OPTICS

Optics is the study of the properties and behavior of light. In this section you can learn about everything from holograms to lasers and lenses.

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Black

Black, the lack of color. When light strikes an object, all light waves are absorbed except those of the color of the object.

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  • How 3-D Glasses Work
    How 3-D Glasses Work

    NASA's Mars rovers are sending 3-D images to Earth, so we can see depth and texture on the Martian surface. And how do we see this depth and texture? 3-D glasses, of course! Check out how they work. See more »

  • How Holograms Work
    How Holograms Work

    If you want to see a hologram, you don't have to look much farther than your wallet. But the most impressive holograms are large scale and illuminated with lasers or displayed in a darkened room with carefully directed lighting. Learn how a hologram, light and your brain work together make clear, 3-D images. See more »

  • How Invisibility Cloaks Work
    How Invisibility Cloaks Work

    An invisibility cloak seems perfectly believable in the magical world of Harry Potter, but in the real world, it's impossible, right? Not so fast. See more »

  • How Kaleidoscopes Work
    How Kaleidoscopes Work

    Kaleidoscopes have been fascinating people since the early 19th century. Whether you think of kaleidoscopes as toys or as works of art, no matter how often you look inside, you'll never see the same thing twice. See more »

  • How Laser Analysis Works
    How Laser Analysis Works

    A venerable work of art hangs lifeless in a museum, the once brilliant scene dulled by centuries of dirt and grime. Can laser analysis and modern art restoration techniques save the masterpiece? See more »

  • How Lasers Work
    How Lasers Work

    Lasers are used in CD players, dental drills, eye surgery, and even tattoo removal. But what exactly is a laser? There are numerous types, but all lasers work basically the same way. Learn how they generate such concentrated beams of light. See more »

  • How Light Microscopes Work
    How Light Microscopes Work

    The human eye misses a lot -- enter the incredible world of the microscopic! Explore how a light microscope works. See more »

  • How Light Works
    How Light Works

    Some of the brightest minds in history have focused their intellects on the subject of light. Einstein even tried to imagine riding on a beam of light. We won't get that crazy, but we will shine a light on everything scientists have found so far. See more »

  • How Mirages Work
    How Mirages Work

    You're driving down the road on a sunny day, and you see a puddle of water coming up. You look again and it's gone! What happened? You’ll be able to answer that question if you read our miraculous mirage article. See more »

  • How Scanning Electron Microscopes Work
    How Scanning Electron Microscopes Work

    Unlike the cheap microscopes you peered into in school, these advanced instruments can breathe rich detail into the tiny world around us, including the world of nanotechnology. See more »

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