About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the benefit of humanity.
Jul 17, 2015...
Video: Shimmery sea sapphires disappear in a flash
Red and blue and green and violet and… Invisible. Sea sapphires have been described as “the most beautiful animal you’ve never seen”. Even when you do see them, they can vanish in an instant (see video, above). But how do they pull off their trick?
This tiny crustacean has alternating layers of hexagonal guanine crystals and cytoplasm on its back that reflect light in a sparkling array of hues. Different species shimmer in different colours, ranging from gold to blue.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/science-tips-november-2015/
Nov 24, 2015...
Capturing a single photon from a pulse of light: Devices based on the Weizmann Institute model may be the backbone of future quantum communications systems
At the Weizmann Institute of Science, researchers have managed to “pluck” a single photon – one particle of light – out of a pulse of light. The findings of this research, which appeared November 24 in Nature Photonics, bear both fundamental and practical significance: Light is the workhorse of today’s communication systems, and single photons are likely to be the backbone of future quantum communication systems. In addition, say the scientists, the apparatus they have devised will spur further research into the fundamental particle nature of light.
Nov 30, 2017...
Scallop eyes. They feel the magic between you and I. Credit: Dan-Eric Nilsson, Lund University
In 2019, if everything goes according to plan, the much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope will finally launch into orbit. Once assembled, it will use an array of 18 hexagonal mirrors to collect and focus the light from distant galaxies. This segmented-mirror design was developed in the 1980s, and it has been so successful that it will feature in almost all the large telescopes to be built in the near future.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/science-tips-september-2015/
Sep 01, 2015...
Tiny sea sapphires’ iridescence, created by a regular array of thin, transparent crystal plates, is also the secret of their “disappearance”
Tiny ocean creatures known as sea sapphires perform a sort of magic trick as they swim: One second they appear in splendid iridescent shades of blue, purple, or green, and the next they may turn invisible (at least the blue ones turn completely transparent). How do they get their bright colors and what enables them to “disappear?” New research at the Weizmann Institute of Science has solved the mystery of these colorful, vanishing creatures, which are known scientifically as Sapphirinidae. The findings, which recently appeared in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could inspire the development of new optical technologies.
Jun 12, 2018...
A team from the University of Washington has developed a way to bring soccer matches to the world of augmented reality. (Photo: Konstantinos Rematas / YouTube)
Future games to decide who hoists the World Cup of soccer may one day play out not on your smartphone or television, but on any flat surface in your home.
A team of researchers from the University of Washington have created a machine-learning algorithm that can convert 2D YouTube clips into 3D reconstructions. Experienced through an augmented reality headset like the Microsoft HoloLens or the HTC Vive Pro, the system places a virtual representation of the match on any real-world flat surface. Those viewing the simulation can then walk around or move in close to see key pieces of the action.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/ai-can-edit-photos-with-zero-experience/
Jul 10, 2019...
Images: The Weizmann Institute of Science
Imagine showing a photo taken through a storefront window to someone who has never opened her eyes before, and asking her to point to what’s in the reflection and what’s in the store. To her, everything in the photo would just be a big jumble. Computers can perform image separations, but to do it well, they typically require handcrafted rules or many, many explicit demonstrations: here’s an image, and here are its component parts.
Jan 07, 2019...
Let’s say you’re strolling through an art museum, stopping every few feet to admire a work you’re particularly fond of. A Picasso on the left, a Matisse on the right.
But something stops you before you step away from Picasso. It’s almost like it’s ... running off the frame, about to leap into your purse.
You think your eyes are deceiving you. You knew Picasso’s art was a little ... other-worldly ... but this? What is this sorcery? Am I at an art museum, or the fifth dimension?
Jan 22, 2020...
Israeli researchers discovered the unique structure and mechanism of shrimp’s eyes, which allow it to see in the dark seabed, said the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) in central Israel on Monday.
The scientists, from the WIS and Ben-Gurion University in southern Israel, said they hope their findings will lead to the creation of new optical coatings and specialized paints in ultra-thin layers.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/thin-films-on-a-scale/
Jun 01, 2008...
Time equals money. But so does weight—when it comes to the films used in computers and optical telecommunications. Shaving off pounds from these devices could mean huge benefits for microelectronics as well as for satellites or spacecraft, where launching costs around $50,000 per kilogram (2.2 pounds).
A new recruit to the Institute, Dr. Milko van der Boom of the Department of Organic Chemistry, is working to create thin films with such desirable qualities as low weight and long-term thermostability. He is targeting an “all-organic” product, which he hopes will replace today’s inorganic materials. The rationale is simple. Organic films would be much easier to modify, offering far better, cheaper devices that could even be introduced into home appliances, revolutionizing the electronics industry.
Nov 30, 2017...
A scallop with eyes arrayed on tentacles along the edge of its shell. Scientists have found that each eye contains two retinas receiving light from a unique mirroring system. Credit Ceri Jones/Haven Diving Services
It’s hard to see what’s so special about a scallop. It looks a lot like a clam, mussel or any other bivalve. Inside its hinged shell lurks a musclebound creature that’s best enjoyed seared in butter.
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