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Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
China develops laser telescope that can see objects as wide as a matchstick head from over a kilometre away
Chinese researchers have developed a laser system that can detect tiny text and fine details from a distance of 1.36 kilometres, a new study published in Physical Review Letters has revealed. The team from the University of Science and Technology of China tested a laser-based method that achieved a 14-fold improvement in resolution compared to traditional optical imaging using a single telescope. New method focuses on light patterns, not image clarity Instead of focusing directly on capturing an image, the team used a technique called active intensity interferometry. This method is based on how light interacts with a surface rather than what the object looks like. Unlike traditional telescopes that rely on self-luminous sources like stars, this system can detect non-luminous objects. Infrared lasers and dual telescopes power the system According to Science Alert, the system emits eight infrared laser beams across a specific point. Two telescopes capture the intensity of the reflected light. By comparing the signals from the telescopes and calibrating the laser beams, researchers were able to reconstruct an image of the target. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trekking pants for mountain sports and adventure travel Trek Kit India Shop Now Undo "Through outdoor experiments, we have successfully imaged millimetre-scale targets located at 1.36 km away, achieving a resolution enhancement by about 14 times over the diffraction limit of a single telescope," the study authors wrote. Letters smaller than a pencil width made visible from far away The team reported that the system could accurately read letters at a resolution of 3 millimetres, which is smaller than the width of a standard pencil. They said this marked a significant increase in spatial resolution, well beyond what a single telescope could achieve under normal conditions. Live Events MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT Practical uses and current limitations The researchers said the method has potential for high-resolution imaging and optical sensing . However, they also pointed out limitations. The system needs a direct line of sight and requires active illumination using lasers. This may not be suitable for stealth operations like covert surveillance. Future improvements under consideration The team plans to enhance laser control to allow easier targeting. They also aim to include artificial intelligence (AI) to help reconstruct images more accurately in the future.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
China Develops Laser Tech That Can Read Tiny Text From Nearly 2km Away
Scientists in China say they have developed a laser that can observe tiny text and other fine details at a higher resolution from a distance of 1.36 kilometres. In a study published in the journal Physical Review Letters, researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China tested a new laser-based system that they say can pick up small details from nearly a mile away. The researchers took a new approach based on the way light hits a surface, rather than focusing on the image itself. This method is called active intensity interferometry. The Chinese scientists demonstrated that the method could be used to detect objects that, unlike stars, are not self-luminous. According to Science Alert, the researcher tested an instrument that emits eight infrared laser beams fired across a specific point in the distance. Two telescopes were then used to capture the intensity of the light reflections. Through a careful calibration of the eight laser beams lighting up the target, the image can be reconstructed by comparing variations between the readings from the two telescopes, researchers explained. "Through outdoor experiments, we have successfully imaged millimetre-scale targets located at 1.36 km away, achieving a resolution enhancement by about 14 times over the diffraction limit of a single telescope," the study authors wrote. The researchers believe this method is "promising for high-resolution optical imaging and sensing". The Chinese scientists revealed that through their setup, they were able to accurately read letters at a resolution of 3mm, smaller than the width of a pencil. That's a 14-fold improvement in spatial resolution compared to what a single telescope could achieve, they said. However, the researchers noted that there are still a few limitations they have to overcome - for example, it needs a clear line of sight to the object. The target must be illuminated with lasers, so it may not be suitable for surveillance scenarios where stealth is required. The team said that they have plans to improve the control of the laser as well, so that they are easier to direct. Moreover, the researchers may install artificial intelligence (AI), which could help reconstruct images more accurately.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
China Reveals Laser Tech to Read Text From a Mile Away
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Chinese researchers say they have discovered a way to observe tiny text and other fine details at a higher resolution from almost a mile away using a laser-based method. Newsweek contacted the University of Science and Technology of China for comment via email outside normal office hours. Why It Matters Detecting fine details at a distance can be difficult—even under ideal weather. Telescopes and laser beams must be carefully aligned. Atmospheric turbulence can distort the light, interfering with visibility. Intensity interferometry, a method traditionally used in radio astronomy, is able to cut through these distortions and involves measuring intensity fluctuations of light received at separate detectors. The University of Science and Technology of China study, published earlier this month, demonstrated that the method could also be used to detect objects that, unlike stars, are not self-luminous—opening the door to potential applications here on Earth. A stock image of a telescope. A stock image of a telescope. Getty Images What To Know The system works by illuminating a target—in this case, millimeter-size letters—with laser beams. A pair of telescopes then record the intensity of the reflected light. Rather than capturing the light reflected directly from the object, the system measures how the laser light is scattered by the surrounding space. The image can then be reconstructed by comparing the intensity fluctuations captured by each telescope. Using this method, the team was able to identify letters just 1 millimeter wide—smaller than the width of a pencil—by illuminating them from 0.85 miles away. That's a 14-fold improvement in spatial resolution compared to what a single telescope could achieve. This application of intensity interferometry "holds promise for advancing high-resolution optical imaging and sensing," the researchers said. What People Are Saying Paul McManamon, the president of Exciting Technology LLC and technical director of the University of Dayton's Lidar and Optical Communications Institute, told Newsweek: "This looks like a very interesting result. Normally, to have very high resolution you need a very large aperture due to the diffraction limit. "By having multiple receive apertures [in this case telescopes] spread out across the same distance as a large single receive aperture you can have similar resolution, although some features may be missing at certain spatial frequencies. When you then also add multiple transmit apertures [laser emitter], you can further enhance the resolution." What Happens Next These findings could be applied to any number of scenarios where remote, detailed observation is ideal—such as wildlife monitoring and the structural assessment of high-rise buildings. The system would not be useful in situations that call for discretion—such as espionage—since the target object must first be actively illuminated.
