Researchers have found a way to create much stronger interactions between photons and electrons, in the process producing a hundredfold increase in the emission of light from a phenomenon called Smith-Purcell radiation. The finding has potential implications for both commercial applications and fundamental scientific research.
Because dual-use biotechnologies developed in the private sectoroffer powerful tools to protect Americans from biological threatsand to increase the military's operational capabilities, thefederal government should promote international liabilityprotection for developing and deploying new national security goodsand services, promote scientific travel and exchanges, and assign alead agency to coordinate biotechnology exploitation for nationalsecurity.
New low-cost terahertz camera provides greater sensitivity and speed than previous versions. It can also capture information about the orientation, or “polarization,” of the waves
A new kind of camera can detect terahertz pulses rapidly, with high sensitivity, and at room temperature and pressure. Terahertz radiation can penetrate many nonmetallic materials and detect signatures of certain molecules, qualities that could lead to an array of applications, including airport security scanning, industrial quality control, astrophysical observations, and more.
MIT engineers created shape-memory materials made of ceramic rather than of traditional metal. The development opens a new range of applications, especially for actuators in high-temperature settings.