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Scientists close to Potter-style 'invisibility cloak'
ABC.Net ^ | 4-6-2007 | staff writer

Posted on 04/06/2007 9:53:30 AM PDT by bedolido

Scientists say they have finally come up with a workable design for an invisibility cloak.

Physicists figured out the complex mathematical equations for making objects invisible by bending light around them last year.

Now a group of engineers at Purdue University in Indiana have used those calculations to design a relatively simple device that ought to be able to - one day soon - make objects as big as an aeroplane simply disappear.

(Excerpt) Read more at abc.net.au ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; Technical
KEYWORDS: cloak; invisibility; potterstyle; scientists
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1 posted on 04/06/2007 9:53:33 AM PDT by bedolido
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To: bedolido
Invented by the Clingons.
2 posted on 04/06/2007 9:59:20 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia

sorry... it’s Klingons... and we don’t meet them for another 100 years


3 posted on 04/06/2007 10:01:06 AM PDT by bedolido (I can forgive you for killing my sons, but I cannot forgive you for forcing me to kill your sons)
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To: bedolido
The major limitation is that the current design can only bend the light of a single wave-length at a time, and does not work with the entire frequency range of the visible spectrum.

"How to create a design that works for all colours of visible light at the same time will be a big technical challenge, but we believe it's possible," Professor Shalaev said. "In principle, it's doable."

It sounds neat, amd I'm happy to see the advance.

But the headline writer's definition of "close" is not what I would call "close".

4 posted on 04/06/2007 10:01:18 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Enoch Powell was right.)
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To: bedolido
Perhaps spittin Nancy can take a fashion suggestion.
5 posted on 04/06/2007 10:01:34 AM PDT by DogBarkTree (The United States failure to act against Iran will be seen as weakness throughout the Muslim world.)
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To: bedolido

It sounds like this technology needs to be classified as it would seem to rendor some of our laser guided military munitions useless.

It is however, cool.


6 posted on 04/06/2007 10:02:01 AM PDT by Tenacious 1 (No to nitwit jesters with a predisposition of self importance and unqualified political opinions!)
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To: bedolido

I have one of these


7 posted on 04/06/2007 10:02:18 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: bedolido

Excuse me?

The cloaking device was from the Romulans...


8 posted on 04/06/2007 10:02:26 AM PDT by Experiment 6-2-6 (Admn Mods: tiny, malicious things that glare and gibber from dark corners.They have pins and dolls..)
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To: b_sharp; neutrality; anguish; SeaLion; Fractal Trader; grjr21; bitt; KevinDavis; Momaw Nadon; ...
FutureTechPing!
An emergent technologies list covering biomedical
research, fusion power, nanotech, AI robotics, and
other related fields. FReepmail to join or drop.

9 posted on 04/06/2007 10:02:50 AM PDT by AntiGuv ("..I do things for political expediency.." - Sen. John McCain on FOX News)
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To: bedolido

I’ll believe it when I don’t see it.


10 posted on 04/06/2007 10:03:49 AM PDT by secretagent
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To: bedolido

Just what we need. An invisible “aeroplane”.

Anybody seen Wonder Woman lately?


11 posted on 04/06/2007 10:04:31 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: Experiment 6-2-6
True, and the Federation weenies signed away their right to develop one of their own when they signed a treaty with the Romulans and/or Klingons (I forget which). Even the 24th century is full of self-loathing wimps.
12 posted on 04/06/2007 10:04:47 AM PDT by LIConFem (Thompson 2008. Lifetime ACU Rating: 86 -- Hunter 2008 (VP) Lifetime ACU Rating: 92)
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To: secretagent

“I’ll believe it when I don’t see it.”

How is that possible? How would you know?


13 posted on 04/06/2007 10:05:16 AM PDT by bedolido (I can forgive you for killing my sons, but I cannot forgive you for forcing me to kill your sons)
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To: bedolido

Invented by the Romulans and pirated by the Klingons.


14 posted on 04/06/2007 10:06:42 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: bedolido
Bert did it on Soap in the late 70's.........
15 posted on 04/06/2007 10:08:03 AM PDT by Red Badger (If it's consensus, it's not science. If it's science, there's no need for consensus......)
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To: massgopguy
"Invented by the Romulans and pirated by the Klingons."

That's how I remember it as well (he sheepishly admits to knowing).

16 posted on 04/06/2007 10:09:25 AM PDT by safeasthebanks ("The most rewarding part, was when he gave me my money!" - Dr. Nick)
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To: massgopguy
Invented by the Romulans and pirated by the Klingons.

Nope, the Romulans gave the Klingons the secret to the cloaking device. Of course it was always the one previous to state of the art.

And yeah, the Federation was a total wuss for making the Neutral Zone and giving up cloaking tech.

17 posted on 04/06/2007 10:12:28 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (Killing all of your enemies without mercy is the only sure way of sleeping soundly at night.)
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To: DogBarkTree

Damn those Klingons sure have ugly women.


18 posted on 04/06/2007 10:14:10 AM PDT by Waverunner
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To: safeasthebanks
Many FR threads invariably lead to references to; Star Trek, The Three Stooges, The Simpsons (MONORAIL!) etc.... Dialog is recalled with disturbing accuracy.
19 posted on 04/06/2007 10:14:54 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Centurion2000

How did the enterprise end up with it? I know they were’nt suupose to have it -— but somehow got it -— hardly ever used it though (so many important matters worldwide.. and this one really bothers me since I cannot remember)


20 posted on 04/06/2007 10:15:11 AM PDT by bedolido (I can forgive you for killing my sons, but I cannot forgive you for forcing me to kill your sons)
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