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Scientists Sneak Up on Invisibility Cloak

Material shields object from view in all directions

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 19, 2010 8:12 AM CDT

(Newser) – German scientists say they have successfully used a new material to render an object invisible in three dimensions for the first time. Previous efforts at so-called invisibility cloaks could only hide objects from light coming in one direction. The material changes the behavior of light rays to "transform space," the lead researchers tells the BBC.

The material—made up tiny crystals with air spaces in between—shielded the object from infrared light, and the team is now trying to recreate the effect in the spectrum of light visible to humans. The object cloaked was minuscule, but scientists say the technology will work at any scale and we could soon be not seeing much bigger objects.

Scientists say they're closer to a so-called invisibility cloak.
Scientists say they're closer to a so-called invisibility cloak.   (Shutter Stock)
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We won't have a body-sized invisibility cloak tomorrow but this has demonstrated a remarkable proof of principle. - Professor Ortwin Hess
of the University of Surrey

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Brent Jones
Mar 20, 2010 10:21 PM CDT
Is George W. Bush wearing one?
CynthiaY29
Mar 20, 2010 8:22 PM CDT
So it bends the light around the cloak?
Realist
Mar 19, 2010 5:15 PM CDT
I wonder if anybody saw this coming?

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