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Fifty years ago, researchers at a handful of laboratories around the world were reporting lasing from the first semiconductor lasers. Our IT infrastructure today relies on their diligence and success.
The realization that coupling of photons to charges at metal interfaces allows subdiffraction-limit localization of light has revived the field of surface plasmons. How long will it last?
Assumptions, educated guesses and intuition are often unavoidably involved in the study of new phenomena, and scientists may therefore make mistakes at the outset. However, this is part of the research process and sometimes brilliant mistakes can lead to unexpected discoveries.
Should researchers be driven by pre-determined goals or by sheer curiosity? This historical topic is still actively debated among the research community.
Innovative mid-infrared laser technologies are anticipated to broaden the applications of existing mid-infrared laser sources and bring unexpected scientific discoveries.
Why do we need statements to define the contributions made by each author? Does this practice help or hinder scientists, and which demographic is most affected?
Using advanced technologies to improve photoinduced charge transfer and light harvesting is essential in the development of high-efficiency solar cells. Once the problem of energy storage has been overcome, solar energy is sure to become the world's major source of sustainable energy.
Nature Photonics celebrated its fifth birthday in January this year. Now is a good time to recap what we have done in the past, the current state of play and what we look forward to in the future.
