection. To keep these losses to a minimum the number of optics in a system should be kept as low as possible.

From Laser Components (UK) Ltd. 19 Oct 2015

Impalas Locking Horns Wins Photographer of the Year Award

The Royal Society of Biology Photographer and Young Photographer of the Year winners have been announced at Charles Darwin House, London, as part of Biology Week.

19 Oct 2015

Frost & Sullivan Honors OSRAM with Asia Pacific Product Leadership Award

German lighting group, OSRAM was yesterday honored with the 2015 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Product Leadership Award in the LED lighting industry.

19 Oct 2015

New Hubble Images Provide Detailed Window on Jupiter's Dynamic Features

New maps of Jupiter, produced using images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, provide a detailed window on the giant planet's dynamic features. The views come as the agency prepares for its Juno mission to arrive at Jupiter in a little less than a year.

19 Oct 2015

Specialised MRI Scans Show Earliest Signs of Damage to the Heart

Researchers have shown that people with high blood pressure develop changes in their hearts even before symptoms appear.

19 Oct 2015

Twisting' Data Could Increase Data Speeds of Optical Fibers

In the latest advance to boost the speed of the Internet, a research team including, the City College of New York, University of Southern California, University of Glasgow, and Corning Incorporated, has demonstrated a way to increase the data speeds of optical fibers - considered the Internet's backbone.

19 Oct 2015

Liquid Crystal Eye Lens Could Restore Long-Sightedness in Older People

A University of Leeds researcher is developing a new eye lens, made from the same material found in smartphone and TV screens, which could restore long-sightedness in older people.

19 Oct 2015

Cassini Spacecraft Returns Amazing Views of Enceladus Moon’s Northern Extremes

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has begun returning its best-ever views of the northern extremes of Saturn's icy, ocean-bearing moon Enceladus. The spacecraft obtained the images during its Oct. 14 flyby, passing 1,142 miles (1,839 kilometers) above the moon's surface. Mission controllers say the spacecraft will continue transmitting images and other data from the encounter for the next several days.

19 Oct 2015

Pathfinder Telescope Completes First Super-Cold Optical Test

Testing is crucial part of NASA's success on Earth and in space. So, as the actual flight components of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope come together, engineers are testing the non-flight equipment to ensure that tests on the real Webb telescope later goes safely and according to plan.

19 Oct 2015