PODCAST: March 10, 2026 Light News
In this edition of Following the Photons' Light News:
Caltech researchers are narrowing a decades-old performance gap between optical fiber and integrated photonics with a new approach that brings optical fiber-like loss onto a silicon chip.
Researchers at Shenzhen University in China have designed a sensor that’s so sensitive, it can detect even trace concentrations of cancer biomarkers. It could someday make possible early cancer detection via a simple blood test.
Scientists at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China have developed a hybrid sensor system they say could revolutionize the accuracy of environmental monitoring, energy security, and even medical diagnostics.
By pairing a nanostructure of silver with an atomically thin semiconductor layer, a team of researchers led by the University of Oldenburg in Germany created an ultrafast switching mirror device that can serve as an optical transistor—and it clocks in at a speed 10,000x faster than today’s electronic transistors.
Motivated by a gap in optical encryption, a team of researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea created a holographic encryption method based on the wavelength of light and the precise spacing and alignment between layers of metasurfaces made of silicon nitride.
Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics and optics. Join us as we bring you the latest news and insights from the forefront of the photonics industry. Our episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.
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About the Author
Justine Murphy
Multimedia Director, Digital Infrastructure
Justine Murphy is the multimedia director for Endeavor Business Media's Digital Infrastructure Group. She is a multiple award-winning writer and editor with more 20 years of experience in newspaper publishing as well as public relations, marketing, and communications. For nearly 10 years, she has covered all facets of the optics and photonics industry as an editor, writer, web news anchor, and podcast host for an internationally reaching magazine publishing company. Her work has earned accolades from the New England Press Association as well as the SIIA/Jesse H. Neal Awards. She received a B.A. from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.