Revolutionary Camera Captures 1 Trillion Frames Per Second, Visualizes the Invisible

A groundbreaking camera developed by researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is capable of capturing images at an astonishing speed of 1 trillion frames per second, presenting a new frontier in imaging technology that allows scientists to visualize phenomena previously deemed invisible. This innovative camera was unveiled by Dr. Lihong Wang, Bren Professor of Medical Engineering and Electrical Engineering at Caltech, and is discussed in a paper published in the journal *Science Advances* on June 16, 2025.

The introduction of this camera marks a significant advancement from a previous model that could capture up to 10 trillion frames per second but was limited by its inability to image transparent materials. The new technology, termed phase-sensitive compressed ultrafast photography (pCUP), shifts the focus from merely speed to the ability to visualize transparent objects such as glass and water. According to Dr. Wang, "What we’ve done is to adapt standard phase-contrast microscopy so that it provides very fast imaging, allowing us to image ultrafast phenomena in transparent materials."

Phase-contrast microscopy, a technique first developed by Dutch physicist Frits Zernike over a century ago, relies on changes in the speed of light as it passes through different mediums. By manipulating these shifts, the new camera can produce clear images of otherwise invisible activities, such as shockwaves propagating through water or laser pulses traveling through crystalline materials. This capability opens new avenues for research in various scientific fields including physics, biology, and chemistry.

Dr. Wang’s team demonstrated the effectiveness of this technology by capturing the propagation of shockwaves in water and the dynamics of light in crystalline materials, showcasing the potential of pCUP to visualize processes that are otherwise undetectable. The implications of this technology are vast, with potential applications in areas such as biomedical imaging, neuroimaging, chemical reaction monitoring, and materials science.

In the realm of biomedical imaging, pCUP could be instrumental in studying rapid processes within living cells, such as protein folding and intracellular signaling. Dr. Wang envisions its application in neuroscience to observe the slight expansions of nerve fibers as signals travel, potentially revolutionizing the understanding of brain functionality and neurological diseases. Furthermore, the technology may facilitate the observation of ultrafast chemical reactions, contributing to the development of new catalysts and enhanced understanding of reaction mechanisms.

The impact of pCUP extends into materials science, where it can provide insights into phase transitions and stress analysis of materials under various conditions. Such capabilities may inform the design of advanced materials for applications in aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering sectors.

In addition to scientific applications, pCUP has transformative potential in areas such as fluid dynamics, plasma physics, and security and defense, where it can visualize phenomena like turbulence, explosive dynamics, and projectile motion.

The research leading to this innovation was supported by the National Institutes of Health and involved contributions from co-authors including Taewoo Kim, a postdoctoral scholar in medical engineering, along with former researchers Jinyang Liang and Liren Zhu. As the research progresses, the implications of this technology promise to unveil the unseen, fostering a new era of scientific discovery and technological advancement. Dr. Wang’s affiliation with the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience at Caltech highlights his commitment to advancing the understanding of fundamental biological processes and the brain. The ongoing developments in phase-sensitive compressed ultrafast photography may soon provide unprecedented insights into the complexities of the natural world, making the invisible, visible.