• Question: Is it possible to be completely invisible?

    Asked by sebadam to Mike, Pip, Tim, Tom on 4 Jul 2012. This question was also asked by karishma.
    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 4 Jul 2012:

      I suppose if it is completely dark, you would be completely invisible (actually, you do fluoresce a little, but I think you would need some light shining on you to cause this).

      To exist without absorbing or reflecting any light, even in standing out in the sun? I can’t see how this could be achieved…

    • Photo: Philippa Bird

      Philippa Bird answered on 4 Jul 2012:

      They have created an “invisibility cloak” which works by bending light around an object, but so far have only done it with objects smaller than the width of a human hair. They are working on getting things bigger though!

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 4 Jul 2012:

      As Pip says, an invisibility cloak has been invented, but only for small things.
      It’s very, very difficult to make something that completely guides light around a body and works the same in every direction. I think that there’s been talk of something larger, but it would only work if your head was in one, exact position. If you move to the side, you’d be able to see whatever was behind.

Comments