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#Coffee is a beverage. COFFEE is a Bayesian approach-based focal-plane wavefront sensing method that consists of an extension of phase diversity to high-contrast imaging systems. Read how COFFEE estimates aberrations with nanometric precision: bit.ly/3V9nJ6i #InternationalCoffeeDay💡 ⚛️

Apodized Lyot coronagraph: apodization function used in this paper, computed from an experimental image recorded on SPHERE

💡 🧪 If you drop #coffee on a surface, the water eventually evaporates, leaving behind a ring containing concentrated coffee particles. With the same principle, this #solar-powered desalination device removes salts from ocean water and leaves solid salts with valuable minerals bit.ly/4hoqFTK

Vials of (from left) sea water, Great Salt Lake water, nickel sulfate, copper chloride wastewater, and desalinated water, along with recovered salts, shows how a new approach turns natural and industrial waters into fresh water and reusable materials. [Image: J. Adam Fenster, University of Rochester]

Researchers have developed a solar-powered desalination device featuring laser-etched super-wicking black metal (right). Unlike existing solar desalination systems (left), Chunlei Guo's design prevents salt and mineral buildup from clogging the surface. [Image: J. Adam Fenster, University of Rochester]

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Did you visit the Science + Industry Showcase at #FiO26? Exhibitors demonstrated the latest solutions in photonics, panel discussions covered #AI in optical system design and industry experts shared how they moved from academia to industry.

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TODAY is the final day of #FiO26! There is still plenty to see at the technical conference. You can find sessions covering #optics in #medicine, biology, vision, #quantum and color, optical computing, extreme light and more. Pictured: Speakers, attendees and the Optica Member Lounge at FiO.

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Optica @optica.org · 29/09/2026

An Affo(el)gato...? A Catpuccino or a Café Meowcha? Today we celebrate #coffee. The coffee we serve at Optica meetings, coffee in #science, coffee in your coffee, and, we hope, coffee in an Opticat mug. Learn more about coffee's role in #optics and #photonics: bit.ly/4xOCRDA

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💡Optica is pleased to announce the results of the 2027 Optica Elections: bit.ly/4xMXSOZ Peter Delfyett (@ucf.bsky.social) will serve as 2027 Optica VP. Sterling Backus (@thorlabs.bsky.social) & Frédérique Vanholsbeeck (@aucklanduni.bsky.social) will serve as 2027-2029 Directors at Large.

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Optica @optica.org · 29/09/2026

Hey #FiO26 attendees! 👋 Stop by the Optica Member Lounge at the Galleria to recharge and connect with our #community. On 29 and 30 September, you can get a complimentary professional headshot, perfect for your LinkedIn profile, professional bio or company page!

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Optica @optica.org · 28/09/2026

#FiO26 has begun! 🤩 What are you attending today? Today, 28 September, you can find sessions covering #SpaceOptics, #quantum information processing, deep learning and more. Make sure you stop for a coffee break at Riverside Court to chat with your colleagues!

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Optica @optica.org · 25/09/2026

Probe light from a visible (red) diode laser and pump light from a modulated QCL are coupled into optical fibers and delivered to a flexible, handheld imager (blue dashed box). The beams combine at a short-pass dichroic mirror, and an off-axis parabolic mirror focuses them onto the sample. 💡⚛️🧪

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Optica @optica.org · 23/09/2026

This handheld mid-infrared imaging spectrometer can produce high-res chemical maps of a sample without stains or labels. bit.ly/4hrtymV The #technology provides information comparable to larger laboratory systems and could one day help surgeons assess tumors during #surgery. #Medsky 💡 🧪

Photothermal MIRSI images of cervical cancer (rows A and B) and ovarian cancer (rows C and D) acquired the handheld instrument (Column III) closely match the corresponding data from a benchtop system (Column IV). Column I shows H&E-stained histology images and Column II confocal scanning images of adjacent tissue sections that provide morphological contrast but lack biochemical specificity. Scale bars are 200 𝜇m.

