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class="summary_details"> <div class="sd_top"> <a class="small" href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/scienceandeducation/" style="float: left; ">SCIENCE AND EDUCATION</a> </div> <h2>New cloaking device is no mirage – but it's like one</h2> <div class="summary_details_left"> <p>By <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/" rel="author">Ben Coxworth</a></p> <p><em>14:44 October 4, 2011</em></p> </div> <div class="summary_details_right"> <p><img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/icons/splashyIcons/comments.png" alt=""/> <a href="#comments">12 Comments</a> </p> <p></p> </div> </div> <div id="hero_box" style="width: 529px;"> <a id="hero_link" href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-cloak-mirages/20048/picture/143967/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/miragecloak.jpg" title="A new 'invisibility cloak' utilizes the same effect that causes mirages to appear (Image: ..." width="529" height="298" alt="A new 'invisibility cloak' utilizes the same effect that causes mirages to appear (Image: ..." border="0"/></a><div class="pic_caption"> <p>A new 'invisibility cloak' utilizes the same effect that causes mirages to appear (Image: Institute of Physics) </p> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div class="article_body"> <div id="top_unit"></div> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script> <p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p>You have no doubt seen mirages on the distant surfaces of hot highways before, looking like pools of water shimmering on the asphalt. Such illusions are caused by hot air above the road, which refracts light waves coming down into it from the cooler air above - in other words, the supposed "water" is actually the sky, its image being bent toward you by the low-lying hot air. Well, scientists at the University of Texas at Dallas have put the same principle to work in the lab, and created an invisibility cloak that can be easily switched on and off.</p> <p>The cloak itself is composed of a thin transparent layer of highly-aligned carbon nanotubes, which are known for their ability to conduct and disperse heat. This sheet is drawn taught on a mounting apparatus, and then placed in front of the object that needs to be hidden.</p> <p>When viewed through the clear sheet, the object is completely visible. When an alternating electric current or a pulse of electromagnetic radiation is ran through the sheet, however, it becomes hot, and also spreads that heat to the air immediately around it. This causes a steep temperature gradient, which in turn causes light rays reflecting off the object to bend, instead of proceeding straight to the viewer's eye. As a result, the object seems to disappear.</p> <p>As soon as the current is turned off, the effect ceases. The process is said to work particularly well underwater, as the video below illustrates.</p> <p>A paper on the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722/http://www.utdallas.edu/" target="_blank">UT Dallas</a> research was recently published in the journal <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722/http://iopscience.iop.org/0957-4484/22/43/435704" target="_blank"><em>Nanotechnology</em></a>.</p></body></html></p>  <div class="article_video"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/3YO4TTpYg7g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <div id="bottom_unit"> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script> </div> </div>  <span class="title">Share</span> <div id="article_share" class="dotsontop"> <span class="as_button"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="horizontal" data-via="gizmag">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722js_/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> twttr.events.bind('tweet', function(event) { if (event) { var targetUrl; if (event.target && event.target.nodeName == 'IFRAME') { targetUrl = extractParamFromUri(event.target.src, 'url'); } _gaq.push(['_trackSocial', 'twitter', 'tweet', targetUrl]); } }); twttr.events.bind('retweet', function(){ var targetUrl; if (event.target && event.target.nodeName == 'IFRAME') { targetUrl = extractParamFromUri(event.target.src, 'url'); } _gaq.push(['_trackSocial', 'twitter', 'retweet', targetUrl]); }); function extractParamFromUri(uri, paramName){ if(!uri){ return; } var uri = uri.split('#')[0]; //remove anchor var parts = uri.split('?'); //check for query params if(parts.length == 1){ return; //no params } var query = decodeURI(parts[1]); //find the url param paramName += '='; var params = query.split('&'); for(var i = 0, param; param = params[i]; ++i){ if(param.indexOf(paramName) === 0){ return unescape(param.split('=')[1]); } } } </script> </span> <span class="as_button"><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722js_/http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1"></script></span> <span class="as_button"><g:plusone size="medium" count="true" href="http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-cloak-mirages/20048/"></g:plusone></span> <span class="as_button"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722js_/http://platform.linkedin.com/in.js"></script><script type="in/share" data-counter="right"></script></span> <span class="as_button"><script type="text/javascript">reddit_newwindow='1'</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722js_/http://www.reddit.com/static/button/button1.js"></script></span> <fb:like href="http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-cloak-mirages/20048/" send="false" width="450" show_faces="false" font="" id="facebook_like"></fb:like><script type="text/javascript">_ga.trackFacebook();</script> </div>   <div id="tags"> <span class="title">Tags</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <ul> <li>» <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/cloaking/" rel="tag">Cloaking</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/invisibility/" rel="tag">Invisibility</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/nanotechnology/" rel="tag">Nanotechnology</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/university+of+texas/" rel="tag">University of Texas</a></li> <li class="clear_both"></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="bing_unit"></div>  <span class="title" id="comments">User Comments (12)</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="comment_dots">  <div id="comment-83692" class="a_comment"> <p>Hmmm yes and mirages only work at a very shallow angle too... </p> <p></p> <p>I mean this is not crap - but it's limited to flat surfaces and shallow angles - and IR free detection. </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Mr Stiffy</span> <span class="date">- October 4, 2011 @ 05:36 pm PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83782" class="a_comment"> <p>It is a bit crap... not that I could do better. </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Gordon Torbet</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 04:29 am PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83785" class="a_comment"> <p>Damn, those Klingons are going to be pissed when they find out somebody stole their technology........ </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Ianspeed</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 04:40 am PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83839" class="a_comment"> <p>One step towards a world of mischief. </p> <p></p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Dani73</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 09:26 am PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83854" class="a_comment"> <p>Cloak of invisibility for real! </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Joe Santarromana</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 09:56 am PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83863" class="a_comment"> <p>I could use it to hide in plain sight whilst giggling like Peter Griffin. </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">James Forsyth</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 10:23 am PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83887" class="a_comment"> <p>THIS IS A COMPLTE outrage to call this crap ,Our scintest from across the wolrd spend there lives making products for gits liek u and me ,scince the begin of time man has neevr coem close to this level of stealth and yet u say its crap ,,Given that stealth tecnolgy will only reallly have negative uses for mankind ie military death bots and soilders and sneaky peakeys ,,with limited good use such as nature photography or fishing to new levels ,,to say this is a crap idea is outragous .shame on u all.Well doen texas </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Richardf</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 11:54 am PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83893" class="a_comment"> <p>Come on people. This is a project in progress, don't expect miracles all at once. Although I guess we all know what they have in mind for this technology once it's perfected! </p> <p>Ah, where would we be without military funding? </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">warren52nz</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 12:41 pm PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83914" class="a_comment"> <p>Interesting, but this begs for a more varied demonstration. </p> <p></p> <p>1. How does this work at different viewing angles? </p> <p></p> <p>2. In the current demo, the sheet mostly hid itself. Can it hide objects sitting behind the sheet? </p> <p></p> <p>3. What are the current size limitations for the effect? </p> <p></p> <p>These are all interesting questions which I believe could be answer right now, at least in the context of the prototype. </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Loving It All</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 02:25 pm PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-83950" class="a_comment"> <p>It's not crap - as in bad, it's just the mirage effect of a hot boundry layer of air sticking to a surface ONLY works in a very narrow angle.... </p> <p></p> <p>As a child in outback (stinking hot) Australia - these were NORMAL to see on the road in the middle of the day...... that shiny layer over the road, some distance away and as you get closer or the angle changes slightly - "huffff" (sound of ghost passing) - the mirage invisibilates..... </p> <p></p> <p>Gone... <br/><iframe class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="300" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/kAaNhStwhLs" frameborder="0"> </iframe><br/></p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Mr Stiffy</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 04:54 pm PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-84004" class="a_comment"> <p>Today, portable(?) mirages. Tomorrow, portable holes! </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Gregg Eshelman</span> <span class="date">- October 5, 2011 @ 08:51 pm PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="comment-84076" class="a_comment"> <p>I don't get it. </p> <p>Suppose an invisibility cloak is a purchasable product- than what? </p> <p>Who'd use it and for what purposes? </p> <img src="/web/20111006183722im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/comment.png" alt="comment"> <span class="name">Chi Ken Sup</span> <span class="date">- October 6, 2011 @ 05:33 am PDT</span> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> </div> <span class="title">Post a Comment</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="comment_form_div"> <div id="comment_form" data-article="20048"> <div id="comments_login"> <form action="" style="clear: both; padding-top: 0px;" name="login_form" id="login_form" onsubmit="return false;"> <p><strong>Login with your gizmag account:</strong></p> <p id="login_status"></p> <label for="email">Email</label><input type="text" class="text" name="email" id="email" value=""/><br/><br/> <label for="password">Password</label><input type="password" class="text" name="password" id="password" value=""/><br/> <div> <input type="submit" style="float: right" id="submit" value="Log In"/> <div id="options"> <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/register/">Register here</a>       <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/new_password/">Forgotten your password?</a> </div> </div> <input type="hidden" id="expired_comment" value=""/> </form> </div> <div id="facebook_login"> <p>Or <strong>Login with Facebook:</strong></p><br/> <fb:login-button scope="email" max-rows="1" onlogin="loginFUser(20048);" autologoutlink="true"></fb:login-button> </div> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <br/> <span class="title">Related Articles</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <div id="related_articles"> <div class="pair"> <div> <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/go/7186/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="Scientists move a step closer to being able to make objects invisible"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/7186_4050715552.png" alt="Scientists move a step closer to being able to make objects invisible"/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/go/7186/">Scientists move a step closer to being able to make objects invisible</a> </div> <div> <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/render-of-cloaked-objects/13347/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="A bump on the metallic floor is hidden, but the cloak itself is visible due to surface ref..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/cloakrender.jpg" alt="A bump on the metallic floor is hidden, but the cloak itself is visible due to surface ref..."/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/render-of-cloaked-objects/13347/">What invisible objects will actually look like</a> </div> <div class="clear_both" style="height: 10px;"></div> </div> <div class="pair"> <div> <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/nano-ring-metamaterials-invisibility-cloaks/13740/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="A Dutch team of scientists has made a huge step toward manufacturing a Harry Potter-style ..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/nano_rings.jpg" alt="A Dutch team of scientists has made a huge step toward manufacturing a Harry Potter-style ..."/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/nano-ring-metamaterials-invisibility-cloaks/13740/">Nano-magnets in metamaterials pave the way to invisibility cloaks</a> </div> <div> <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-cloak-metamaterials-size/18454/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="SEM image of a fabricated carpet cloak, the insets show the oblique view of the carpet clo..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111006183722im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/carpetcloak.jpg" alt="SEM image of a fabricated carpet cloak, the insets show the oblique view of the carpet clo..."/></a> <a style="clear: both" class="blue" href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-cloak-metamaterials-size/18454/">Researchers overcome size hurdle in quest for invisibility cloak</a> </div> <div class="clear_both" style="height: 10px;"></div> </div> <div class="pair"> <div> <a href="/web/20111006183722/http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-vision/11263/" class="image" style="clear: both" title="Harry Potter and his cloak of invisibility - 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