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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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 Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:49 am Post subject: star trek style cloaking device only 10 years away |
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| Wired News wrote: |
A strange new material has taken scientists one-step closer to a Star Trek-styled cloaking device.
The new substance is a "metamaterial" that negatively refracts light. Metamaterials with this property raise the theoretical possibility that light could bend completely around an object, making it effectively invisible. Scientists are awed by the implications of metamaterials.
"These materials would comprise a complete -- almost magical -- mastery over light," said David Schurig, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at North Carolina State University, who did not participate in the new research. "They would enable not just invisibility cloaking, but arbitrary control over the richest information channel humans employ. One thing I know for sure, it will happen sometime between now and the technological singularity."
Previous studies have led to mathematical models for cloaking devices, but much of the work remains on theoretical physicists' drawing boards because of manufacturing constraints. Schurig designed the first conceptual invisibility cloak. |
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reaction
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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| if true...um...dibs |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm sure the Dave's ESL Cafe Nonce wishes he had managed to keep it secret for another ten years to wait for this. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| It probably would not be perfect. It wouldn't be one of those "hey I can sneak into a lady's locker room" invisibilities we all crave. If someone was walking around a room, you'd sure notice something. However, it would add another level of camouflage for military use, certainly. |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
| It probably would not be perfect. It wouldn't be one of those "hey I can sneak into a lady's locker room" invisibilities we all crave. If someone was walking around a room, you'd sure notice something. However, it would add another level of camouflage for military use, certainly. |
Well, i can imagine some practical uses for light bending materials. Especially for artwork purposes and hallucinating effects.
Also clothings could get a new wave of designs. |
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