October 24th, 2006 at 1:10 am
Making yourself (or something) invisible may soon be a reality and not just another science fiction fantasy. John Pendry and colleagues at Imperial College London, UK, have calculated that materials engineered to have abnormal optical properties, known as metamaterials, could make light pass around an object so it appears as if it were not there at all. Metamaterials are exotic composites made of electronic components such as wires and inductors that can be engineered to precisely control the way light travels through them.
Taking that theory, a working model has since been created and successfully proven by David Smith and colleagues at Duke University in North Carolina but only in two dimensions. Despite the fact that it works only at a single specific frequency of microwave, Smith hopes to build a 3D structure that could hide an object completely from view.
The Harry Potter’s cloak, the Star Trek cloaking device and James Bond’s Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (in Die Another Day) are examples of invisible cloaking devices. What a technological breakthrough! However, it is still not clear to me what actual use it has besides it being used in negative instances i.e. spying, robbing a bank, etc. I could see it working for us in a war situation but it could work against us as well if our enemies use it. Maybe the purpose would be clearer as the technology is developed.
5 Responses to “Making yourself invisible”
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Kunstemaecker said: @ 3:18 am
October 24th, 2006
I’ve seen it in action on television some time ago. It looks pretty cool.
Kristyn said: @ 11:00 am
October 24th, 2006
That’s awesome! I’m not sure I like the idea. I mean, what would society, or the government, do with invisibility? I’m almost frightened to think of it. :)
Kristyn
Pinoy Stupid said: @ 6:06 pm
October 24th, 2006
I agree with you a bit. I am quite unaware of any appropriate instance wherein invisibility would be of great help. It would be a hit with the bad guys though. Or for espionage. I’m getting images of Hollow Man in my head right now.
kat campbell said: @ 7:17 pm
October 24th, 2006
I saw this story too and have been wracking my brain for a logical reason to spend money on making people invisible. Besides espionage, there’s nothing. Now for everyday practical purposes, every parent would benefit.
kristarella said: @ 2:42 am
October 25th, 2006
A lot of things happen just for the advancement of knowledge and technology, it’s cool but it’s true there aren’t that many good uses. Maybe when we achieve interstellar travel we can cloak our spacecrafts?