The summer solstice, also known as midsummer or Litha, is an important time for pagans and is steeped in tradition. As one of the major solar holidays, it represents the peak of the sun's power and is seen as a time of abundance and celebration. One of the most common pagan traditions during the summer solstice is the gathering of herbs and flowers. Many pagans believe that plants harvested on this day possess healing and magical properties. These herbs and flowers are often used to create talismans, potions, and other remedies for spiritual and physical well-being. Bonfires are also a central part of pagan celebrations during the summer solstice.
“White” light from a tungsten lamp is focused into the tip of a silver nanowire to check the light scattering and absorption of a sample with high fidelity. (Ma et. al, 2021)
Scientists have developed new materials for next-generation electronics so tiny that they are not only indistinguishable when closely packed, but they also don t reflect enough light to show fine details, such as colors, with even the most powerful optical microscopes. The researchers expect that the new technology can be an important tool to help the semiconductor industry make uniform nanomaterials with consistent properties for use in electronic devices.
Bonfires are also a central part of pagan celebrations during the summer solstice. It is believed that the fire represents the sun's energy and helps purify and protect individuals. Jumping over the bonfires is a common practice as it is thought to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
“Magic wand” reveals a colorful nano-world
Scientists have developed new materials for next-generation electronics so tiny that they are not only indistinguishable when closely packed, but they also don’t reflect enough light to show fine details, such as colors, with even the most powerful optical microscopes. Under an optical microscope, carbon nanotubes, for example, look grayish. The inability to distinguish fine details and differences between individual pieces of nanomaterials makes it hard for scientists to study their unique properties and discover ways to perfect them for industrial use.
“White” light from a tungsten lamp is focused into the tip of a silver nanowire to check the light scattering and absorption of a sample with high fidelity. (Ma et. al, 2021)
In a new report in Nature Communications, researchers from UC Riverside describe a revolutionary imaging technology that compresses lamp light into a nanometer-sized spot. It holds that light at the end of a silver nanowire like a Hogwarts student practicing the “Lumos” spell, and uses it to reveal previously invisible details, including colors.
The advance, improving color-imaging resolution to an unprecedented 6 nanometer level, will help scientists see nanomaterials in enough detail to make them more useful in electronics and other applications.
Ming Liu and Ruoxue Yan, associate professors in UC Riverside’s Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering, developed this unique tool with a superfocusing technique developed by the team. The technique has been used in previous work to observe the vibration of molecular bonds at 1-nanometer spatial resolution without the need of any focusing lens.
This visualization shows the fiber-in-fiber-out process for optical spectroscopy measurement. Credit: Liu Group/UCR
In the new report, Liu and Yan modified the tool to measure signals spanning the whole visible wavelength range, which can be used to render the color and depict the electronic band structures of the object instead of only molecule vibrations. The tool squeezes the light from a tungsten lamp into a silver nanowire with near-zero scattering or reflection, where light is carried by the oscillation wave of free electrons at the silver surface.
The condensed light leaves the silver nanowire tip, which has a radius of just 5 nanometers, in a conical path, like the light beam from a flashlight. When the tip passes over an object, its influence on the beam shape and color is detected and recorded.
“It is like using your thumb to control the water spray from a hose,” Liu said, “You know how to get the desired spraying pattern by changing the thumb position, and likewise, in the experiment, we read the light pattern to retrieve the details of the object blocking the 5 nm-sized light nozzle.”
The light is then focused into a spectrometer, where it forms a tiny ring shape. By scanning the probe over an area and recording two spectra for each pixel, the researchers can formulate the absorption and scattering images with colors. The originally grayish carbon nanotubes receive their first color photograph, and an individual carbon nanotube now has the chance to exhibit its unique color.
“The atomically smooth sharp-tip silver nanowire and its nearly scatterless optical coupling and focusing is critical for the imaging,” Yan said. “Otherwise there would be intense stray light in the background that ruins the whole effort. “
The researchers expect that the new technology can be an important tool to help the semiconductor industry make uniform nanomaterials with consistent properties for use in electronic devices. The new full-color nano-imaging technique could also be used to improve understanding of catalysis, quantum optics, and nanoelectronics.
Liu, Yan, and Ma were joined in the research by Xuezhi Ma, who worked on the project as part of his doctoral research at UCR Riverside. Researchers also included UCR students Qiushi Liu, Ning Yu, Da Xu, Sanggon Kim; Zebin Liu and Kaili Jiang at Tsinghua University, and UCR professor Bryan Wong. The paper, titled “6 nm super-resolution optical transmission and scattering spectroscopic imaging of carbon nanotubes using a nanometer-scale white light source,” is available here.
“It is like using your thumb to control the water spray from a hose,” Liu said, “You know how to get the desired spraying pattern by changing the thumb position, and likewise, in the experiment, we read the light pattern to retrieve the details of the object blocking the 5 nm-sized light nozzle.”
Some pagans also perform fire rituals and incantations during this time. In some pagan communities, the summer solstice is marked by dancing and feasting. These celebrations are often held outdoors in nature to honor the earth and the sun. It is a time for individuals to come together, connect with the energies of the natural world, and celebrate the abundance of the summer season. Another important aspect of the summer solstice traditions is the recognition of balance and duality. As the longest day of the year, it represents the balance between light and darkness. Many pagans use this time to reflect on their own personal balance and strive for inner harmony. Overall, the summer solstice traditions of paganism are a celebration of nature, abundance, and the sun's energy. They are an opportunity for pagans to connect with the natural world, honor the cycles of life, and embrace the warmth and vitality of the summer season..
Reviews for "The Summer Solstice and Pagan Astrology: Exploring the Zodiac Signs"
- Sarah - 1 star
I was really disappointed with this book. As someone interested in paganism and summer solstice traditions, I was hoping to find some insightful and well-researched information. However, the book fell short in so many ways. The author's explanations were superficial and lacking in detail. It felt like a rushed compilation of random facts without any coherent structure. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn more about pagan traditions or looking for meaningful insights about the summer solstice.
- David - 2 stars
I found "Summer Solstice Traditions Pagan" to be extremely repetitive. The author kept repeating the same information over and over again without adding anything new or interesting. The writing style was also very dry and didn't engage me as a reader. It felt like a monotone lecture rather than an exciting exploration of pagan rituals and traditions. The lack of depth and creativity in this book was a major disappointment for me.
- Emily - 2 stars
This book doesn't live up to its promise of providing comprehensive information about pagan summer solstice traditions. The content feels superficial and lacks depth. It seemed like the author was more interested in listing different traditions without delving into their meaning or historical context. I was hoping for a more thoughtful and informative book, but "Summer Solstice Traditions Pagan" didn't deliver. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a deeper understanding of pagan practices.