Latest news with #UniversityofScienceandTechnology
DW
a day ago
- Health
- DW
Infrared contact lens lets humans to see in dark – DW – 06/01/2025
Light consists of individual particles that propagate in waves. The wavelength determines the color and energy of the light. The human eye can only perceive a small section of this spectrum, approximately the range between 400 and 700 nanometers. Because of that, we humans are unable to see the infrared range, with its longer wavelengths of 750 nanometers to one millimeter. So in order to see infrared light, we have needed comparatively bulky night-vision goggles or night-vision devices with their own energy source — until now. Infrared contact lenses from China Researchers at the University of Science and Technology in Hefei, eastern China, have now developed a contact lens that converts infrared light into visible light, enabling humans to see in the dark. Yuqian Ma and his team have combined conventional soft contact lenses with 45 nanometer particles consisting of gold, sodium gadolinium fluoride, ytterbium and erbium ions. The upconversion contact lenses (UCLs) convert infrared light with wavelengths between 800 and 1,600 nanometers into visible light, the team wrote in the scientific journal Cell . The nanoparticles enrich the long infrared light waves with energy. In doing so, they convert infrared light into three primary colors, making them visible to the human eye. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video One drawback is that the resulting images are very blurred because the nanoparticles in the lenses scatter the light, which the team was able to partially compensate for by adding additional lenses. However, the infrared contact lenses are still nowhere near as powerful as night vision goggles, which amplify weak infrared signals, making them visible. Even better vision with eyes closed The team first injected nanoparticles into the retinas of mice and their behavior showed that they could see in the dark. The newly developed contact lenses are much more practical because they are non-invasive — meaning no injections into our retinas. In tests, humans were able to recognize patterns, letters and flashing infrared signals in the dark. And the infrared lenses work even better with closed eyes, because the infrared light can easily penetrate the eyelids and image generation is not disturbed by normal visible light. Animal infrared capabilities Several animal species are able to perceive infrared light, which is extremely helpful when hunting in the dark. They do not see infrared light as "light" in the sense of human vision. Instead they perceive the heat radiation emitted by objects. This helps some cold-blooded reptiles such as snakes (rattlesnakes and pit vipers), certain fish (piranhas and cichlids), some amphibians (bullfrogs) and some blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes and bugs) with orientation or hunting in the dark. Warm-blooded animals — such as humans, other mammals and birds — cannot see infrared light because their eyes do not have the appropriate receptors and their body's own heat radiation would also interfere with the perception of infrared light. Big question about the benefits As fascinating as the Chinese innovation is, it remains to be seen how it could be used in everyday life. According to the developers, the lenses could be used in surgical procedures, in the field of encryption or cryptography, or for counterfeit protection. This is because infrared light is what makes invisible features or inks visible on documents, for example. The lenses could also be used to rescue people in poor visibility conditions because they make heat-emitting objects visible. However, many critics doubt this, as night vision devices are much easier to use, and are also significantly more powerful. This article was originally written in German. Source: Near-infrared spatiotemporal color vision in humans enabled by upconversion contact lenses
DW
3 days ago
- Science
- DW
Infrared contact lens enables humans to see in dark – DW – 06/01/2025
Chinese researchers have developed an infrared contact lens that makes night vision possible. Nanoparticles make the previously invisible light range visible to the human eye. Light consists of individual particles that propagate in waves. The wavelength determines the color and energy of the light. The human eye can only perceive a small section of this spectrum, approximately the range between 400 and 700 nanometers. Because of that, we humans are unable to see the infrared range, with its longer wavelengths of 750 nanometers to one millimeter. So in order to see infrared light, we have needed comparatively bulky night-vision goggles or night-vision devices with their own energy source — until now. Infrared contact lenses from China Researchers at the University of Science and Technology in Hefei, eastern China, have now developed a contact lens that converts infrared light into visible light, enabling humans to see in the dark. Yuqian Ma and his team have combined conventional soft contact lenses with 45 nanometer particles consisting of gold, sodium gadolinium fluoride, ytterbium and erbium ions. The upconversion contact lenses (UCLs) convert infrared light with wavelengths between 800 and 1,600 nanometers into visible light, the team wrote in the scientific journal Cell. The nanoparticles enrich the long infrared light waves with energy. In doing so, they convert infrared light into three primary colors, making them visible to the human eye. In Good Shape — Look me in the eyes! To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video One drawback is that the resulting images are very blurred because the nanoparticles in the lenses scatter the light, which the team was able to partially compensate for by adding additional lenses. However, the infrared contact lenses are still nowhere near as powerful as night vision