Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in 'Cloaking Technology'

While still a long way from the cloaking devices seen on sci-fi shows, physicist at the Imperial College London have managed to create a material that 'disappears' when a laser beam strikes it.



Presently the 'cloaking effect' only works on the infrared wavelength, but researchers are certain they can refine the technology to make it work in the visible light spectrum and without the need for special materials.

Did they steal Troy Hurtubise's Invention then? (boolean search "Angel Light")

Cool, the next step would be to make it affordable. Apparently the article said it required miniscule engineering of artificial atoms to make this work - not an easy thing to do en masse.

Step 1: Make work in visible wavelengths (10 years at most)

Step 2: Make it affordable to build (15 more years)

So in about 25 years we could probably start seeing the first uses of this technology.

Talking about cloaking in the infrared spectrum, wouldn't the military like this technology for fighter jets so that they could avoid heat-seekers? It would make the infrared wavelength of the fighter jet invisible, no?

However, I guess the exhaust trails might still give off enough heat to allow the missile to remain locked - though it might not be as accurate.

But if the stuff inside the ship aren't made of that material it would still be visable. You'd have pilots just floating out there.

"So I see you're flying your invisible plane."

"Uhm, erm... I'm actually in the lavatory of the invisible plane."