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Generative AI has made it trivial to generate fake microscopy images that are indistinguishable from real images, even for experts. As researchers in nanoscience, it is time for us to face this reality and discuss strategies to conserve the integrity of our discipline.

With talented counterfeiters at the top of their game, how on earth do you spot a fake? And does it really matter anyway?

Nucleic acid sensing is crucial for advancing diagnostics, therapeutic monitoring, and molecular biology research by enabling the precise identification of DNA and RNA interactions. Here, we present an innovative sensing platform based on DNA-functionalized whispering gallery mode (WGM) microlasers. By correlating spectral shifts in laser emission to changes in the refractive index, we demonstrate real-time detection of DNA hybridization and structural changes. The addition of gold nanoparticles to the DNA strands significantly enhances sensitivity, and exclusively labeling the sensing strand or a hairpin strand eliminates the need for secondary labeling of the target strand. We further show that ionic strength influences DNA compactness, and we introduce a hairpin-based system as a dual-purpose sensor and controlled release mechanism for drug delivery. This versatile WGM-based platform offers promise for sequence-specific nucleic acid sensing, multiplexed detection, and in vivo applications in diagnostics and cellular research.

A metal–semiconductor structure as small as 170 nm in diameter emits lasing light from the lowest-order plasmonic mode across a broad spectral range in the infrared.

Nature Communications - Organic exciton-polaritons represent an attractive platform for quantum devices. Here, authors show how introducing Schlieren texturing and a rough intra-cavity topography...

Nature Communications - Thin film interference is integral to modern photonics; however, it inevitably leads to an undesired change of spectral characteristics with angle. Here, the authors...

Characterising forces deep inside biological tissue is a challenging task. Here, we demonstrate that deformable biointegrated microlasers can sense nanoscopic forces with unprecedented spatio-temporal...