Scientific Instruments
6 reportsThe record combines spatial resolution, signal processing, and data products. Its limits become clear when asking how detection works and what resolution limits results, comparing technical gains with tradeoffs that a single metric can conceal.
Satellite Neutron Detection Proposed for Nuclear Treaty Verification
A new analysis suggests that satellites equipped with neutron detectors could remotely identify nuclear materials in orbit, offering a potential method to verify compliance with the Outer Space Treaty and address emerging security concerns
Metasurface Grating Demonstrates Compact Solar Magnetic Field Mapping
A polarization-sensitive metasurface grating has matched conventional instruments in mapping solar magnetic fields, offering a route to smaller, simpler, and potentially more robust hardware for future space-based solar telescopes
Portable X-ray Imaging System Demonstrates Diagnostic Quality in Space
A commercial portable X-ray device was operated aboard an orbital spacecraft, producing diagnostic-quality radiographs comparable to those acquired on Earth and highlighting the potential for in-flight medical imaging beyond ultrasound
Quantum Sensors and Compact Accelerators Highlight 2026 Instrumentation Briefing
The 2026 Physics World Instrumentation & Vacuum Briefing surveys advances in quantum sensors, ultrahigh vacuum engineering, compact particle acceleration, and real-time radiotherapy monitoring, with a focus on experimental progress and engineering challenges
NVIDIA's RoboLab Targets Real-World Robot Policy Evaluation Limits
NVIDIA has released RoboLab, an open-source simulation platform designed to benchmark and analyze general-purpose robot policies. The system aims to address persistent gaps in evaluating robotic models before real-world deployment
Why Power Management Limits Humanoid Robot Performance
Engineers developing humanoid robots face persistent challenges in converting and distributing onboard battery power to support motion, sensing, and computation. The efficiency and reliability of these power systems directly affect robot capabilities and safety