Cutting-edge developments in optical and photonic technologies advance multiple biotech applications. EPFL researchers unveiled the first self-illuminating biosensor using inelastic electron tunneling, eliminating the need for external light sources and enhancing biomolecular detection sensitivity. Scientists at the University of Oxford introduced RAVEN, a method capturing ultra-intense petawatt laser pulses’ spatio-temporal electromagnetic fields in a single shot, accelerating laser physics research. University of Ottawa developed photonic power converters integrating laser power and data transmission over fiber optics, markedly extending range and efficiency for remote sensing. These advances hold promise for diagnostics, telecommunications, and material processing enhancements.