Lasers Research update Lasers lick dentists’ drills Ultrashort laser pulses could be used to remove tooth decay painlessly Read article: Lasers lick dentists’ drills
Lasers Research update Scientists push for laser links in space Laser telemetry could solve an impending communication bottleneck Read article: Scientists push for laser links in space
Ultrafast science Research update Ultrashort pulses help gene therapy Lasers could aid effective transfer of DNA into cells
Ultrafast science Research update Small systems defy second law Physicists overthrow one of the laws of thermodynamics – but only briefly
Ultrafast science Research update Laser lights up water droplets New technique could monitor the composition of pollutants in the atmosphere Read article: Laser lights up water droplets
Surfaces and interfaces Research update Laser lithography makes cheaper chips A new manufacturing process could revolutionize the semiconductor industry Read article: Laser lithography makes cheaper chips
Lasers Research update Lasers propel paper aeroplanes ‘Ablation’ technique could be scaled up to make lightweight aircraft
Quantum optics Research update Condensates get longer lives Perpetual Bose-Einstein condensates could make 'continuous’ atom lasers Read article: Condensates get longer lives
Semiconductors and electronics Research update Semiconductors plug terahertz gap Scientists build a ‘quantum cascade’ laser that emits radiation at terahertz wavelengths
Lasers Research update Lasers clear leaves on the line Why physicists love quotations. Read article: Lasers clear leaves on the line
Optics & Photonics Briefing This issue explores lasers and detectors, solar power, medical imaging and high-resolution displays