Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Bill Snedden · 11-04-2003, 11:27 AM

It seems to me that there are at least three ways that could be theoretically used to make an object "invisible" to the eye:

1) Develop a method to allow light to pass through an object

2) Develop a method to bend light around an object

3) Develop a method to allow an object to blend *perfectly* with its surroundings

There may be more, but that's all I can think of offhand.

#3 is technically "camoflage" instead of "invisibility", but the result would be the same for all practical purposes. IIRC, the Defense dept. is currently working on various versions of this, one of which involves multiple cameras and computer generated images (although I'm unsure of the real practical applications).

#1 is what most people think of when they hear the word "invisible", but it also appears to be the most unlikely method, considering the reality of the physics of our universe.

#2 is probably the most scientifically plausible (after #3). We do know and have observed gravity bending light around objects in space, therefore it should at least be theoretically possible to do this, given some way of controlling gravity

I'm not sure how magnetism might be involved there. I do know that any object can be made to display "magnetic" properties when subjected to a strong enough magnetic field, but I can't immediately see how this could apply to gravity.

Regards,

Bill Snedden

Calzaer · 11-04-2003, 03:07 PM

The problem with #2 is that you'd be invisible, but you'd also be blind. No light is reaching your eyes.

Quintas · 11-04-2003, 03:45 PM

Quote:

The originator of the whole Philadelphia Experiment story was either crazy or a pathological liar:

or he was Lord

Biff the unclean · 11-04-2003, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by copiae
Anyway, from what i remember reading a several years ago, apparently the U.S Navy were testing a new method of making thier ships invisible (Not to radar, to the naked eye), using something to do with magnetism. Anyway, something happened, and the ship, and its crew, were not only found fused together, but they also were no longer at the location where the test was conducted (and apparently the movement was almost instantaenous).

In my callow beardless youth (the 60's) I was attached to the ONI. There was a project being tested on Sumner Class DDs to deflect radar. It wasn't stealth and it didn't make the ships disappear but on some radar screens their location would shift a number of miles from the actual location. There was concern over a higher rate of a type of non Hodgekins lymphoma among the crews of these ships. But nobody was fused to anything

Bill Snedden · 11-04-2003, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Calzaer
The problem with #2 is that you'd be invisible, but you'd also be blind. No light is reaching your eyes.

Yeah, you'd essentially be at the center of a black hole.

A similar problem exists for #1, in that no light could register on an optic nerve that was transparent to light...

Hey, nobody said it was perfect!

Regards,

Bill Snedden

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11-04-2003, 11:27 AM	#21
Bill Snedden Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,597	It seems to me that there are at least three ways that could be theoretically used to make an object "invisible" to the eye: 1) Develop a method to allow light to pass through an object 2) Develop a method to bend light around an object 3) Develop a method to allow an object to blend perfectly with its surroundings There may be more, but that's all I can think of offhand. #3 is technically "camoflage" instead of "invisibility", but the result would be the same for all practical purposes. IIRC, the Defense dept. is currently working on various versions of this, one of which involves multiple cameras and computer generated images (although I'm unsure of the real practical applications). #1 is what most people think of when they hear the word "invisible", but it also appears to be the most unlikely method, considering the reality of the physics of our universe. #2 is probably the most scientifically plausible (after #3). We do know and have observed gravity bending light around objects in space, therefore it should at least be theoretically possible to do this, given some way of controlling gravity I'm not sure how magnetism might be involved there. I do know that any object can be made to display "magnetic" properties when subjected to a strong enough magnetic field, but I can't immediately see how this could apply to gravity. Regards, Bill Snedden

11-04-2003, 03:07 PM	#22
Calzaer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,762	The problem with #2 is that you'd be invisible, but you'd also be blind. No light is reaching your eyes.

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