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Chemistry

Gold flecks make super-transparent glass fully opaque from one side

A glare-free window that is opaque from the outside but still offers a clear view from inside could be made with a coating using billions of tiny bits of gold

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Technology

Lasers smaller than a human hair emit doughnut-shaped light

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Schematic image of GaN hollow nanowires on a sapphire substrate.

Physics

Einstein may be wrong about how mirrors travelling at light speed work

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The new design could be used on contact lenses

Technology

Spiral scratches on contact lenses can turn them into multifocals

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Chemistry

Light-sensitive molecules could make carbon capture more efficient

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Space

Galaxy smash-ups may explain strange light from early universe

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Ant head with compound eyes

Technology

‘Insect-eye’ compass can navigate by the sun even on a cloudy day

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Nobel prize for physics goes to trio who sliced up time with light

Physics

Nobel prize for physics goes to trio who sliced up time with light

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Definition

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

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Technology

Extremely thin lightweight lenses take amazing images of the universe

Small, flat “metalenses” are made up of billions of nano-sized components, and they could image the cosmos using less space on a satellite than bulkier traditional devices

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Technology

Thin reflective film that mimics butterfly wings can keep cars cool

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Gold nuggets - thin gold wafers can generate their own glow

Physics

Gold flakes glow when they are bathed in light and now we know how

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Physics

Quantum randomness of empty space can be controlled with a laser

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Sunlight coming out of the optical fibre

Physics

Sunlight could cool an atom to its coldest possible temperature

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