Editorials

As Nature Photonics enters its second year, we take a look back at some of the highlights of 2007.

Although large research facilities are sometimes criticized for the colossal amounts of funding they consume, the lessons that are learnt from the 'extreme' science that they perform benefit labs of all sizes.

Government investment in photonics seems to be paying dividends in South Africa, which has ambitions to become a major global player in the field.

The sun is setting on fossil fuels. With the dawn of a new, clean-energy era comes new responsibilities, challenges and opportunities. Those in the photonics community will certainly help to forge the path we take in the coming years.

The ability to make ever smaller and more sophisticated optical circuits for controlling light is now moving into a new dimension, below the wavelength of light.

Biophotonics shows great promise but to fulfil its true potential, biologists, physicists and engineers will need to work harder to understand each other.

The jobs market is looking up and scientists with a sound grounding in photonics are in increasing demand. With such a choice of career directions, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on where you want to be.

In today's era of start-ups, spin-offs and university–industry collaborations, it pays to be knowledgeable about patents and how they can help.

Creating a start-up company can be a very rewarding and lucrative experience, but it is important not to underestimate the difficulty of the task.

Optical clocks promise new standards in the measurement of time. To ensure accuracy, however, different clocks must be compared, even if they are on opposite sides of the planet.

Silicon has changed the world through microelectronic technology. Now optical researchers are getting in on the silicon game too.

Following the successful deployment of photonics in long-haul communications, the technology is now making its way down the food chain and changing the way data is brought into the home, and perhaps ultimately passed around it.

Nature has had millions of years to perfect the art of playing with light. Her intricate designs are providing useful fodder for our imagination.