Where We’ve Been

Researchers at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics developed a technique that uses lasers to render materials hydrophobic—extremely water repellent. (Photo above courtesy of Matthew Mann) Article courtesy of Opli: The Photonics Magazine. Tiny micro and nanoscale structures within a material’s surface are invisible to the naked eye, but play a big role in…

Launched out of Yasny, Russia in June 2010, PICARD is a satellite designed to provide absolute measurements of the total solar irradiance (TSI) and spectral solar irradiance (SSI), the diameter and shape of the sun, as well as the distance to the sun’s interior using helioseismology. In addition, measurements and images captured by PICARD during its…