Through the Lens

Today we are tackling Brewster's Angle and the man behind the formula! We'll take you on a journey through the life and contributions of Sir David Brewster as well as sharing a few facts about the 1980s classic, Brewster's Millions (they are not related). Sir David Brewster had an interesting and intense life. He was a child prodigy that was educated to join the clergy, but always had a passion for optical science. Dedicating his l...

Join us for a special episode of Through the Lens! We are exploring the life. Work, and legacy of another historical optical scientist: Thomas Young. Was he a jack of all trades and a master of none or are we missing the message of that saying? From proving Newton wrong to translating the Rosetta stone, Young had a major impact on the worlds of both optics and language. Join us to learn more. Plus, we’ll share how a common insult i...

On this special episode of Through the Lens we take you through the murky history of the Georgia Gold rush. We also share why aluminum is one of the most attractive metals in optics. Just like werewolves, optics are not the biggest fans of silver, but it can come in handy in certain applications. We will also share the benefits of gold in optical thin film coating applications from the earth to the moon and beyond! As a special bon...

What are laser damage thresholds? How can we protect delicate and specialized optics from the harmful wavelengths? What steps should optical fabricators and coating experts take to mitigate this issues related to laser damage? We'll explore all of these on this episode of Through the Lens! Plus we'll discuss the impact of inflation on super villains as well as how sharks can be enhanced by head mounted laser beams. As a special bon...

Join us as we take a look through the lens at the life and impact of Italian Astronomer Giovanni Battista Amici. From his birth and upbringing in Modena Italy to his work in microscopes and telescopes in Florence. We also will discuss his enthusiasm for orchids and other botanicals. Plus we will talk about the difference between Balsamic Vinegar and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar and exactly what happens when a group of botanists hav...

Today we take a deep dive into the life and work of Al-Haytham, the Father of Modern Optics. This 11th century mathematician and scientist was one of the first to champion the scientific method and quite literally wrote the book on optical science. Join us as we take a look, through the lens at the Kitab al-Manazir, the Book of Optics. We also will touch on our favorite Indiana Jones moments, the origins of a famous cliché about de...

This episode of Through the Lens is dedicated to one man and his lens. Together Dan and Kelley explore the life and work of Augustin Jean Fresnel and the lens that sits in the top of all lighthouses. From his French Revolution Jansenism Catholic upbringing to making functional weapons before age 10, and his development of a lens that sort of kind of already existed; you don't want to miss this episode! Plus you'll learn how Broadwa...

Although many materials could be used for photonic applications in the IR. Only a select few are used in IR imaging and optical systems. Join us as we take a look, Through the Lens, at some of the precious and rare materials used in infrared applications. Here's a hint, one of the materials is sapphire and Kelley couldn't help but do a few shallow dives into a few famous sapphires! Learn a little bit about IR applications and the o...

From military tactical displays to the world of Tron, visors have made major impact on our world.  But how do manufacturers turn a curved piece of plastic into a fully functional visor? What optical coatings can be used to enhance these visors? Join us on this episode of Through the Lens and discover how gold protects pilots and how a couple guys from France transformed the EDM music scene with a few masks. Along the way we'll...