After years of work, David Schurig and David R. Smith at Duke University will finish their research and have absolutely nothing to show for it: They're making a cloak of invisibility.Really. So unusual is this undertaking for a serious academic electrical engineering team that Smith has created an elaborate Web site discussing the dream of invisibility as viewed in science fiction--Harry Potter and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft are mentioned--and relating such ideas to scientific fact.In theory, Smith said, it's possible to make light follow curved lines that skirt an object rather than illuminate it. Light "circulates around the void--like water flowing past a rock in a stream," Smith explained.This would create a void in space--a place that is invisible.It's an interesting theory cooked up by Smith and Sir John Pendry at the Imperial College in London. Even more interesting will be to see if the theory will produce invisibility.Equations describing the properties of electromagnetic fields were derived in the 19th Century by James Clerk Maxwell, and they can be used to envision how substances would deflect light, said Schurig.

Natural materials would not do the trick, but Duke researchers are designing artificial substances, called metamaterials, that are engineered to be invisible. They use technology for making circuit boards and computer chips to create metamaterials."We're building stuff in the microwave range, using fairly standard lithography," said Schurig.The metamaterials under construction should render an object invisible to radar, although people could still see it, said Schurig. The Duke team's goal is to have a working example sometime next year. It would demonstrate that invisibility cloaks can work.The project has evoked interest from military people who like the idea of cloaking spy satellites so they are invisible to radar, among other things. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is financing the research.

View: Full Article | Source: Chicago Tribune

Would that be something to have? Haha. I could hunt around like the Predator! My only concern is what would stop anyone to get their hands on a cloak like that and stalk, rob, murder, etc. from people? Certain things should not be.

I could do with one of them things.

It was featured in Bizarre Magazine but a green one which works with mirror reflecting.


And that picture looks like the man from the film Invisibility man or whatever its called

I agree with you on this point. I suppose its human nature especially for scientists to develop stuff like this, but I feel they rarely concider possible negative purposes for the things they develop.
You can bet that if this idea works then the fist people to get their hands on it will be the government who will use it for military purposes (eg invisible tanks, army clothing). And if its made commercially then I think that it will be abused as well.
What practical/positive purpose is there?

Mind you, I wouldnt say no if I was given one for xmas!

There was an invisibility cloak like this in the news years ago. Wonder if it will be for real this time.

You were right.

It'll never be open to commercial use. I'm sure it'll be used in small numbers in professional military enviroments.

Perhaps one or two super corporations for spying.
They are very expensive to make.
I could see a Japanese corporation putting the money into it to create one as well, now that they know it can be done.

It wouldn't comfort me even if it was just the government using it. They mess up the majority of situations that come their way.

now when they do have it developed they could use it on the F-17 stealth fighter jet and make it real stealthy.

click here

Except theirs would have an odd name and be a cheap knock off sold for 1/10 the price!