New lens technology could revolutionize telescopes

Scientists at the University of Utah have developed a new type of telescope lens that could change astronomy. Current space telescopes are complex and expensive due to their glass lenses, which have issues like color distortion and size limitations. The new design replaces traditional curved lenses with a flat lens. Researchers say this flat lens can focus light effectively while eliminating some color correction problems associated with curved lenses. Their tests showed it could capture sharp images of the Sun and Moon, clearly showing features like sunspots. This flat lens, called a multi-level diffractive lens, is lightweight and compact. It measures 100 millimeters in diameter and works well across the visible light spectrum. This innovation could make space telescopes cheaper and easier to launch. In traditional telescopes, lenses bend light to magnify distant objects, but they can be heavy and tricky to work with. On the other hand, mirror-based telescopes, like the Hubble, reflect light but require regular maintenance. The new flat lens could provide an option that balances these designs. Overall, the researchers believe this breakthrough could lead to faster, low-cost missions in space and improved capabilities for ground-based astronomy.