Category Archives: technology

Lasers of Unusual Material

Today’s Nature Photonics story of a laser made of a kidney cell got me thinking of all the weird ways lasers can be made. Such as: they can be made out of a gin and tonic drink, on a stretchy … Continue reading →

Posted in lasers, physics, science, technology | Tagged atmospheric laser, gain medium, gin and tonic, kidney cell, laser, lasers, lasing, living laser, mars atmosphere, mars laser, natural laser, optical cavity, rubber laser, venus laser | Leave a comment

Making a Little Hydrogen

This hydrogen generator is used to make small amounts of hydrogen for chemical reactions in the analytical chemistry lab at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where scientists are searching for compounds that disrupt the growth of childhood cancers. There was … Continue reading →

Posted in science, technology | Tagged analytical chemistry, chemistry, drug discover, hydrogen generator, st. jude children's research hospital | Leave a comment

Programming the Tubes

Computers and smart phones can be improved with software updates and new apps. Not so for networks. The way servers, found in company IT rooms and massive data centers, communicate with each other is essentially static, with instructions for traffic … Continue reading →

Posted in technology, video | Tagged cisco, facebook, google, networks, nick mckeown, onf, open networking foundation, openflow, programmable networks, software-defined networking, stanford, Technology Review, uc berkeley | Leave a comment

On Building a Quantum Internet

The Internet we all know and love is made up of photons that cruise through millions of miles of fiber around the globe. Soon researchers could take the Internet to the quantum level. Using entangled photons, particles that are linked … Continue reading →

Posted in lasers, physics, technology | Tagged entangled photons, fiber optics, internet, network switch, photonics, prem kumar, quantum communication, quantum computers, quantum internet, Technology Review | Leave a comment

Changing Focus with Phone Camera Apps

Mobile phone cameras tend to be low quality compared to most point-and-shoots and single lens-reflex cameras. But they have many advantages most other cameras don’t. They’re with us all the time. They’re connected to the Internet, which makes sharing pictures … Continue reading →

Posted in photography, technology, Uncategorized, video | Tagged apple, apps, computational photography, iphone, itunes, marc levoy, mobile phone, mobile phone apps, phone camera, stanford, synthcam | Leave a comment