Research

By Alexander Willemsen, MSE Based on a paper authored by Eric Bretschneider, Ph.D. The Circadian Stimulus (CS) model is one of the most well-known models for quantifying the circadian impact of lighting. One striking feature that separates the model from other contemporary circadian lighting models is its discontinuous action spectrum. As a consequence, the predicted [...]

  A large-scale study by Flinders University analyzed over 13 million hours of light exposure data from 88,905 people aged 40 and older, revealing that bright light at night significantly increases the risk of heart failure and heart attack. Those exposed to the highest levels of nighttime light (measured in lux) had a 56% greater [...]

  Researchers at Xiamen University have demonstrated that adopting a hexagonal mesa structure significantly enhances the performance of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) micro green light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Published in Optics Express (Vol. 33, p. 42747, 2025), the study details how optimizing the geometric design of micro-LED mesas addresses current uniformity challenges and improves optoelectronic efficiency, [...]

  A major breakthrough in targeted cancer treatment utilizes an innovative therapy of light-activated molecules to destroy malignant cells, while leaving normal skin tissue intact. The study centers on a new photodynamic therapy (PDT) approach that employs microscopic flakes of tin, called “SnOx nanoflakes,” in which “Sn” refers to the chemical symbol for tin. These [...]

  Astronomers have discovered an extraordinary celestial object in the galaxy NGC 4945, located about 12 million light-years from Earth. This object, dubbed “Punctum” (Latin for “point”), is a highly compact radio beacon emitting a uniquely clean and stable signal, distinguished by an almost unprecedented degree of linear polarization—about 50% at millimeter wavelengths near 100 [...]

  Peacock feathers contain reflective microstructures that can amplify light into laser beams when dyed and energized, representing the first example of a natural laser cavity in the animal kingdom. Discovery of Laser Potential Scientists at Florida Polytechnic University explored whether the intricate ordered structures responsible for the feathers’ well-known structural color—vivid blues and greens [...]

  Researchers have identified a new cancer treatment approach using molecules dubbed molecular jackhammers (MJHs), which are aminocyanines capable of mechanically disrupting cancer cell membranes through vibronic-driven action (VDA) when activated by near-infrared light. Key Concept: Vibronic-Driven Action VDA operates through subpicosecond whole-molecule vibrations of aminocyanines bound to cell membranes, initiated by targeted light exposure [...]

  Circadian lighting in hospital wards was found to significantly reduce falls among patients, by 50%, according to a retrospective observational study published in Healthcare (Basel), in July 2025. Study Context and Purpose Falls in hospitalized patients remain a major safety and health concern, often leading to complications, increased length of stay, and greater healthcare [...]

  Cornell University researchers have pioneered a groundbreaking method to watermark videos using light, addressing the urgent problem of video manipulation in an era dominated by generative artificial intelligence and rapidly spreading misinformation. Their innovation, named “Noise-Coded Illumination for Forensic and Photometric Video,” involves embedding a secret, unique code directly into the light emitted by [...]