lasers

Wired reports that space-based lasers designed to transmit energy are about to undergo their first real-world test. The experiment would mark a milestone for efforts to beam power from space to Earth, a long-discussed concept that startups and researchers hope could one day deliver clean energy across distances. The technology remains early-stage and unproven at scale.

Wired reports that space-based laser technology for beaming energy is about to undergo its first real-world test. The experiment would mark a milestone for wireless power transmission from space, a concept long discussed as a potential clean energy source. Interest centers on whether lasers can reliably deliver usable power to Earth.

Space-based laser technology is preparing for its first real-world test in generating energy, according to WIRED. The concept involves transmitting power collected in space down to Earth using laser beams, a long-proposed but never operationally demonstrated approach to energy generation. The trial could mark a significant milestone for the emerging space energy sector.

The US Space Force has reportedly deployed a kinetic-kill laser as part of the defensive systems protecting Cape Canaveral, Florida. The system is described as capable of physically destroying incoming threats rather than merely disabling them. The report has drawn attention among space policy and defense watchers, raising questions about the growing militarization of US launch facilities and the role of directed-energy weapons in homeland defense.

Australian defence contractor Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has signed a letter of intent with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence covering high energy laser weapon technology. The agreement marks a step toward potential cooperation on directed-energy systems for the Dutch armed forces, as European militaries step up investment in counter-drone and air defence laser capabilities.

A US startup is pursuing a drone concept designed to carry a 300-kilowatt-class laser weapon, according to Defense Post reporting. The idea points to growing interest in high-power laser systems mounted on unmanned aircraft, potentially for missile defense or counter-drone missions. Details about the company, funding, and timeline of the project remain limited.

A snake-shaped robot is now patrolling 10-kilovolt power lines in Kunming, in southwest China. Developed by the Kunming Power Supply Bureau of China Southern Power Grid, the robot navigates obstacles autonomously and uses infrared, thermal imaging, and laser sensors to detect potential faults on the lines, reducing the need for workers to inspect high-voltage equipment manually.

A physicist has proposed that laser light could be used to transfer energy to a gravitational wave, according to a new report. The idea suggests a novel way of interacting with ripples in spacetime, which are normally produced by cataclysmic cosmic events like black hole mergers. Details of the proposal remain limited, and experts have not yet been quoted on whether such an energy transfer could ever be demonstrated experimentally.

A laser-equipped robot vacuum is being offered at close to 50% off as part of Amazon's October Prime Day sales event. The discount, reported by VICE, highlights how popular robot vacuums have become during major shopping events, with shoppers hunting for big savings on smart home cleaning gadgets during the limited-time sale.

Researchers working under Optica's ultrafast laser research report that new laser techniques can reveal how materials respond to light down to the level of individual electrons. The advance gives scientists a more direct view of the electron dynamics that underpin light-matter interactions, with potential relevance for photonics, electronics and materials science, though detailed findings remain limited in available coverage.

A Nature retrospective revisits the 1966 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to Alfred Kastler for the discovery and development of optical methods for studying atomic spectra, work known as optical pumping. The piece highlights how the achievement rested on collaboration across laboratories and laid foundations for later developments in atomic physics and laser science.

Cowboy Space is being talked about for a plan combining solar energy, satellites and laser technology in what is described as a moonshot mission. The idea points to beaming solar power collected in space back to Earth using lasers, an ambitious concept in the energy sector. Coverage in energy-focused media is drawing attention to the company's goals, though few concrete technical or financial details have been made public so far.

A director of laser technology company nLIGHT sold 4,452 shares of company stock, a transaction that came after a sharp drop in the share price. Insider sales following a plunging stock often draw investor scrutiny, as market watchers look for signals about how confident those close to the company are in its prospects. The size and timing of the sale have made it a talking point among those tracking nLIGHT's recent performance.

Researchers report a laser that keeps its frequency locked without any active control system, relying instead on an internal self-stabilising mechanism. The development could simplify precision lasers used in clocks, sensing and communications, where keeping a beam stable normally requires constant electronic feedback. The result is drawing attention among science enthusiasts for how much hardware it removes from a traditionally fussy setup.

