February 2021 Issue
Feature Articles
Three solar observatories—two in space, one on Earth—are using advanced optics to study our closest star in greater detail than ever before.
by Patricia Daukantas
Congratulations to the 118 members of the 2021 class of OSA Fellow Members, who will be recognized at OSA conferences throughout the year for scientific, engineering and technological contributions, as well as industry leadership and service to OSA and the global optics community.
by Meredith Smith, Kari Apter and Samantha HornbackDepartments and Columns
Fluorescent proteins / Fast all-silicon optical transmitter / Hollow-core fibers / Test of quantum advantage / AI on an optoelectronic chip / DARPA project eyes on-chip lasers / European quantum maps / Nanodiamonds for single photons / Mission: Mars
Three space missions are scheduled to reach Mars in February 2021 — expanding the search for life and paving the way for future exploration.
Evaluating Medical Extended-Reality Devices
U.S. FDA researchers outline regulatory science efforts to advance the adoption of digital health technologies.
Exploring the novelty glasses’ diffraction-grating-based optical illusion.
Celebrating Women and Girls in STEM
A postdoctoral researcher discusses the progress that’s been made, and the steps left to take, to address science’s gender-bias problem.
Also in this Issue
30, 20, and 10 Years Ago in OPN
Medical lasers and optical fiber; frequency combs and femtosecond lasers; 3D technology and eyestrain.
Register for #IamRemarkable session / Student awards at High-brightness Congress / NAI Fellows / Innovation with crowdfunding / GEMM Initiative / OSA Fellow stories / Podcasts on COVID-19 and climate change / Luminar’s NASDAQ debut / Micius Quantum Prize for Jun Ye / Thank you, editors and volunteers
![Manual probe system with needles for test of semiconductor on silicon wafer. [A. Morozov / Getty]](https://opnmedia.blob.core.windows.net/$web/opn/media/images/articles/2025/1125/departments/202511-cover-web.jpg?ext=.jpg)
![Researcher Clara Saraceno in the lab. [Image by Carsten Behler Photography]](https://opnmedia.blob.core.windows.net/$web/opn/media/images/articles/2025/1025/departments/202510-cover-web.jpg?ext=.jpg)
