Egads! Invisibility!

Ever wanted to be invisible? Maybe an embarrassing moment, like when we've spotted a certain attractive someone, turned to smile at them only to face-plant a wall? We've all been there (at least I have). At that very moment of face-to-stone contact and cascading realization, Invisibility seems the only way of escape. Not a pretty sight. Thankfully, scientists all over the world share our dream of Invisibility (face-planting is fun for nobody). With their dutiful research, we're well on our way! Relief!


Here is a low-down of a couple of the more newsworthy ones:

2003 Japan's Invisible Man

Oh Japan. Land of the crazy-ass inventions. Gotta love them for it. Engineer Susumu Tachi of Tokyo University created a system that makes anyone wearing a "special reflective material" seem to disappear with just the use of a video camera and projector.

Pretty simple. The video camera records real-life scenery behind him and transmits that image to a projector in front, which then shows up on his reflective alien-like cloak. Looks like a raincoat to me.

Watch the video, it's cooler to see it in action.

(via Time Magazine)

2006 Stealth Technology System (STS)

If there was anyone who needs Invisibility most, it would be the military. Think about it. If all our troops are invisible, all they need is handguns. Better yet, an inglorious bat. Save the country billions and billions (Hello debt-free!). No wait- even better- swift hands with a black bag and rope: no bloodshed.Ta-da! Goodbye War! Ooh, do I get a Nobel Prize for that?

In 2006, Inventor Dr. Rashid Zeineh (Dr. Z, awesome name) at Advanced American Enterprise (AAE) in Fullerton California developed tech enabling person to 85-100% invisibility down to 20 feet! Now that's hella close.


Dr. Z dubbed the shiny new technology "Stealth Technology System" (STS) (but can also be known as optical camouflage, or adaptive camouflage, or active camouflage, or chameleonic camouflage, or cloaking technology... they can't make up their minds). The announcement made quite a ruckus in the defense industry. So how does it work? Sadly no one knows because it's a military secret. According to Stealth Technology System's website, you can get your very own cloak within 4 months for $16,000. That information is not very secret. So with the unsecret price of $2,800 per dog, $29,000 per Hummer, $49,000 per plane or tank, and $59,000 per speed boat. Something smells fishy. Anyway, if I was a billionaire I'll make my own invisible island. Take that snooty rich people! My island is invisible, what can yours do?!

(via Defense Review)

2007 Single Wavelength Invisibility Cloak

Why does it look more and more like Twilight Zone as years go by? According to the scientists at Purdue University, they are using the power of mathematics to bend light around target objects, making it look invisible.

"[the design] uses an array of tiny needles radiating outward from a central spoke. The design, which resembles a round hairbrush, would bend light around the object being cloaked." Purdue.

"For this we have to first understand the phenomenon by which we can see objects. Actually we see objects when the light falling on these objects is reflected back from their surfaces and hits our eye. Now if we can develop a device that does not reflect light back from the object then we will not be able to see the object. This can be compared to glass as we cannot see glass in light as it does not reflect light back to us. " Science Ahead.

What and what? All I see is hairbrush, cones and and light rays bending around water glasses- all with the power of mathematics. Well if that's the case, can the power of math help me bend around sound waves of annoying roomates?

(via Purdue University News & Science Ahead)

So when can we get our little hands on this awesome invisibility ability? Not anytime soon, but eventually this technology will filter down for us to pounce on (avoiding face-plant is a powerful motivator). It's going to filter down sooner or later. So, time comes and you hear a cough in the shower, start spraying. Bullets I mean. Ask questions later.