Amazing scientific breakthrough: paper clip made invisible

Scientists are a step closer to creating a cloaking device after making an object visible to the naked eye disappear for the first time.

In the past, researchers have only been able to "cloak" microscopic objects using extremely complicated physics and so-called meta-materials made on a tiny scale.

But a new study at the University of Birmingham in the UK has taken a major step forward by making a paper clip invisible - an object thousands of times bigger than in previous experiments.

Full Article: www.theage.com.au...


This is pretty cool, I wonder how feasible it is to use this technology in fabric (physically and economically)..?

Wars in the future will be fought by invisible robots

Thoughts?

This is awesome!! I'm sure we figured out how to do this about 20 years ago or so, but atleast its out in the open now.

reply to post by ballsdeep


S&F

Fantastic news! Thanks.

We should brainstorm as many uses for this as possible, I'm wondering what every day uses it could have as well as the obvious military/intel applications.

Intresting stuff... but I disagree with the breakthrough part and the bit anout object size as well... You should really hope to hear the beatiful music which can be brought forth from this incredible technology... Tesla coils can give you a sense of what im refering to, but the sound will not be anywhere near as refined...

That's pretty cool but I'd hate to be the person that drops it and has it find it on the floor

The military will surely pick this technology up once it becomes more larger and effective. It would make assassins jobs and espionage easier for the alphabet soup of agencies that we have.

reply to post by ValValient4


Does Calcite have some cool resonance or something?

They are using the refractive qualities of calcite crystal to bend light around the object (like metamaterials do but with a naturally occuring crystal).

Unfortunately this implementation requires some thickness of material and the result is less than portable and inconspicuous.

Also, calcite has a hazy and milky appearance due to its microstructure and so the fact that it hides an object is overcome by the "cloak" being visible.

A similar device could be created with a number of refractors & reflectors but the mechanisim by which they work is rather obvious.

It is hoped that when we perfect optical invisibility using metamaterials that the mechanism will be nanoscale and will not be obvious.

I read the article and I dont think this is the breakthrough it at first seems. The paperclip was made invisible by being hidden behind a light bending crystal! So the object may disappear but you can still see the crystal! I can just see the new series of the invisible man...
"Dont look for the man, instead watch out for a floating 6ft tall crystal...He'll be hiding behind that!"

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner


You're right, although this just changes the practical applications of the technology - it's still pretty cool.

reply to post by ballsdeep


Some details and a picture of Calcite:

en.wikipedia.org...

Originally posted by ballsdeep
We should brainstorm as many uses for this as possible, I'm wondering what every day uses it could have

I have enough trouble finding a biro in my house, let alone an invisible one.

My first thoughts are that is amazing. But then I wonder what are the practical uses for a cloaking device...unrelated to times of War?

reply to post by packinupngoin


Yeah exactly haha.

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner


LOL Oh my word that was hilarious.

reply to post by packinupngoin



Peeping toms?

Fa sho
.

Why not just use a piece of cardboard? It doesn't just bend the light, it completely blocks it.

...am I missing something here or is this calcite idea really as dumb as it sounds?

You could use it for home security purposes... imagine a wall about knee high running all around your yard/property... it would keep pesky neighborhood pets at bay... sure they could jump it... but imagine their surprise... also to catch would be thieves off guard... imagine THEIR surprise!!!

Also I would love to own an invisible computer desk... or even an invisible chair...

Originally posted by chr0naut
Unfortunately this implementation requires some thickness of material and the result is less than portable and inconspicuous.

Also, calcite has a hazy and milky appearance due to its microstructure and so the fact that it hides an object is overcome by the "cloak" being visible.

So they can make a paper clip invisible by placing calcite crystals over it? If the crystals are visible I'm not sure how great that is.

It sounds a long way from the invisibility technology portrayed in the movie "Predator".

A video of the invisible paper clip would have been nice, to see just how "invisible" it really is.