SCIENCEglobal
Harvard engineers build chip that can twist and control light in real time
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Updated 3 hours ago
First seen March 22, 2026 07:45:31Stay on top of this story
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Quick Summary
Scientists at Harvard have built a miniature device that can twist and tune light in real time. By rotating two stacked photonic crystals and adjusting their spacing with a tiny mechanical system, they can control how light’s “handedness” behaves. This allows the chip to distinguish between left- and right-circular polarized light with remarkable precision. The advance could lead to smarter sensors, faster communications, and new quantum technologies.