Specular reflection can be “almost a million times stronger” than the more diffuse light reflected from the rest of the planet, according to Jaiswal.

Total internal reflection fluorescence (or TIRF) microscopy excites fluorophores in a thin region of the specimen. This way, only fluorescent molecules that are close to the solid (usually a glass ...

Accurate and robust 3D imaging of specular, or mirror-like, surfaces is crucial in fields such as industrial inspection, medical imaging, virtual reality and cultural heritage preservation.

The image above was taken on July 8, 2009 by the Cassini spacecraft. Light can reflect off the surface of liquids, producing a little sparkle or glint, called a specular reflection.