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Optica @optica.org · 22/09/2026

Students and early #career professionals shape the future of optics. With programs like the Career Accelerator, Women Scholars and more, the Optica Foundation empowers #students with the means and opportunities to turn their dreams into reality. #Donate here and make an impact: bit.ly/4xi3gcw

Optica @optica.org · 16/09/2026

When asked about the Optica Foundation's mission, 2026 Optica President Gisele Bennett put it clearly: “We’re here to support the community as a whole.” Until 30 September, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Support the next generation of #photonics: bit.ly/4xSYzY7

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Optica @optica.org · 14/09/2026

Happy #PeerReviewWeek! Peer review is the backbone of @opg.optica.org, and ensures that our portfolio maintains a high quality of research. It transforms a paper from draft to publication, with a team of experts reviewing the research each step of the way: bit.ly/46SEMMm #Highered #Academicsky

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Optica @optica.org · 14/09/2026

Public policy needs #scientists and engineers, like you. The Optica/MRS Congressional Fellowship brings your early career in science to the U.S. federal workforce; where you can make an impact on #PublicPolicy. Get started in science #policy and apply by 04 December: bit.ly/3HdaxGk #SciCom

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Optica @optica.org · 04/09/2026

A fabrication platform could enable flexible, transparent next-generation #photonic chips: bit.ly/461EeUb The scalable process opens routes for advanced microchips that could be used in #health monitors or transparent #AR displays that fit the curve of a pilot’s helmet. #OPG_Optica

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Optica @optica.org · 04/09/2026

There's only one week left to vote in the #OpticaElections! Your input is essential in deciding how Optica will better serve the optics community at every stage of your career. Check your Optica email for a message sent on 22 June with instructions on accessing your ballot!

🧪 ⚛️ Requiring no pre-deployed hardware at the field site and maintaining near-laboratory-grade detection accuracy while in motion, the compact system could help cities and industries quantify hard-to-detect greenhouse gas emissions and provide data to support emissions-reduction policies.

The red trace in (a) indicates the 47 km driving route from ECNU to Laogang Town (LT). (b) shows the route of the on-campus field tests, with A-G showing various buildings on campus. A controlled natural-gas leakage patrol measurement was conducted near point D (green segment). (c) is a photograph of the vehicle-based system during outdoor measurements. (d) shows the dual-comb spectroscopy system and open gas cell installed on the vehicle roof, fully exposed to ambient air. (e) shows the beam spots observed on one side of the Herriott gas cell.

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🧪 ⚛️ "SUVs equipped with our spectroscopy system could cruise residential streets day and night. If an underground gas pipeline has a methane leak, the system could capture the concentration of the gas, record the GPS coordinates and notify maintenance crews,” said research team leader Wenxue Li.

A close up of the dual-comb spectroscopy system and open gas cell installed on the vehicle roof, fully exposed to ambient air.

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🧪 ⚛️ A new system could help locate hidden methane emissions that contribute to #ClimateChange and pose safety risks. By mounting dual-comb spectroscopy on a moving vehicle, #photonics researchers solved an environmental noise problem in gas measurements. Read more: bit.ly/4gwkhec

The system is pictured, mounted on top of a white car.

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Measuring just 0.55 mm in diameter, a new micro OCT probe from researchers in China could give doctors a 360° view inside tiny, winding brain arteries to visualize stents & plaque! 📖 Read the full study in #OPG_BOEx: bit.ly/4y3mYtB #Optics #MedTech #Neuroscience

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The researchers used the probe to produce 2D and #3D OCT images of several increasingly complex samples, including the fine vein network of a magnolia leaf, a vascular stent positioned in a middle cerebral artery model and an ex vivo porcine blood vessel. #OCT #Technology #Medicine #NeuroScience

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The team used a full-scale human cerebrovascular model to evaluate the OCT probe's navigation from the femoral artery to the middle cerebral artery. This video shows a 3D OCT visualization of an ex vivo porcine vessel acquired with the piezoelectric-driven micro-optical probe. #biology #medicine

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Working like a microscopic rotating camera, a tiny optical fiber carries near-IR light to a miniature angled lens at the center of the probe. Instead of rotating the entire catheter, only this tiny lens at the catheter tip rotates and can collect complete 360-degree cross-sectional images. 🧪

The experimental setup, pictured here, uses a full-scale human cerebrovascular model to evaluate navigation of the miniature OCT probe from the femoral artery to the middle cerebral artery.

