Breast cancer. The yellow mass in the illustration depicts a tumor located in a glandular tissue of the breast.

Volume 16 Story 4 - 25/1/2012

Traffic Lights for Chemotherapy

Many cancer patients do not respond to chemotherapy and have to endure harmful side effects even when the treatment itself does not prove effective. A new technique could, as of the very first day, give the green or red light to continuing with the treatment.
Wave-like behavior: A rafting experience. A probe pulse (arrow on the top left) fills the cavity with photons. A control laser pulse (arrow on the left) takes the system from the ground state to its first excited state. The internal state of the atom changes to the tune of the light waves of the photons in the cavity, where it is in a <i>strong coupling regime</i>: it oscillates between the first and second excited states, while emitting and reabsorbing photons. These oscillations are called <i>Rabi oscillations</i>. The photons emitted (arrow on the top right) by the cavity behave like waves.

Volume 16 Story 3 - 18/1/2012

Sailing through the Waves of Light

The difference in the interaction between an atom and light can be as wide as that between a pleasant, relaxing canoe ride, and a whitewater rafting experience. It is now possible to switch back and forth between the two, ultraquickly, at the touch of a laser pulse.
Spot the cuttlefishes. The cuttlefish in the image (<i>Sepia officinalis</i>) show two distinct body patterns: non-camouflaged (top) and camouflaged (bottom). Can you spot them both?

Volume 16 Story 2 - 11/1/2012

Hide and Seek

Every morning, on the seabed, a cuttlefish wakes up. It knows it must camouflage itself to fool its predators. Every morning, on the seabed, a predator fish wakes up. It knows it must keep its eyes peeled, if it wants to eat. The game for survival is on. Who will win?