Although metamaterials managed to revolutionize optics in the past decade, their performance so far has been inhibited by their inability to function over broad bandwidths of light. Stanford engineers have designed a broadband metamaterial that more than doubles the range of wavelengths of light that can be manipulated. With adjustments, the researchers believe it could… »

Researchers from Belgium, France, and Canada studied the internal structure of firefly lanterns, the organs on the bioluminescent insect’s abdomens that flash to attract mates, and they managed to employ their findings in order to modify a light-emitting diode (LED) to be up to 55 percent more efficient. The technology oould be employed in near… »

The folks from PixelOptics have invented electronic spectacles that can automatically change focus as you lower your head to read a book, thus making bifocal spectacles obsolete. The product, called emPower!, has been under development for 10 years and looks like an ordinary pair of spectacles. Since they are partnering with many frames manufactures, the… »