light

Octopus behaviour: Gloomy octopus hatchlings seek out light to catch their tiny prey

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Two-millimetre-long gloomy octopus hatchlings move towards a source of light, possibly because it makes it easier to hunt prey Life 16 December 2021 By Christa Lesté-Lasserre A newly hatched gloomy octopus Stefan Spreitzenbarth Tiny, newly hatched gloomy octopuses seek out light – possibly to help them find their minuscule prey. Adult gloomy octopuses (Octopus tetricus) … Read more

Majorana particles: Weird form of light can be made by ‘splitting’ photons

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Physicists have shown that ‘splitting’ particles of light into so-called Majorana bosons, a feat long thought to be mathematically impossible, may be achievable Physics 15 December 2021 By Leah Crane Artistic illustration of a photon split in two Trustees of Dartmouth College A type of light that was previously thought to be impossible may be … Read more

On the Heels of a Light Beam

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As a 16-year-old boy, Albert Einstein imagined chasing after a beam of light in the vacuum of space. He mused on that vision for years, turning it over in his mind, asking questions about the relation between himself and the beam. Those mental investigations eventually led him to his special theory of relativity. Such thought … Read more

There’s a Cancer Treatment That Gives People ‘Night Vision’. Here’s How

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Among all the different types of cancer treatment, photodynamic therapy – where light is used to destroy malignant cells – might have one of the strangest side effects: Patients are often better able to see in the dark.   Last year, researchers finally figured out why this happens: Rhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein in the retinas in our eyes, interacts with … Read more

5 Things to Know About The James Webb Space Telescope Before It Launches

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The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, is finally set for launch in late December after decades of waiting. An engineering marvel, it will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. Here are five things to know.   1. Giant gold mirror The telescope’s … Read more