scientists at duke university in the uk have demonstrated the first working "invisibility cloak." The cloak deflects microwave beams so they flow around a "hidden" object inside with little distortion, making it appear almost as if nothing was there.
To simplify design and fabrication in the current study, the team set out to develop a small cloak, about 12.7cm across, that would only provide invisibility in two dimensions.
True invisibility is a long way away however, according to team member Steven Cummer. To make an object literally vanish before a person's eyes, a cloak would have to simultaneously interact with all of the wavelengths, or colours, that make up light.
14-Nov-2006