goggles, which amplify weak infrared signals, making them visible. Even better vision with eyes closed The team first injected nanoparticles into the retinas of mice and their behavior showed that they could see in the dark. The newly developed contact lenses are much more practical because they are non-invasive — meaning no injections into our retinas. In tests, humans were able to recognize patterns, letters and flashing infrared signals in the dark. And the infrared lenses work even better with closed eyes, because the infrared light can easily penetrate the eyelids and image generation is not disturbed by normal visible light. Animal infrared capabilities Several animal species are able to perceive infrared light, which is extremely helpful when hunting in the dark. They do not see infrared light as "light" in the sense of human vision. Instead they perceive the heat radiation emitted by objects. This helps some cold-blooded reptiles such as snakes (rattlesnakes and pit vipers), certain fish (piranhas and cichlids), some amphibians (bullfrogs) and some blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes and bugs) with orientation or hunting in the dark. Warm-blooded animals — such as humans, other mammals and birds — cannot see infrared light because their eyes do not have the appropriate receptors and their body's own heat radiation would also interfere with the perception of infrared light. Big question about the benefits As fascinating as the Chinese innovation is, it remains to be seen how it could be used in everyday life. According to the developers, the lenses could be used in surgical procedures, in the field of encryption or cryptography, or for counterfeit protection. This is because infrared light is what makes invisible features or inks visible on documents, for example. The lenses could also be used to rescue people in poor visibility conditions because they make heat-emitting objects visible. However, many critics doubt this, as night vision devices are much easier to use, and are also significantly more powerful. This article was originally written in German. Source: Near-infrared spatiotemporal color vision in humans enabled by upconversion contact lenses
Observer
27-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Macron gives students a lesson in 'impulsive' superpowers
HANOI: Between jabs at Donald Trump's US trade tariffs and criticism of Beijing's assertiveness in the South China Sea, French President Emmanuel Macron warned Vietnamese students on Tuesday that "on the impulse of a superpower, everything can change". Macron was in Vietnam as part of a six-day Southeast Asian tour, as he tries to pitch his offer of a "third way" between the United States and China to a region caught up in a confrontation between the two. On Tuesday he departed Hanoi for Indonesia, the next stop on his trip which will also include Singapore. Earlier he spoke to a group of around 150 students at the University of Science and Technology in Hanoi, who listened through translation headsets. "The conflict between China and the United States of America is a geopolitical fact that casts the shadow of risk of a much larger conflict in this important region," he told them. China would do well to remember that "freedom of navigation, maritime freedom is important for the South China Sea", he said, adding that what is happening there "worries everyone". Macron quickly moved on to a swipe at the United States, which he described as "imposing tariffs according to the side of the bed on which he woke up", before presenting France as a reliable alternative. His address came a day after he visited a Hanoi war memorial to those who fought against French colonial occupation, which ended in 1954 following a bloody uprising by Vietnamese pro-independence forces. Vietnam has been careful to follow a balancing act between China and the United States. It shares concerns about Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the contested waterway, but it has close economic ties with its giant neighbour. Communist-run Vietnam has also been threatened with a hefty 46 per cent tariff by US President Donald Trump as part of his global trade blitz. France's "Indo-Pacific strategy" could offer a "path of freedom" and "sovereignty", Macron told the students. More than 100 other students who were unable to fit into the university hall where he spoke tuned in via video link from a side room, often clapping as he spoke. Some seemed convinced, seeing an opportunity in France to avoid the chaos that many international students in the United States are enduring after Trump attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling foreigners. "Given the context in the US where visa issues for international students are quite risky, I will prioritise studying in France because it is more stable," 21-year-old Nguyen Quang Bach said. Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh, 21, who chatted to Macron ahead of the speech, called the president "friendly and approachable". During the speech, Macron also urged the students, a few of whom spoke French, not to fall into the "world of fools" that prevails on social media, where people are free to criticise with short messages "those whose thoughts you do not understand". — Reuters
eNCA
27-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Macron gives Vietnamese students a lesson in 'impulsive' superpowers
