A unique computer model designed by a mathematician at the University of Liverpool has shown that it is possible to make objects, such as aeroplanes and submarines, appear invisible at close range. Scientists have already created an ‘invisibility cloak’ made out of ‘metamaterial’ which can bend electromagnetic radiation – such as visible light, radar or microwaves – around a spherical space, making an object within this region appear invisible. Until now, scientists could only make objects appear invisible from far away. Liverpool mathematician Dr Sébastien Guenneau, together with Dr Frédéric Zolla and Professor André Nicolet from the University of Marseille, have proven - using a specially designed computer model called GETDP - that objects can also be made to appear invisible from close range when light travels in waves rather than beams. Scientists predict that metamaterials could be of use in military technology, such as in the construction of fighter jets and submarines, but it will be some years before invisibility cloaks can be developed for human beings. Dr Guenneau, at the University’s Department of Mathematical Science, explains: “The shape and structure of aeroplanes make them ideal objects for cloaking, as they have a fixed structure and movement pattern. Human beings and animals are more difficult as their movement is very flexible, so the cloak - as it is designed at the moment - would easily be seen when the person or animal made any sudden movement.

“A cloak, such as the one worn by the Harry Potter character for example, is not yet possible but it is a good example of what we are trying to move towards. Using this new computer model we can prove that light can bend around an object under a cloak and is not diffracted by the object. This happens because the metamaterial that makes up the cloak stretches the metrics of space, in a similar way to what heavy planets and stars do for the metrics of space-time in Einstein’s general relativity theory.

View: Full Article | Source: Physorg

Finally.

Yes, but as I mentioned before on an earlier posted topic about this, I doubt it will be available publicly.

wow, thats amazing. the things that human kind is capable of. just think, maybe in the future, this whole invisibility thing won't be considered anything spectacular, just as electricity is no longer thought of as awesome. that's so mad

Of course one big issue that needs to be addressed before this technology is of any military use is the fact that anyone under an invisibility cloak will also be blind. Metamaterials work by bending light around the object which means no light enters into the cloak so the person inside will be unable to see anything.

i don't see much benefit to this product...it would only increase crime once it gets into the wrong hands...shipment and delivery of illegal substances would be easier...invasion of privacy..the list goes on and on...

sure it's innovative..but it's unnecessary for our already-troubled society.

Can I get one so wen the mail man comes with bill I can just cloak my hoese??

I seem to remember reading about "The Philadelphia Experiment" in WWII, wasn't this an experiment in invisibility as well. They made a ship invisible. As far as I am aware that one went terribly wrong though and when the ship reappeared some of the crew were dead and some were even embedded within the deck - half in and half out sort of thing. Yuk!

Kinda. The Philadelphia Experiment was research into cloaking devices using Electromagnetic energy but... well, nothing official is known past that. It's widely said that they accidentally teleported the ship several hundred miles and back, and upon rematerialization of the ship at it's original coordinates the crew were either fuzed to the bulkhead, suspended in time, dead or just plain old wacky.

This is much different, I don't think there's any fear of fusing into concrete or anything like that.

ha...you got a bit of a point there dont you. Maybe just leave a slit for the eyes.

amazing. i hope they'll get there step by step.

WWhy do they wnt to create an invisibility cloak? Just to show that they can? Can you imagine if the completed plans got out and you have bunches of people running around inivisble? (once they solve the blindness story.. )

What uses would it have? Now they can kill Iraqi children without anyone noticing!