optics
number of breaks: 3
Mitochondria as microlenses in the eye – the evolution of an improved camera sensor
The back of the eye is lined with a layer of specialized light-sensitive neurons in the retina, arranged in a mosaic, called photoreceptors. Each photoreceptor has a tapered elongated shape—like a bottle—oriented perpendicular to the retina and pointing toward the pupil of the eye. The... click to read more
Making non-magnetic photons feel a taste for magnetism
Light consists of chargeless particles called photons. While electrons, being charged, get deflected into curved paths when placed in a magnetic field, the chargeless photons do not feel a real magnetic field the same way. Devising an “artificial” or “fictitious” magnetic field for photons would... click to read more
Silencing a quantum drum
To a classical physicist, there is no fundamental limit to how well you can measure something. A classical object, for example, always exists in a well-defined position; if you want to know that position with better accuracy, you simply build a better microscope. The story... click to read more
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