Hans India
26-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Scientists develop contact lenses that let humans see near-infrared light
New Delhi: An international team led by Chinese scientists has developed revolutionary contact lenses that allow humans to see near-infrared light, a breakthrough that could transform medical imaging and visual assistance technologies. The study, published in the journal Cell, combines visual neuroscience with rare earth elements to create transparent, wearable lenses that convert invisible infrared light into visible images, Xinhua news agency reported. The human eye only detects light with wavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometres, thus missing much of nature's information. Near-infrared light, with wavelengths between 700 and 2,500 nanometres, excels at penetrating biological tissue with minimal radiation damage. The researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, Fudan University and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (US) engineered rare earth elements that transform three different infrared wavelengths into red, green and blue visible light. Previously, scientists in the team developed a nanomaterial that, when injected into animal retinas, enabled mammals to see near-infrared light naturally. Since retinal injections aren't practical for humans, they started to design a wearable, non-invasive alternative using soft contact lenses. The team modified the surface of the rare earth nanoparticles, enabling them to be dispersed in polymer solutions and ultimately fabricate highly transparent contact lenses, according to the study. Human volunteers wearing the lenses could identify infrared patterns, temporal codes and even distinguish three different 'colours' of infrared light, essentially expanding the human visual spectrum beyond its natural limitations. The non-invasive technology has potential applications in medical imaging, information security, rescue operations and treating colour blindness. Unlike night vision goggles, the lenses, capable of enhancing vision in low-visibility conditions such as fog or dust, require no power source and provide a more natural visual experience. While still at the proof-of-concept stage, the researchers believe the technology could eventually help people with visual impairments and revolutionise how humans interact with the invisible light spectrum.
Metro
24-05-2025
- Science
- Metro
Here's how you could soon be able to see in the dark - even with eyes closed
It's already possible for technology to see in the dark: just think of a baby monitor, a wildlife camera, or night vision goggles. But now, scientists have invented a contact lens that lets humans 'see' in the dark, even with their eyes closed. It detects infrared light, which is a part of the spectrum usually invisible to humans, using tiny nanoparticles embedded into a material similar to that already used for normal contacts today. The see-in-the-dark lenses do not need batteries or a wire. While they won't show a sharp and zoomed in picture of what's ahead, they can give clues and pick up light sources which would otherwise be hidden. The study, published in Cell, says that study participants wearing the lenses could identify sources of Near-infrared (NIR) light in a dark room. 'When participants closed their eyes, their sensitivity to NIR light remained almost unchanged, but the sensitivity to visible light decreased over 200-fold,' the study says. 'This was attributed to the better penetration ability of NIR light through the eyelid, as previously demonstrated in mice.' Wearing these lenses would not just be like a more integrated version of night vision goggles, because they do not amplify light. So you'd have to look at something pretty bright to get the benefit. But it's a fascinating step into the future possibilities for super-vision. Scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei made this possible by using nanoparticles – many times smaller than the thickness of paper – which can convert NIR into a shorter green wavelength which humans can see. You might think these lenses would be incredibly expensive, but researchers estimated they only cost around US$200 per pair to make. Most obviously, it could help people see during the night when it's dark. Everything that gives off heat emits infrared light, so it could make warm-blooded animals, electronics, and landscapes warmed by the sun during the day more visible. You've probably seen infrared imaging with those thermal cameras that show your nose a different colour, because it's colder as an extremity. Researchers said the tech had many less obvious applications too, such as adding anti-counterfeit marks to paper notes, which could not be seen with the naked eye. It could also help colour blind people by making shades more distinguishable. Nature reported it may also have uses in healthcare, allowing doctors to detect tumours more easily without relying on bulky equipment. Right now, they would not necessarily be that useful for any of this, because the vision it offers is blurry and indistinct. But watch this space – with eyes open or closed. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Donald Trump demands iPhones be made in the US – but is it even possible? MORE: Major crypto platform hit by '$400m' cyber attack with customers issued danger warning MORE: Here's the best spots to see the Northern Lights tonight