Cross-sectional OCT image of a vascular stent acquired with the piezoelectric-driven micro-optical probe, demonstrating full 360° circumferential imaging.

Cross-sectional OCT image of an excised human atherosclerotic plaque acquired with the piezoelectric-driven micro-optical probe, demonstrating visualization of plaque structure and tissue features.

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Optica @optica.org · 27/08/2026

This tiny optical imaging probe, designed for OCT imaging inside the brain's blood vessels, could one day be used to acquire detailed information about vascular disease and devices such as stents implanted in the brain. bit.ly/4yotbR9 💡🧪#medsky #neuroscience

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Researchers at @ox.ac.uk have demonstrated the first wireless Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system in the "solar-blind" UV-C band. The system enables high-speed quantum links even in direct sunlight. Read more: bit.ly/4wABjwt #QuantumTech #Optics #Cybersecurity

Optica @optica.org · 26/08/2026

The team reconstructed Gaussian & Laguerre–Gaussian pulse shapes, captured pulse durations & fine temporal structure, while showing information storage lasting on the order of tens of picoseconds. This figure shows light intensity obtained by some experimental groups. #Lasers #Technology #OPG_AO

Fig. 2. Light intensity obtained by some experimental groups.

Optica @optica.org · 26/08/2026

Researchers created a way to store and retrieve the spatial & temporal features of an intense ultrashort laser pulse using a plasma hologram formed in air. The development can enable the design & performance evaluation of robust underwater optical communication systems. bit.ly/4i8Ka4G 💡⚛️

Fig. 1. Underwater vortex beam communication system.

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Optica @optica.org · 25/08/2026

Can you take a 3D photo without a camera? 📸⚡ To end #WorldPhotographyWeek2026, explore how single-pixel detectors and structured light enable "camera-free 3D dual photography" in @OpticaWorldwide Optics Express: Read the full paper: bit.ly/45pOXr5 #Optics #Imaging

Optica @optica.org · 25/08/2026

One month left to vote! Your input is essential to deciding how the Society will continue to evolve and better serve the optics community through all stages of your career. Check your Optica email for a message sent on 22 June for instructions on how to access your ballot!

Text reads "OPTICA Election for 2027 Offices." A button labeled "VOTE" with a clicking hand icon is on the right.

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Optica @optica.org · 24/08/2026

In 1972, NASA's Apollo 16 mission took a far-UV #photograph of Earth. The original black-and-white picture was printed three times on Agfacontour film, each recording one light level. The three light levels were then colored blue (dimmest), green (next brightest) and red (brightest). 🔭#astrophoto

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Optica @optica.org · 24/08/2026

Inspired by pinhole imaging, a team used laser light to form an “optical pinhole” in a nonlinear crystal, turning an IR image into a visible image that an Si-based #camera sensor can detect. With the lensless setup, they captured clear, wide-depth images, even in low light. bit.ly/4eL2hM5

Optica @optica.org · 24/08/2026

Pinhole imaging is one of the earliest forms of #photography. A traditional pinhole camera lets light pass through a tiny hole in a lightproof box, projecting an inverted image of the outside scene onto the opposite surface inside. #WorldPhotographyWeek #Photography #Optics

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Optica @optica.org · 21/08/2026

What looks like cosmic dust is actually pure math! ✨ "Polynomial Beauty" maps the roots of complex polynomials to create stunning fractal symmetry. Celebrate #WorldPhotographyWeek2026 with us! bit.ly/4htx5D0 #ScienceArt #Optics

Optica @optica.org · 20/08/2026

Researchers at CSIR have developed stacked RGB holographic gratings for full-color AR displays. The prism-free design improves brightness and energy efficiency for lighter, longer-lasting AR glasses. Read more here: bit.ly/4x55Svh #AR #Optics #Photonics

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Optica @optica.org · 19/08/2026

