Science

• A team of physicists at ETH Zurich has created a tiny metalens that can half the wavelength of incident light.
• They have achieved this using a special metal-oxide lens material called lithium niobate and through nanoscale pattern, stamped into the material.
• Such metalenses could be used as a security feature on banknotes or in the fabrication of ultra-thin elements for cameras.

In October 2024, the researchers discovered a full-blown hybrid colony in a Fort Lauderdale park, which had likely been active for more than five years before being detected. Chouvenc said that there are likely many more hundreds of colonies across South Florida that have not yet been found.

Both parent species are prolific breeders, capable of forming massive colonies and spreading rapidly. The fact that these hybrids are swarming—and potentially just as fertile—raises major red flags.

Fort Lauderdale’s status as a global boating hub may accelerate the spread. “This may be a Florida story now, but it likely won’t stay just in Florida,” Chouvenc warned. Private boats have previously been implicated in termite spread across the U.S. and internationally.

• Your skin creates a chemical cloud indoors that can affect the air you breathe.
• Everyday personal care products like lotion and perfume can inhibit that cloud.
• Research by UC Irvine and others shows that this might make indoor air healthier.

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With his passing on Tuesday, India lost one of its most celebrated astrophysicists. Narlikar was 86 - a man far ahead of his times and someone who shaped a generation of Indian researchers through his lifelong dedication to science education.

His funeral was attended by hundreds, from school children to renowned scientists and even his housekeeping staff, underscoring the profound impact he had on society.