Infrared Contact Lenses Allow Wearers to See in the Dark
Contact lenses embedded with upconversion nanoparticles have enabled both humans and mice to perceive near-infrared light – without implants or external power. The lenses convert near-infrared wavelengths (800–1600 nm) into visible light, allowing wearers to detect pulsed signals and spatial cues, even with their eyes closed. In human tests, participants were able to perceive Morse-code-like infrared flashes; mice displayed both behavioral and physiological responses to infrared stimuli.
The team characterized the optical properties of the lenses using UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy and fluorescence measurements, confirming wavelength conversion and emission intensity. A trichromatic version of the lenses further distinguished between different infrared wavelengths by converting them into red, green, and blue visible light.
“Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision,” said senior author Tian Xue in the press release. The technology could support future applications in surveillance, signaling, and spectral encoding
A Gentler Way to Create Nanoscale Patterns on Biomaterials
Researchers at the University of Missouri, USA, have demonstrated a cryogenic lithography method that allows nanofabrication directly on fragile biological surfaces without significant damage. By using frozen ethanol as a resist layer in scanning electron microscopy, the team produced graphite-like nanostructures on purple membrane patches from Halobacterium salinarum, a model biological material. The resulting patterns were less than 100 nm wide and induced negligible structural distortion – less than one nanometer in height change – offering a route to bio-integrated nanodevices.
To characterize the material formed under electron beam exposure, the researchers used multiple spectroscopy techniques. Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) detected formation of ketene, a short-lived intermediate, while surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) revealed vibrational signatures consistent with disordered graphite.
“Instead of using a traditional lithography process, which can be too harsh on delicate biological materials, our technique applies a thin layer of ice to protect the material’s surface while the pattern is made,” said co-author Gavin King in a University of Missouri press release. The method could enable precise fabrication of nanostructures on biomaterials that are otherwise too fragile for conventional techniques.
Spectroscopy Distinguishes Endometrial Cancer from Blood in Minutes
Infrared and Raman spectroscopy have shown promise in rapidly identifying endometrial cancer from fresh blood plasma, without the need for sample drying or complex preparation. In a study led by the University of Nottingham, UK, Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy each achieved over 78 percent diagnostic accuracy individually, and 86 percent when combined. Spectral differences were also noted in samples from people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a group at increased risk for the disease.
The two techniques provided complementary molecular insights: ATR-FTIR revealed changes in lipid and protein absorption bands, while Raman spectroscopy was sensitive to nucleic acids and collagen. According to the authors, the findings support the potential for low-cost, minimally invasive screening tools to aid earlier detection and triage of endometrial cancer.
Europa Clipper’s Ultraviolet Spectrograph Passes First Test Ahead of Jovian Arrival
NASA’s Europa Clipper mission has completed initial commissioning of its Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS), confirming that the instrument is ready for science operations en route to Jupiter. Designed to analyze ultraviolet emissions from Europa’s thin atmosphere and icy surface, the UVS will search for signs of molecular composition and detect potential plumes linked to the moon’s suspected subsurface ocean. During its first-light test in May 2025, the instrument successfully captured UV data after delays caused by California wildfires interrupted earlier commissioning efforts.
Weighing just 19 kg and requiring under 8 watts of power, Europa-UVS is one of nine science instruments on board the spacecraft and builds on prior SwRI spectrometer designs used in missions including Juno and New Horizons.
“Each successive instrument we build is more capable than its predecessor,” said Matthew Freeman, project manager at the Southwest Research Institute, in a press release. With a similar UVS flying on ESA’s JUICE mission, scientists expect coordinated observations of Jupiter’s moons to enhance understanding of their atmospheres and potential habitability.
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