Micro-sized water droplets + sunlight = a breathtaking "Iridescent Contrail"! ✈️🌈✨ Celebrate #WorldPhotographyDay by entering the OPN 21st Annual Photo Contest! 📸 Submit your photo by 15 September: bit.ly/4wmEqIk #PhotographyContest #Optics

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Optica @optica.org · 17/08/2026

Nature’s vibrant blues aren't made of pigment—they're physics! 🦎✨ Light-reflecting platelets in this granite spiny lizard create structural color via interference & scattering. Celebrate #WorldPhotographyWeek2026 with us! bit.ly/3TMN996 #NaturePhotography #Optics

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Optica @optica.org · 13/08/2026

Researchers have demonstrated that quantum entanglement can be generated directly from sunlight, offering an energy-efficient alternative to power-hungry lasers. The team reports achieving 94% entanglement fidelity using natural light. Read Optica: bit.ly/3SljQKl

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Optica @optica.org · 13/08/2026

A century before Galileo, did Leonardo da Vinci experiment with combining lenses to "see the moon big"? 🔭✨ This #WorldPhotographyWeek, explore how early optical innovation shaped the way we capture and observe our universe: bit.ly/4xDr4II

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Optica @optica.org · 12/08/2026

From initial contact to brilliant solar flares, total solar eclipses are a triumph of celestial optics! 🌒☀️✨ Explore 3 captures featured in OPN: 🌕 Phases: bit.ly/4qbJSMC ☀️ 2024 Eclipse: bit.ly/4bJ4E06 🔥 Solar Flares: bit.ly/4q6LCGO #SolarEclipse

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Optica @optica.org · 08/08/2026

Meet Optica’s Central Ops & Strategy cats! 💼🐾 • Ollie: Executive armchair strategist • Olaf: Mandatory lap-time break enforcer • Solo & Roo: Server debuggers & light calibrators • Cosi: Senior Science Editor illustrating cat states in the sun #InternationalCatDay #OfficeCats

Optica @optica.org · 08/08/2026

A cat’s eyes are nature’s ultimate optical zoom. Pupils narrow in daylight to sharpen contrast for hunting, then dilate at night to maximize light sensitivity. Learn more for #InternationalCatDay: bit.ly/459TJK4

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Meet the cats of our External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives team! 🐾 • Evy: High-precision laser pointer tester • Penelope: Meeting attendee (until it runs late) • Storm: Resident Schrödinger’s (opti)cat • Dexter: Wavelength tracker between Zoom calls and zoomies #InternationalCatDay

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Can you flip a quantum switch from afar? Researchers used EPR entanglement to remotely control a Schrödinger’s cat state without direct interaction! Celebrate #InternationalCatDay with this study in Optics Express: bit.ly/4yOzU7A

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Meet the (Opti)cats of our Publishing team! 🐾📚 • Not-white Dot: Desktop layout & screen reviewer • Farley: Production review manager • Chole: Surface comfort tester • Penny: Morale boost & background supervisor #InternationalCatDay #OfficeCats

Optica @optica.org · 06/08/2026

Can a cat exist without its grin? In quantum mechanics, the Quantum Cheshire Cat effect explores whether a particle can be separated from its physical properties (like polarization). Celebrate #InternationalCatDay with this study in JOSA B: bit.ly/3RDQiXS

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Whether they’re demonstrating quantum superposition or just basking in a focused beam of light, cats and optics go paw-in-hand. #InternationalCatDay is coming up this Saturday, August 8th! Following along for more cat content! 🐾 bit.ly/3U0gBbw

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Optica @optica.org · 06/08/2026

Remote chemical sensing usually requires target mirrors-- a big barrier in emergencies. Researchers at PNNL developed an infrared system that detects hazardous aerosols up to 11m away using light reflected off everyday surface. Read more here: bit.ly/4yQdcfF

A large laboratory testing facility featuring a long metal aerosol chamber pipe, yellow scaffolding, computer monitors displaying data graphs, and optical equipment.

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Optica @optica.org · 05/08/2026

Apply to the Optica Ambassador program and be recognized as an emerging leader in optics and photonics. The deadline is fast approaching—applications are due by 9 August. For more information, and to apply, please visit: bit.ly/44KpQPq