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An Invisible World

Updated on August 18, 2011

Bending Light

Past Problem

For many years now, scientists have toyed with the idea of invisibility.

So far, the greatest achievements have probably been in the military, with the “cloaking” of aircraft and ships.

This though, does not make them invisible to the eye, only to radar.

The problem with making something invisible to the eye has always been that light would wrap around an object at different speeds. This would make the object look like a distorted grey blob.

According to a paper released on August 9th, this problem has now been solved.

The potential is now here to bend light around any object, enshrouding it, so that it cannot be, visibly seen.

This technology apparently can also bend light, meaning an underground location could look as if it was above ground, to the occupants.

The Past

Stealth
Stealth

What Next?

Now the technology has been found for a cloak of invisibility, what will it be used for?

Boeing has already suggested that a flight in an aircraft, with an invisible fuselage, would be more interesting.

Perhaps the military would want an armored car or tank, which could still afford the occupants total all round view.

There could be buildings that allowed the occupants to still look up and see the sky.

Crops could be grown inside, away from the elements, yet still receive full sun light.

The Future

Invisible Suit
Invisible Suit

Future Problems

One possible problem remains.

Although it is obvious that spy agencies will certainly make use of this technology in one way or another, how will we be able to limit its use?

Just as we can think of uses, so can the criminal elements, ranging from a cat burglar to a crime syndicate. It is already hard for the law enforcement agencies to combat crime, with invisibility as a weapon for the unlawful, this task will become harder.

The only consolation that the police may have, is that a suit made with this technology, is still vulnerable to mist, dust, fog or water droplets. So in those conditions, the suit would only assist someone in hiding, it would not render them invisible.

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