Latest news with #nanoparticles
Sustainability Times
27-05-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
See in Total Darkness: Infrared Contact Lenses Let Humans Detect Night Vision Even With Eyes Fully Shut
IN A NUTSHELL 👁️ Researchers have developed innovative contact lenses that allow humans to perceive infrared light , enhancing vision capabilities. , enhancing vision capabilities. 🐭 Initial tests on mice and humans showed successful infrared detection , with improved signal interpretation when eyes are closed. , with improved signal interpretation when eyes are closed. 🔬 The lenses use nanoparticle technology to convert near-infrared wavelengths into visible light, opening up new visual possibilities. to convert near-infrared wavelengths into visible light, opening up new visual possibilities. 🔒 Potential applications span security, accessibility for the visually impaired, and communication, offering transformative benefits across various domains. The realm of human vision is on the brink of a revolutionary breakthrough, thanks to the development of innovative contact lenses that allow humans to perceive infrared light. These lenses, requiring no external power source, promise to unlock a world previously unseen by the naked eye. As researchers push the boundaries of wearable technology, these lenses may soon become a staple for various applications, ranging from security enhancements to aiding the visually impaired. This groundbreaking technology offers a glimpse into a future where human capabilities are enhanced beyond current limitations. Mice, Morse Code, and Multi-Color IR Detection In the quest to create superhuman vision, researchers have successfully tested their infrared-detecting contact lenses on both mice and humans. The lenses allowed mice to perceive infrared light, prompting behavioral changes such as avoiding illuminated zones, a clear indicator of infrared perception. When applied to human trials, participants could decipher Morse-code-like signals from infrared LED sources, judging the direction of incoming signals accurately. Notably, participants experienced improved infrared vision when they closed their eyes, as near-infrared (NIR) light penetrates the eyelid more effectively than visible light. This fascinating development underscores the potential of these lenses to enhance human perception in unique ways. By fine-tuning the nanoparticles within the lenses, researchers enabled users to distinguish between different NIR wavelengths, effectively adding a color-coding capability to the technology. This ability to perceive color variations in infrared light opens up new possibilities for communication and information transmission, making these lenses a versatile tool in numerous fields. 'Mach 6 From a Runway': US Unveils Hypersonic Jet Engine That Could Redefine Military Airpower and Global Strike Speed Looking Ahead: Better Resolution and Broader Applications While the development of infrared contact lenses marks a significant leap forward, challenges remain. The proximity of the lenses to the retina causes light scattering, which reduces image sharpness. To address this, researchers have also developed a goggle-style wearable using the same nanoparticle technology, which offers enhanced resolution. This alternative form factor could prove valuable for tasks requiring more precise visual acuity. The current iteration of lenses is limited to detecting strong NIR emissions from LED sources. Enhancing their sensitivity to ambient infrared radiation in natural environments is a key focus for future research. Collaborations with materials scientists and optical experts aim to create contact lenses with improved spatial resolution and heightened sensitivity, paving the way for even broader applications. 'Mind-Controlled Roaches Are Real': Scientists Use UV Helmets to Wirelessly Command Cockroach Cyborgs in Chilling New Experiment Nanoparticle Technology: The Engine Behind Super Vision At the heart of these groundbreaking contact lenses lies the sophisticated use of nanoparticles. These specialized particles are embedded into soft contact lenses, where they convert NIR wavelengths into visible light. Emitting light in the 400–700 nm range, these particles enable wearers to perceive infrared sources as distinct visual signals. This conversion process is what allows the lenses to transform invisible infrared light into something visible to the human eye. The versatility of nanoparticle technology extends beyond just infrared detection. By converting red visible light into green, this technology could also assist individuals with color blindness, making previously indistinguishable hues visible. The potential applications of these lenses are vast, and as the technology matures, it may offer solutions to a range of visual impairments and challenges. UK Unleashes Instant Drug Scanner: New High-Tech Street Weapon Can Detect Narcotics Before They're Even Consumed Potential Applications: Security, Accessibility, and Beyond The implications of infrared contact lenses are profound, offering transformative benefits across multiple domains. In security and rescue operations, the ability to perceive flickering infrared signals could facilitate covert communication and information transmission. Encryption and anti-counterfeiting measures could also benefit from the unique capabilities of these lenses. For the visually impaired, the lenses may provide a novel form of assistance, enabling them to perceive visual cues that were previously inaccessible. As the technology evolves, its applications are likely to expand, offering enhanced vision to a wider audience. The lenses represent a significant step toward non-invasive wearable devices that bestow superhuman capabilities, enriching our interaction with the world around us. As the development of infrared contact lenses continues to advance, the possibilities for enhancing human vision seem boundless. With ongoing research and collaboration, these lenses could soon become a ubiquitous tool, reshaping how we perceive and interact with our environment. What other breakthroughs in wearable technology might lie on the horizon, waiting to change the way we experience the world? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (21)
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Scientists create night-vision contact lenses that even work with your eyes closed
