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New Material For Fast-Change Sunglasses, Data Storage

Posted by kdawson on from the epileptics-need-not-apply dept.

sciencehabit writes "'Researchers have developed a material that almost instantaneously (30 ms) changes from clear to dark blue when exposed to ultraviolet light, and it just as quickly reverts to clear when the light is turned off. The new material, one of a class called photochromics, could be useful in optical data storage as well as in super-fancy sunglasses.'" A comment to the article notes some of the potential dangers of quick-change sunglasses.

2 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What's new? by pereric · · Score: 4, Informative

    Maybe that it doesn't need external power or control. IIRC, the auto-dim welding helmets I know of need an external power source (small solar panel + battery I presume), and dims by applying a current to the glass. I was also going to ask if this could be used for a simpler welding mask, but 30 ms is perhaps too slow for protecting against the lots of UV arc welding produces.

  2. Re:flicker probably not an issue by dintlu · · Score: 4, Informative

    This is not true. Sunburns are caused by UV rays.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunburn#Cause