Less is more: Dimensionality reduction as a general strategy for more precise luminescence thermometry

Temperature and heat exchange are at the base of biological processes throughout the realm of Nature. Several of these biological processes are associated with temperature changes on the order of a few degrees or even below 0.1 degrees Celsius. For example, in reptiles a difference of less than one degree in the egg incubation temperature determines the sex of the newborn. The human body is no exception: a small temperature increase above the basal level could alter cell dynamics or induce the dismantling of a tumor matrix, and during seizures changes in brain temperature of a few decimal points occur. To reliably monitor these processes, approaches that minimally perturb the studies system and have a thermometric precision below 0.1 degrees Celsius are needed.