Research

  For the legible version of the above image, click here. It’s worth it. This image was created by Stig Kristiansen, a consultant on light + health in Norway. He painstakingly mapped wavelengths of light to different biological functions. The resulting complexity is the most important takeaway. His LinkedIn post about this mapping can be [...]

  Researchers have developed a new way to make ultra-narrow band, near‑infrared LEDs by “electrically powering” materials that normally do not conduct, using attached organic molecules that act as molecular antennas. The work opens a path to highly precise light sources for deep‑tissue medical imaging, optical communication, and chemical or biological sensing. Core scientific breakthrough [...]

  By Eric Bretschneider, Ph.D. Abstract Wien’s Displacement Law is a simple equation that allows calculation of the peak wavelength for a black body light source as a function of temperature.  However, not all uses of light are based on radiant flux. In particular, photobiology is based on the quantum or photon flux.  In 1939, [...]

By Alexander Willemsen, MSE Based on a paper authored by Eric Bretschneider, Ph.D. The Circadian Stimulus (CS) model is one of the most well-known models for quantifying the circadian impact of lighting. One striking feature that separates the model from other contemporary circadian lighting models is its discontinuous action spectrum. As a consequence, the predicted [...]

  A large-scale study by Flinders University analyzed over 13 million hours of light exposure data from 88,905 people aged 40 and older, revealing that bright light at night significantly increases the risk of heart failure and heart attack. Those exposed to the highest levels of nighttime light (measured in lux) had a 56% greater [...]

  Researchers at Xiamen University have demonstrated that adopting a hexagonal mesa structure significantly enhances the performance of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) micro green light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Published in Optics Express (Vol. 33, p. 42747, 2025), the study details how optimizing the geometric design of micro-LED mesas addresses current uniformity challenges and improves optoelectronic efficiency, [...]

  A major breakthrough in targeted cancer treatment utilizes an innovative therapy of light-activated molecules to destroy malignant cells, while leaving normal skin tissue intact. The study centers on a new photodynamic therapy (PDT) approach that employs microscopic flakes of tin, called “SnOx nanoflakes,” in which “Sn” refers to the chemical symbol for tin. These [...]

  Astronomers have discovered an extraordinary celestial object in the galaxy NGC 4945, located about 12 million light-years from Earth. This object, dubbed “Punctum” (Latin for “point”), is a highly compact radio beacon emitting a uniquely clean and stable signal, distinguished by an almost unprecedented degree of linear polarization—about 50% at millimeter wavelengths near 100 [...]

  Peacock feathers contain reflective microstructures that can amplify light into laser beams when dyed and energized, representing the first example of a natural laser cavity in the animal kingdom. Discovery of Laser Potential Scientists at Florida Polytechnic University explored whether the intricate ordered structures responsible for the feathers’ well-known structural color—vivid blues and greens [...]