Laser beam message sent to Earth from deep outer space

The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment transmitted a near-infrared laser encoded with test data from an astonishing distance of nearly 10 million miles. 

This Amazing Ultrafast Laser Is Tiny Enough to Fit on a Fingertip

To accurately measure the Universe on the smallest scales, you need a laser with the perfect mix of power and precision.

For The First Time, Scientists Have Bent Lightning

A powerful laser was able to deflect a lightning bolt almost 200 feet before it hit a lightning rod, greatly improving the rod's function.

Oldest and biggest Mayan monument discovered

Using that laser technology, archaeologists have found what appears to be the biggest and oldest known Mayan monumental complex. The find will reveal surprising insights into a community that lived there 3,000 years ago.

'Random, transistor' laser that can be manipulated at nanoscale

In a historic first, US researchers in collaboration with partners around the world, have been able to control the direction of a laser's output beam by applying external voltage.

Nobel Prize in physics awarded for two advances in lasers

Three scientists from the United States, France and Canada are awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for the development of short, intense laser pulses and for optical tweezers that can grab tiny particles.

Laser Scans Reveal Maya "Megalopolis" Below Guatemalan Jungle

Using a revolutionary laser technology known as LiDAR, researchers discovered an ancient Mayan megacity hidden in a Guatemalan jungle.

World's quickest laser pulse can track electrons in slow motion

Scientists have shortened X-ray pulses so dramatically that they can watch electrons move at a glacial pace.

UK provides first advanced detector for world's largest X-ray laser

One of the world’s fastest detectors, capable of capturing images in billionths of a second, has been developed by the UK for use at the world’s largest X-ray laser, the European XFEL.

New femto-camera with quadrillion fractions of a second resolution

Researchers from ITMO University have built a setup for recording holograms of tiny objects like living cells with a femtosecond speed.

World's biggest ever X-ray laser shines its first light

Scientists say the ability to make images of individual molecules "marks the beginning a new era of research in Europe".

Researchers have built a 1,000-watt 'super laser'

A team of British and Czech researchers have announced that they've constructed and fired a 1000-watt "high peak power laser". This laser is reportedly ten times more powerful as any other of its kind.

China develops world's brightest VUV free electron laser research facility

A team of Chinese scientists announced that they have developed a new bright VUV FEL light source. Vacuum Ultra Violet (VUV) light sources are especially useful for sensitive detection of atoms, molecules and clusters.

We gather here today to join lasers and anti-lasers

Scientists have, for the first time, achieved both lasing and anti-lasing in a single device. Their findings lay the groundwork for developing a new type of integrated device with the flexibility to operate as a laser, an amplifier, a modulator, and a detector.

Scientists just made lasers out of human blood

Researchers have developed a blood laser, using human blood and a fluorescent dye called indocyanine green (ICG), and it could help doctors search for tumours in the body.