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Invisibility Cloak Created In 3-D

Posted by kdawson on from the can-you-see-me-now dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists have created the first device to render an object invisible in three dimensions. The 'cloak,' described in the journal Science (abstract; full text requires login), hid an object from detection using light of wavelengths close to those that are visible to humans. Previous devices have been able to hide objects from light travelling in only one direction; viewed from any other angle, the object would remain visible. This is a very early but significant step towards a true invisibility cloak." The "object" hidden in this work was a bump one micrometer high. The light used was just longer than the wavelengths our eyes detect. To get a visible-light cloak, the features of the cloaking metamaterial would need to be reduced in size from 300 nm to 10 nm.

6 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. What good could come from invisibility? by KarlIsNotMyName · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, invisibility is "cool", and I wouldn't mind an invisibility cloak for myself. But I can't immediately think of who would benefit the general public by having invisibility. Especially among the military, the police, criminals or terrorists (all of them sometimes interchangeable).

    What practical use does invisibility have, other than as a weapon?

    --
    We are all God's parents.
    1. Re:What good could come from invisibility? by Sir_Lewk · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why does science need a reason? Once we have this stuff people will dream up creative aplications you or I could never have dreamed of.

      --
      "linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
    2. Re:What good could come from invisibility? by shadowfaxcrx · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hunting. No more constructing complex deer blinds. Have the cloak flash visible light in a spectrum the deer can't see so that you don't get shot by another hunter.

      Spy tech. A lot easier to hide a bug if the bug is invisible.

      Visual nuisances. Don't like that telephone pole in your back yard wrecking your view of the valley? Cloak the bastard.

      Military. A cloaked sniper nest's advantages are obvious. Cloak secret military installations. Cloak factories making military hardware (we've already done this, the low-tech way. Back in WWII they disguised the Lockheed factory as a housing development by using giant canvas coverings painted like houses). Cloak troop camps. Cloak airfields. Cloak airplanes. Cloak airplanes in the air (eventually).

      Of course, as with any technology, there are lots of malevolent uses too. Peeping toms will love it, as will criminals of all sorts. Hard to find the murder weapon when it's cloaked. Practical jokers will become a nuisance. Put crap on a sidewalk and cloak it, then wait for people to stumble into it.

      That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure people will come up with lots more uses.

      --
      "I disagree with you" does not equal "flamebait."
  2. Re:Yo Mamma... by swanzilla · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... so far not even a 3d cloak could hide her!

    I think you're doing it wrong.

    --
    0 = 1 + e^(Alt something)
  3. Re:Not really what you'd think it is by pclminion · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Holy shit, we're not even reading the article TITLES now? The whole reason this is new is because it makes the object invisible from all angles.

  4. This was actually much easier than it sounds... by RapmasterT · · Score: 3, Insightful

    all it really took to accomplish "Invisibility Cloak Created In 3D", was to redefine the terms "invisibility", "cloak" and "created" in new, creative ways that fit what they actually did.