Invisibility Cloaks Possible, Study Says

[Brian]

Invisibility Cloaks Possible, Study Says (http://www.thetechlounge.com/news/10138/Invisibility+Cloaks+Possible+Study+Says/)

"Rarely, if ever, does physics news pique the interest of Pentagon brass, Harry Potter fans, and aspiring Romulans—those cloaking-device-wielding Star Trek baddies. But a paper in tomorrow's issue of the journal Science might. In it researchers lay out design specs for materials that they say will be able to bend electromagnetic radiation around space of any size and shape.

The translation for Star Trek fans: Invisibility shields may not be science fiction for much longer. The theoretical breakthrough is made possible by novel substances called metamaterials. Invented six years ago, the man-made materials are embedded with networks of exceptionally tiny metal wires and loops. "

Read full story here (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/060525-invisibile.html)

[PsychoSnowMan]

That's the coolest thing I've heard in a long time. Even if a cloaking device is impractical it would probably be useful in other fields. In medicine you could probably control the radiation used in radiotherapy more effectively for example.

[Kalo]

That's pretty neat. It's like Harry Potter, but for real. :P

[CTM420]

So, no news though on Plasma-Casters? Damn, I guess I'll never get to be a Predator like in the movies.

[tiamat]

Invisibility shields and invisibility cloaks are two totally different technologies. Based on the above article, it may be possible to do invisibility cloaks, someday in the future. However, invisibility shields require something similiar to forcefield technology, which we are not even close to achieiving.

[Overload]

No, but it will be cool when we do. :) I'm all for invisibility but at the same time it can be VERY dangerous in the wrong hands!

[Debrandt]

It isn't invisibility. They said quote "bend the light". Bending the light would not produce an invisibility effect.

In order to get invisibility, the light would need to travel thru the item, like it does with a piece of glass.

[PennyManDeux]

It isn't invisibility. They said quote "bend the light". Bending the light would not produce an invisibility effect.

In order to get invisibility, the light would need to travel thru the item, like it does with a piece of glass.

You are contradicting yourself. You say bending light would not produce an invisibility effect, that you need light to pass through the item, like with a piece of glass. Last time I checked, glass bends light. :roll: Do you remember those triangular prisms in elementary school that would... well... bend light? If glass was truly invisible and didn't bend light, how would you pour yourself a glass of milk? You wouldn't be able to see the glass! :lol: If you bend the light around an object correctly, you can achieve an invisibility effect.

So you are right and you are completely wrong. No it isn't invisibility, but yes, the goal is to produce an invisibility effect.

[Cats_Shadow]

I really needed an invisibility cloak when I was in highschool. Wasn't able to sneak into the girl's locker room without one!

[Kalo]

I really needed an invisibility cloak when I was in highschool. Wasn't able to sneak into the girl's locker room without one!
What were you thinking?! Perv!!! :P