For a long time, the only device to see in the dark was night glasses. But now scientists have created a type of contact lens that allows you to see clearly in the dark, even with your eyes closed.
Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have recently developed a novel contact lens that can detect infrared waves and convert them into visible light without the need for a battery-powered device.
According to the researchers, this technology can transform human vision into ‘supervision’. Professor Tian Shui, the lead author of the research paper, said, ‘Our research opens the door to a possibility that can add new dimensions to human vision through non-invasive or easy-to-use contact lenses.’ Regarding the potential use of this technology, he said, immediate application is possible in various sectors including security, rescue operations, secret messaging, information security and fraud detection.
Humans can normally see light with wavelengths between 380 and 700 nanometers. However, the special nanoparticles used in these contact lenses can detect ‘near-infrared’ light between 800 and 1,600 nanometers. Although this infrared light is invisible to the eye, it becomes visible with the help of the lens.
The researchers had previously tested the effectiveness of the nanoparticles by injecting them into the eyes of mice. Now, they have attached it to a soft contact lens to make the same technology easier to apply. The lens is made of a flexible and non-toxic polymer, which is also used to make regular contact lenses. In experimental use, it was found that infrared signals, such as light like Morse code, could be clearly detected in a dark room using this lens. Even more surprising is that the signals were detected more clearly when the eyes were closed.
Professor Shue said that infrared light can also penetrate the eyelids, which is not possible with visible light. As a result, there is no disruption in light detection even when the eyes are closed, but rather the signal is understood better because there is no interference from visible light.
The researchers also said that the nanoparticles are capable of converting infrared light of specific wavelengths into specific visible colors. For example, 980 nanometer wavelengths have been converted into blue, 808 nanometers into green, and 1,532 nanometers into red. This makes it possible to clearly understand more information and differences about the infrared environment.
Researchers claim that this technology could also be helpful for color-blind people in the future. By converting infrared waves into other visible colors, invisible colors can be made visible to them. However, the researchers said that currently this lens is only able to detect light coming from specific infrared sources, such as LED light. In the next step, they want to create nanoparticles that can also clearly detect weak infrared light.
“In the future, we want to work with optical and material scientists to develop contact lenses with improved sensitivity and higher clarity,” said Professor Shue. The research article was published in the scientific journal Cell.
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