3D Print an Invisibility Cloak?

Back in 2006, Duke scientists at the Pratt School of Engineering made headlines by showing the world that they had created the world’s first “invisibility cloak”. While the cloak could only hide an object within the microwave spectrum of light, rather than the visible spectrum, the core science behind the invisibility cloak seemed to have been revealed.

Fast forward seven years and a new generation of Duke engineers have figured out a way to create an invisibility cloak using a 3D printer. "I would argue that essentially anyone who can spend a couple thousand dollars on a non-industry grade 3D printer can literally make a plastic cloak overnight," explained Yaroslav Urzhumov, an assistant research professor in electrical and computer engineering.

While the new 3D printed cloak behaves in the same manner as the 2006 version, Urzhumov believes that in the near future cloaks that distort visible light could be printed. "We believe this approach is a way towards optical cloaking, including visible and infrared." Professor Urzhumov then added, "And nanotechnology is available to make these cloaks from transparent polymers or glass. The properties of transparent polymers and glasses are not that different from what we have in our polymer at microwave frequencies."

So if I’m understanding what the good professor is saying, one might believe that in the near future we might see (or rather, not see) transparent nanomaterial invisibility cloaks?!

Now that’s some awesome science.

Watch a Video of the Original 2006 Cloak:

Image & Video Courtesy of Duke University