Scientists at the HiLASE centre have pulled off something no one had managed before. Using the FREYA hyperspectral camera, they captured a burning meteor in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum for the first time. But space isn't the only direction HiLASE technology is heading. The centre, part of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, develops lasers for industry and defence.
The laser centre
What can a laser centre do today, and where is it headed next? HiLASE combines fundamental research with real-world applications in industry, space and defence. Its head, Tomáš Mocek, spoke about the centre's current role and where it's going from here. Read the full interview at Vedavyzkum.cz.
The FREYA camera
Czech scientists have achieved a remarkable breakthrough. Using the FREYA hyperspectral camera, they captured the ultraviolet spectrum of a burning meteor for the first time in history. The odds of getting such a shot were just half a percent. The result opens up a new way to study objects passing through our atmosphere. Karolina Macúchová from the HiLASE centre talked us through how the camera came to be. You'll find this interview at Vedavyzkum.cz too.