Between jabs at Donald Trump's US trade tariffs and criticism of Beijing's assertiveness in the South China Sea, French President Emmanuel Macron warned Vietnamese students Tuesday that "on the impulse of a superpower, everything can change". Macron was in Vietnam as part of a six-day Southeast Asian tour, as he tries to pitch his offer of a "third way" between the United States and China to a region caught up in a confrontation between the two. On Tuesday he departed Hanoi for Indonesia, the next stop on his trip which will also include Singapore. Earlier he spoke to a group of around 150 students at the University of Science and Technology in Hanoi, who listened through translation headsets. "The conflict between China and the United States of America is a geopolitical fact that casts the shadow of risk of a much larger conflict in this important region," he told them. AFP | Ludovic MARIN China would do well to remember that "freedom of navigation, maritime freedom is important for the South China Sea", he said, adding that what is happening there "worries everyone". Macron quickly moved on to a swipe at the United States, which he described as "imposing tariffs according to the side of the bed on which he woke up", before presenting France as a reliable alternative. His address came a day after he visited a Hanoi war memorial to those who fought against French colonial occupation, which ended in 1954 following a bloody uprising by Vietnamese pro-independence forces. Vietnam has been careful to follow a balancing act between China and the United States. It shares concerns about Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the contested waterway, but it has close economic ties with its giant neighbour. Communist-run Vietnam has also been threatened with a hefty 46 percent tariff by US President Donald Trump as part of his global trade blitz. France's "Indo-Pacific strategy" could offer a "path of freedom" and "sovereignty", Macron told the students. More than 100 other students who were unable to fit into the university hall where he spoke tuned in via video link from a side room, often clapping as he spoke. Some seemed convinced, seeing an opportunity in France to avoid the chaos that many international students in the United States are enduring after Trump attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling foreigners. AFP | Ludovic MARIN "Given the context in the US where visa issues for international students are quite risky, I will prioritise studying in France because it is more stable," 21-year-old Nguyen Quang Bach told AFP. Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh, 21, who chatted to Macron ahead of the speech, called the president "friendly and approachable". During the speech, Macron also urged the students, a few of whom spoke French, not to fall into the "world of fools" that prevails on social media, where people are free to criticise with short messages "those whose thoughts you do not understand". "I do not believe all words are equal. I think there are people who know (things) and people who know less," he said. By Francesco Fontemaggi
The Star
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Macron gives Vietnamese students a lesson in 'impulsive' superpowers
France's President Emmanuel Macron is greeted by flag waving university students in Hanoi. - Photo: AFP HANOI: Between jabs at Donald Trump's US trade tariffs and criticism of Beijing's assertiveness in the South China Sea, French President Emmanuel Macron warned Vietnamese students Tuesday (May 27) that "on the impulse of a superpower, everything can change". Macron was in Vietnam as part of a six-day Southeast Asian tour, as he tries to pitch his offer of a "third way" between the United States and China to a region caught up in a confrontation between the two. On Tuesday he departed Hanoi for Indonesia, the next stop on his trip which will also include Singapore. Earlier he spoke to a group of around 150 students at the University of Science and Technology in Hanoi, who listened through translation headsets. "The conflict between China and the United States of America is a geopolitical fact that casts the shadow of risk of a much larger conflict in this important region," he told them. China would do well to remember that "freedom of navigation, maritime freedom is important for the South China Sea", he said, adding that what is happening there "worries everyone". Macron quickly moved on to a swipe at the United States, which he described as "imposing tariffs according to the side of the bed on which he woke up", before presenting France as a reliable alternative. His address came a day after he visited a Hanoi war memorial to those who fought against French colonial occupation, which ended in 1954 following a bloody uprising by Vietnamese pro-independence forces. Vietnam has been careful to follow a balancing act between China and the United States. It shares concerns about Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the contested waterway, but it has close economic ties with its giant neighbour. Communist-run Vietnam has also been threatened with a hefty 46 percent tariff by US President Donald Trump as part of his global trade blitz. France's "Indo-Pacific strategy" could offer a "path of freedom" and "sovereignty", Macron told the students. More than 100 other students who were unable to fit into the university hall where he spoke tuned in via video link from a side room, often clapping as he spoke. Some seemed convinced, seeing an opportunity in France to avoid the chaos that many international students in the United States are enduring after Trump attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling foreigners. "Given the context in the US where visa issues for international students are quite risky, I will prioritise studying in France because it is more stable," 21-year-old Nguyen Quang Bach told AFP. Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh, 21, who chatted to Macron ahead of the speech, called the president "friendly and approachable". During the speech, Macron also urged the students, a few of whom spoke French, not to fall into the "world of fools" that prevails on social media, where people are free to criticise with short messages "those whose thoughts you do not understand". "I do not believe all words are equal. I think there are people who know (things) and people who know less," he said. - AFP
