High-energy laser weapons: A defense expert explains how they work and what they are used for

Militaries around the world are rapidly developing science fiction-like laser weapons, motivated in part by the growing threat from swarms of drones.

Iain Boyd, Director, Center for National Security Initiatives, and Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
March 7, 2024 • ~9 min

Drone-zapping laser weapons now effective (and cheap) reality

Operating the DragonFire laser system for ten seconds costs the equivalent of using a heater for an hour (less than £10 per shot).

Gianluca Sarri, Professor at the School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast • conversation
Jan. 22, 2024 • ~6 min

Making 'movies' at the attosecond scale helps researchers better understand electrons − and could one day lead to super-fast electronics

The 2023 Nobel Prize in physics recognized researchers studying electron movement in real time − this work could revolutionize electronics, laser imaging and more.

Niranjan Shivaram, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University • conversation
Oct. 4, 2023 • ~8 min

The digital future may rely on ultrafast optical electronics and computers

A researcher explains developments in using light rather than electrons to transmit information securely and quickly, even over long distances.

Mohammed Hassan, Associate Professor of Physics and Optical Sciences, University of Arizona • conversation
June 27, 2023 • ~6 min

Nuclear fusion: how scientists can turn latest breakthrough into a new clean power source

Huge challenges remain before working fusion reactors are possible.

John Pasley, Senior Lecturer of Physics, University of York • conversation
Dec. 14, 2022 • ~9 min

Toilets spew invisible aerosol plumes with every flush – here's the proof, captured by high-powered lasers

Toilets eject aerosol droplets that may carry disease-causing pathogens. Learning about how these particles move could help reduce exposure in public restrooms.

John Crimaldi, Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Dec. 8, 2022 • ~7 min

Russians reportedly building a satellite-blinding laser – an expert explains the technology

Build a powerful enough laser, and you can shine it into space. Aim it well, and you can blind satellites.

Iain Boyd, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
July 26, 2022 • ~9 min

Antimatter: scientists find way to trap elusive material by blasting it with lasers

Laser-cooling enables new measurements that could explain why antimatter is so scarce in our universe.

Niels Madsen, Professor of Physics, Swansea University • conversation
April 22, 2021 • ~7 min

A new laser technique designed to authenticate rare whisky could also detect disease

A new laser technique that measures the chemical make-up of whisky may help fight cancers.

Kishan Dholakia, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews • conversation
Oct. 30, 2020 • ~7 min

Lasers could speed up coronavirus diagnostics

A team of physicists, virologists and computer scientists are seeking to develop a coronavirus diagnostic tool that could deliver rapid results.

Mauricio Terrones, Professor of Physics, Pennsylvania State University • conversation
May 7, 2020 • ~7 min

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