Tag: Metamaterials
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Exploring the Future of Space Habitats: NIAC 2025 Insights from Skyeports, NASA Ames, and NASA Goddard
NIAC 2025: A Look Ahead at Revolutionary Space Concepts The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program is renowned for funding visionary ideas that could reshape how humanity explores the cosmos. In the first of two episodes from the 2025 NIAC Symposium in Philadelphia, Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed guides listeners through a collection of compelling…
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NASA NIAC 2025 Highlights: Glass-Lunar Habitats, Metamaterials, and an Inflatable Starshade
Overview: A Peek into NASA’s NIAC 2025 Symposium The NIAC program from NASA continues to fuel daring concepts that could redefine how humanity explores space. The Planetary Society’s Planetary Radio delivers a closer look at the first of two episodes from the 2025 NIAC Symposium in Philadelphia, offering listeners a taste of the bold ideas…
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NIAC 2025 Spotlight: Glass-Lava Habitats, Metamaterials, and an Inflatable Starshade
Inside NIAC 2025: A Look at Bold Ideas Shaping Space Exploration NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program funds forward-thinking proposals that could redefine how we travel, live, and study space. The 2025 NIAC Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, showcased a range of experiments and concepts that push the boundaries of what’s scientifically possible. The Planetary Society’s…
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Five Materials That Could Make Fighter Jets Nearly Invisible to Radar
Introduction: The Quest for Stealth in Modern Aviation Stealth technology remains a cornerstone of modern air combat, with radar-absorption at the heart of reducing detectability. Researchers and defense programs continue to explore advanced materials that can bend, scatter, or absorb radar waves across broad frequency ranges. While no material guarantees absolute invisibility, a layered approach…
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Five Advanced Materials That Could Make Fighter Jets Nearly Invisible to Radar
Introduction: The Quest for Stealth Through Advanced Materials Modern air power increasingly hinges on stealth. Engineers seek materials capable of absorbing or deflecting radar waves to reduce detection by enemy radar systems. While no material guarantees absolute invisibility, a combination of cutting-edge substances can dramatically lower radar signatures. Here, we explore five materials with strong…
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Five Radar-Absorbing Materials for Stealth Jets
Introduction: The quest for radar invisibility Modern fighter jets rely on advanced materials to reduce radar visibility while maintaining performance in extreme conditions. Researchers across universities and space agencies are exploring a mix of engineered substances that interact with electromagnetic waves in unique ways. The result is a toolbox of radar-absorbing options that, when layered…
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Tiny Multilayer Metamaterial Lenses Promise Pocket-Sized, Colorful Optics for Drones and Phones
Overview: A new path to ultra-compact, color-rich optics Researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking approach to creating multicolor lenses that are thinner than a hair and capable of focusing a broad range of wavelengths from unpolarised light. By using layers of metamaterials in a carefully engineered stack, the design overcomes key limitations of traditional metalenses and…
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Tiny Multi-Layer Metalenses Could Revolutionize Drone and Phone Cameras
New Metamaterial Lenses Promise Compact, Multicolor Optics A cutting-edge approach to manufacturing multicolor lenses could transform the optics inside portable devices, including smartphones and drones. Researchers have developed a multi-layer metalens design that can simultaneously focus a broad range of wavelengths from unpolarised light, while maintaining a small form factor and large diameter. The breakthrough…
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Tiny multilayer metalenses unlock multicolor optics for phones
A breakthrough in tiny, color-rich optics Researchers have unveiled a novel approach to making ultra-thin lenses that can simultaneously focus multiple wavelengths from unpolarised light, with potential workhorse applications in phones, drones, and other portable imaging devices. The key advance is a multi-layer, metamaterial-based metalens system that uses a stack of carefully engineered layers to…
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Metamaterial Lenses: Revolutionizing Mobile and Drone Optics
Introduction to Metamaterials in Optics In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the demand for smaller, more efficient devices is at an all-time high. Whether it’s smartphones or drones, optics play a crucial role in how these devices function. Recently, a breakthrough in lens technology has emerged that could transform the way we think about optics…