Scientists step closer to developing Harry Potter-like invisibility cloak

Harry Potter fans rejoice! Scientists are a step closer to make a Harry Potter-style invisibility cloak. They have developed a device that makes solid objects completely vanish.

The gadget, called a spectral cloak, even worked in bright daylight in tests.

Lead researcher José Azaña from Canada said, “Our work represents a breakthrough in the quest for invisibility cloaking.”

The human eye sees light that bounces off objects. Objects reflect different light depending on their colour, for example green.

In the new approach, optics scientists looked at altering light waves

But in a new approach, optics scientists looked at altering light waves going through an object.

The cloak turns this light another colour, such as blue, as it goes through the green object.

The colour then reverts to green on the other side so the view is not distorted to our eyes.

This overcomes issues faced by current cloaking devices which bounce light around objects.

Other models work properly only when an object is illuminated with just one colour of light.

The technology could one day be used to make objects invisible from every direction.

It also offers hopes of making data transmitted over fibre-optic lines more secure, thwarting criminals.