Space startup Foundational has exited stealth mode with £8.2 million in funding to scale its laser-based satellite tracking technology. The company aims to improve how satellites are monitored and tracked from the ground using optical laser systems rather than traditional radio methods. The funding round and coming out of stealth mark the startup's public debut in the growing space technology sector.

The US National Science Foundation is moving forward with a plan to build what would be the world's most powerful laser, a project that UC Irvine researchers are involved in advancing. The facility would push the frontiers of high-intensity laser science, enabling experiments in fundamental physics that are currently beyond reach. Details on timeline and funding remain limited.

Acupuncture Today examines whether light therapy can improve blood zeta potential, a measure of the electrical charge on red blood cells that influences how they cluster and flow. The article adds to ongoing debate in alternative and integrative medicine circles about whether low-level light or laser treatments can measurably change blood properties and circulation.

The most powerful laser in the United States has secured funding for another five years, extending its operation for research in physics and related fields. The announcement is being reported in science and technology outlets, though details of the funding amount and institution were not specified in the available coverage.

nLIGHT, Inc., a laser technology company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker LASR, is seeing increased attention on its stock price, news coverage and trading history. Investors are checking quotes and recent developments around the company, though no specific announcement or price movement is confirmed. The interest appears tied to general market monitoring of the laser and photonics sector.

nLIGHT, Inc., a laser technology company trading under the ticker LASR, is drawing attention as investors check its stock price, quote and trading history on Yahoo Finance. No specific company announcement or price move is attached to the current interest, so the exact trigger remains unstated in available coverage.

A Kane County intersection has been equipped with new LiDAR technology, according to a report from Kane County Connects. The system uses laser-based sensing to monitor traffic at the junction. Details on the exact location, cost, and intended benefits of the deployment were not provided, but the move reflects growing interest in sensor-based traffic management among local governments.

Volantis has raised $88 million in new funding to apply laser technology used in iPhone manufacturing to AI chip production. The round suggests investor interest in optical techniques that could speed up or improve semiconductor processes for artificial intelligence workloads. Details on the investors and the company's exact technology remain limited, but the deal adds to the wave of capital flowing into chip-focused startups.

A report says US military personnel are directing laser weapon systems in the Strait of Hormuz using Xbox-style game controllers. The setup highlights how consumer gaming hardware is being adapted for military use, lowering training barriers for operators of advanced directed-energy systems deployed in one of the world's most sensitive shipping lanes.

Ukrainian defense company M-Fly, which produces guidance systems, has secured new funding from MITS Capital, the Freedom Fund, Norway's Gardar fund and a private investor. The money will go toward expanding production capacity and adapting the firm's laser-based technologies. The announcement highlights growing foreign investment in Ukraine's defense manufacturing sector.

Researchers report on laser-induced nanobubbles and a photoacoustic cytophone, technologies said to break through established physical and biological limits, with potential applications in medical imaging and detection of cells such as circulating tumour cells in the bloodstream. The article outlines how combining laser-generated nanobubbles with photoacoustic sensing could surpass conventional diagnostics, drawing attention from the biomedical research community.

Solar Smash players are showcasing gameplay in which the Earth is cut clean in half using the game's planet-destroying tools. The sandbox simulation lets users fire lasers, missiles and other weapons at planets, and slicing the planet in two has become a popular stunt. Clips of the move are drawing large audiences as viewers watch the planet split apart on screen.

The US Space Force plans to deploy laser technology to defend its launch sites from drone threats. The move, reported out of Florida, reflects growing concern over unauthorized drones near sensitive spaceports. Details on the timeline and specific locations for the laser systems were not provided in the initial report.

Astronomers use powerful lasers to create artificial 'guide stars' in the night sky, helping telescopes correct for the blurring caused by Earth's atmosphere. By shining a laser into the upper atmosphere, observatories can measure atmospheric distortion in real time and sharpen images of distant stars and galaxies. The technique, used at major observatories worldwide, has drawn renewed attention as part of wider coverage of modern telescope technology.