Scientists have developed contact lenses that allow people to see in the dark, and even work better when people have their eyes closed. Unlike night vision goggles, these lenses do not require a power source and allow the wearer to perceive a range of infrared wavelengths, and researchers say they could give people 'super-vision'. Professor Tian Xue, from the University of Science and Technology in China, said: 'Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices, and there are many potential applications right away. 'For example, flickering infrared light could be used to transmit information in security, rescue, encryption or anti-counterfeiting settings.' Humans can see a range of light waves called the visible light spectrum, which encompasses wavelengths from around 380 to 700 nanometers. The contact lens technology uses nanoparticles that absorb light we cannot see and converts it into wavelengths that are visible. These nanoparticles specifically enable detection of 'near-infrared light', which is infrared light in the 800-1600 nanometer range - just beyond what humans can already see. The team previously showed that these nanoparticles enable infrared vision in mice when injected into the retina, but they wanted to design a less invasive option. To create the contact lenses, they combined the nanoparticles with flexible, non-toxic polymers that are used in standard soft contact lenses. Tests showed that the contact lenses allowed humans to accurately detect flashing morse code-like infrared signals in pitch blackness. They could even see better when they had their eyes closed, as it blocked out any interference from light on the normal visibility spectrum. 'It's totally clear cut: without the contact lenses, the subject cannot see anything, but when they put them on, they can clearly see the flickering of the infrared light,' Professor Xue said. 'We also found that when the subject closes their eyes, they're even better able to receive this flickering information. 'This is because near-infrared light penetrates the eyelid more effectively than visible light, so there is less interference from visible light.' An additional tweak to the contact lenses meant the nanoparticles could color-code different infrared wavelengths. For example, infrared wavelengths of 980 nanometers were converted to blue light, wavelengths of 808 nanometers were converted to green light, and wavelengths of 1,532 nanometers were converted to red light. This allowed wearers to perceive more detail in what they were seeing. It could also one day help colorblind people see wavelengths that they would otherwise be unable to detect, the researchers said. 'By converting red visible light into something like green visible light, this technology could make the invisible visible for colorblind people,' Professor Xue said. Currently, the contact lenses are only able to detect infrared radiation projected from an LED light source, but the researchers are working to increase the nanoparticles' sensitivity so that they can detect lower levels of infrared light. 'In the future, by working together with materials scientists and optical experts, we hope to make a contact lens with more precise spatial resolution and higher sensitivity,' Professor Xue said. Writing in the journal Cell the team said: 'Light plays a particularly essential role in conveying a significant amount of external information for living organisms to comprehend the world. 'However, mammals can only perceive a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum as visible light. 'This means that over half of the solar radiation energy, existing as infrared light, remains imperceptible to mammals. 'Here, we report wearable near-infrared up-conversion contact lenses with suitable optical properties…flexibility and biocompatibility. 'Humans wearing [the contact lenses] could accurately detect near-infrared temporal information like Morse code and discriminate near-infrared pattern images. 'Interestingly, humans with [the contact lenses] exhibited better discrimination of near-infrared light compared with visible light when their eyes were closed.'
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Revolutionary new contact lenses offer a look into the future
Scientists in China have developed "night vision" contact lenses using nanoparticles. These nanoparticles convert infrared light into visible wavelengths, enabling the wearer to see in the dark. Unlike night vision goggles, these lenses are self-powered and function even when the wearer's eyes are closed. Tests on mice and humans confirmed the lenses' functionality, with subjects able to detect infrared light signals. Researchers aim to enhance sensitivity and explore applications for security, rescue, and aiding color-blind individuals.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Groundbreaking new contact lens lets people see even in dark
Scientists have created contact lenses that enable wearers to see in the dark using infrared vision, an invention that could lead to advances in emergency and rescue operations. Unlike traditional night vision goggles, these lenses don't require a power source and enable wearers to see infrared and visible light simultaneously, according to a new study published in the journal Cell. 'Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision,' study senior author Tian Xue from the University of Science and Technology of China, said. The lens uses tiny nanoparticles that absorb infrared light and convert it into wavelengths that are visible to mammalian eyes. These particles specifically enable detection of 'near-infrared light', which has a wavelength range of 800-1600 nanometres. This is just beyond what mammals perceive, which is a fraction of the wavelengths corresponding to visible light, typically in the 400-700 nm range. Previous research in mice showed that these particles enabled infrared vision when injected into the retina but the Chinese scientists set out to design a less invasive option. To develop the new lenses, they combined the nanoparticles with flexible, non-toxic polymers used in standard soft contact lenses. Researchers then tested the lenses in both humans and mice. They found that when given a choice of a dark box and an infrared-illuminated box, contact lens-wearing mice chose the dark box, whereas those without the eye gear showed no preference. The pupils of contact-wearing mice also constricted in the presence of infrared light and scans of their brains showed infrared light causing their visual processing centres to light up. In humans, participants wearing the lens could accurately detect flashing Morse code-like infrared signals. 'It's totally clear cut: without the contact lenses, the subject cannot see anything, but when they put them on, they can clearly see the flickering of the infrared light,' Dr Xue said. 'We also found that when the subject closes their eyes, they are even better able to receive this flickering information, because near-infrared light penetrates the eyelid more effectively than visible light.' Currently, the lenses are only able to detect infrared radiation from an LED light source. The researchers are working to increase the particles' sensitivity so they can detect lower levels of infrared light. 'In the future, by working together with materials scientists and optical experts, we hope to make a contact lens with more precise spatial resolution and higher sensitivity,' Dr Xue said. 'This technology has a wide range of practical applications, including infrared information encoding and transmission, enhanced vision in poor visibility conditions like foggy or dusty conditions, and integration into smart devices for rescue and emergencies.'
Times
22-05-2025
- Science
- Times
Contact lenses let you see in the dark, even with eyes closed
In a development worthy of a Bond film, Chinese scientists have invented contact lenses that allow a wearer to see in the dark — even when their eyes are shut. The lenses have enabled users to detect infrared light, a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum usually invisible to the human eye. Unlike bulky night-vision goggles, which also pick up infrared, they do not require power from batteries. Instead, tiny nanoparticles are embedded into a type of flexible, transparent polymer material already used for conventional contact lenses. The particles absorb infrared light and convert it to red, blue and green wavelengths, which the human eye can see. 'