Plants of the same species can differ considerably in their chemical composition, affecting their smell, taste, and even toxicity. A new study shows that the term “chemotype” has so far not been used consistently. Researchers at Bielefeld University propose clear criteria for describing chemical differences within a plant species in a precise and unambiguous way.

In the era of artificial intelligence and machine learning, all-optical computing has garnered renewed attention for its intrinsic advantages in processing speed, energy efficiency, and parallelism. Scientists have developed a new class of metasurface optical differentiators capable of simultaneously performing arbitrary-order optical differentiation and high-resolution imaging in a standalone single-layer configuration. The technique provides a realistic path towards realization of ultracompact all-optical computing devices with potential applications in biological imaging, advanced information processing, and beyond.

Optical tweezers manipulate microparticles via optical forces and torques. Researchers from China and Singapore demonstrate that particle morphology and rotation angle critically govern optical torques and forces under paraxial trapping system. Non-spherical particles may exhibit positive torques, negative torques, or rotational freezing accompanied by stable lateral drift. Originating mainly from geometric asymmetry, this mechanism completes a missing element in optical manipulation and enables shape-based optical sorting.