Current Event 9
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2587624
By Randolph E. Schmid
Associated Press
October 19, 2006
Researchers from the United States and England developed a cloak of invisibility that could hide a copper cylinder. The researchers first designed a cloak that prevents microwaves from detecting objects. The cloak used special materials to deflect radar, light, or other waves around an object. The first cloak was two-dimensional and did cast a small shadow. The next step is to make it three-dimensional and eliminate shadows. The cloak is made of metamaterials, which are mixtures of metal and circuit board materials such as ceramic, Teflon, or fiber composite.
Those involved were researchers from Duke University. The cloak was designed by David Schurig, a research associate in Duke's electrical and computer engineering department. The research was supported by the Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program and the United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Right now, this does not affect anyone personally, but the research paves the path for an improved version of the cloak that could hide people and objects from visible light.
If the cloak is improved so it can be used for people and objects, this will raise the issue of whether or not it is ethical to make such things invisible. If it is accessible to the public, someone could use it to hide things like weapons, or to sneak in a place they aren't supposed to go into.
The impact to society is that if this cloak is improved so that it emits no reflections or shadows and truly makes something appear invisible, then you may never know who or what around you is actually there but you just can't see it.
This is a good thing if it stays in the hands of the "right" people. If it is released to the public it could potentially be dangerous. I could see it causing more harm than good. People robbing places, entering secure buildings or boarding airplanes, bringing weapons into government buildings or airports, etc. It should only be used by an agency such as the CIA.
By Randolph E. Schmid
Associated Press
October 19, 2006
Researchers from the United States and England developed a cloak of invisibility that could hide a copper cylinder. The researchers first designed a cloak that prevents microwaves from detecting objects. The cloak used special materials to deflect radar, light, or other waves around an object. The first cloak was two-dimensional and did cast a small shadow. The next step is to make it three-dimensional and eliminate shadows. The cloak is made of metamaterials, which are mixtures of metal and circuit board materials such as ceramic, Teflon, or fiber composite.
Those involved were researchers from Duke University. The cloak was designed by David Schurig, a research associate in Duke's electrical and computer engineering department. The research was supported by the Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program and the United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Right now, this does not affect anyone personally, but the research paves the path for an improved version of the cloak that could hide people and objects from visible light.
If the cloak is improved so it can be used for people and objects, this will raise the issue of whether or not it is ethical to make such things invisible. If it is accessible to the public, someone could use it to hide things like weapons, or to sneak in a place they aren't supposed to go into.
The impact to society is that if this cloak is improved so that it emits no reflections or shadows and truly makes something appear invisible, then you may never know who or what around you is actually there but you just can't see it.
This is a good thing if it stays in the hands of the "right" people. If it is released to the public it could potentially be dangerous. I could see it causing more harm than good. People robbing places, entering secure buildings or boarding airplanes, bringing weapons into government buildings or airports, etc. It should only be used by an agency such as the CIA.
posted by Emily @ 6:17 PM
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