Source: Instagram Sun candle," as it has been described, recently appeared in the sky over Austria as part of a rare atmospheric phenomenon-a breathtaking, nearly unbelievable optical illusion.

A skier in Austria captured a stunning sun pillar, a rare optical phenomenon where ice crystals reflect sunlight, creating a vertical column of light. This event, commonly seen during sunrise or ...

After a snowy and frigid Wednesday morning, viewers from across Colorado sent in photos of what appears to be colorful spots on either side of the sun. These are known as sun dogs.

Prof. Dan Shechtman of the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology made the discovery that would later earn him the 2011 ...

Scientists have found a way to achieve negative refraction—where light bends the "wrong" way—using carefully arranged atomic ...

We review basic principles of modern optical magnetometers, discuss fundamental limitations on their performance, and describe recently explored applications for dynamical measurements of ...

The resulting ... Magnetic Field Maps of the Sun's Corona Sep. 11, 2024 — Astronomers have achieved a major breakthrough in solar physics by successfully producing detailed maps of the Sun's ...

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Executive Editor David ...

Optics and photonics covers the entire electromagnetic spectrum from high-energy gamma rays and X-rays, through the optical regime of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light, to long-wavelength ...

Feb. 6, 2025 — A team of international researchers has developed an innovative approach to uncover the secrets of dark matter in the cosmos. They are searching for dark matter using atomic ...

At a recent meeting in Washington, scientists raised concerns about a troubling shift in climate patterns: the growing unpredictability of extreme weather events, per Bloomberg. This unpredictability ...