An understanding of the science of light has led to ways of correcting faulty vision, and improving vision to study objects that are too small or too distant to be seen by the unaided eye. The performance of instruments such as microscopes, telescopes, and the human eye depends on the principles of optics. But even with recent technological advances, some mysteries remain. The nature of light has puzzled scientists for centuries, and just when they think they have it figured out, light does something completely unpredictable. "Light and Optics" explores the science of electromagnetic radiation and its tremendous variety of applications. This enlightening book includes discussions of the optics of image formation, the intense beams produced by lasers, the role of light in biological processes such as photosynthesis and medical procedures such as laser surgery, astronomical observations based on all types of radiation, and applications involving communication, radar, and the transformation of light into electricity.