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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.

25 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Um... by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't mean to complain, but it would be nice to have a picture.

    Even if the object is invisible...

    1. Re:Um... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...it would be nice to have a picture...

      You realize that the object is only 1 micrometer, and the cloak only 300nm,
      but here you go (photo) --> [ ]

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    2. Re:Um... by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

      I can't see it.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  2. Diplomatic Nightmare by EvanED · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh man, wait 'till the Romulans hear about this.

    1. Re:Diplomatic Nightmare by nomorecwrd · · Score: 2, Funny


      Yeah... and I'm sure we will end up signing a stupid treaty that does not allow us to use the cloak device, but let them use it at will.
      it's time to put some clear boundaries between us and them... better yet a Neutral Zone.

      Just my two pesos-

    2. Re:Diplomatic Nightmare by leuk_he · · Score: 3, Funny

      Being invisible sounds ok, until you realize that with perfect invisibility you will be effective blind. That will end non military uses you had in mind.

    3. Re:Diplomatic Nightmare by hanabal · · Score: 2, Interesting

      just leave a pinhole in the cloak and put a camera there. then wear a hud that displays the image.

      If someone looks straight at you in the right direction, they might see a tiny floating black dot. Even if they do notice it, they will most likely believe its dust or something

    4. Re:Diplomatic Nightmare by Shrike82 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Being invisible sounds ok, until you realize that with perfect invisibility you will be effective blind. That will end non military uses you had in mind.

      Blind in the visible light spectrum, which would still leave you with sonar, radar, possibly IR and UV if the material very selectively blocks the visible light portion of the EM spectrum. Not to mention the possibility of maintaining links to remote cameras and other visual/information sources using data transmitted ion wavelengths way, way outisde the visible light spectrum.

      So yes, as a Harry Potter invisibility cloak this would suck, but as a Start Trek cloak this would be awesome.

      --
      You can advertise in this sig from as little as £99.99 a month!
    5. Re:Diplomatic Nightmare by GNUALMAFUERTE · · Score: 3, Funny

      Or you can use a FLIR camera (Thermal). Off course, it's not good to look at naked ladies, but good enough to move around.

      --
      WTF am I doing replying to an AC at 5 A.M on a Friday night?
    6. Re:Diplomatic Nightmare by Sethumme · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Unless you were trying to evade sonar, radar, IR, and UV detection too.

  3. Oblig ... by krou · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nothing to see here, move along ...

    --
    'If Christ had tweeted the sermon on the mount, it might have lasted until nightfall.' - John Perry Barlow
  4. Factor 30 by Rob+Kaper · · Score: 3, Informative

    A factor 30 in wavelength difference is not "just longer" than visible light nor "close to" it. Still, impressive work. And surely, they'll get closer and closer. But cloaking a micrometer high bump is still a few pathways away from Klingon tech.

  5. Who's sig is that again? by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Ha! Invisibility Cloak? I'll believe it when I see it!"

    For some reason Locke comes to mind...

  6. 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 Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sex in public places.

    2. Re:What good could come from invisibility? by hanabal · · Score: 2, Interesting

      the ability to watch the military or police without fear of them beating you half to death just for watching

    3. 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)
    4. Re:What good could come from invisibility? by Belial6 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If it only works in a limited spectrum, cell phone towers. The Neo-Luddites that make up stupid excuses to try to fight the existance of cell phones often use the "Eye Sore" excuss to try to stop antennas from being put up. This would put an end to that. Of course, it would probably lead to a whole new argument of "Invisibility gives you cancer".

    5. Re:What good could come from invisibility? by shadowrat · · Score: 3, Funny

      are you really having sex in public if nobody can see you?

    6. Re:What good could come from invisibility? by Grimbleton · · Score: 2, Funny

      Worse than just giving you cancer, it gives you invisible cancer.

    7. 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."
  7. 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)
  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. I'm skeptical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll believe it when I see it.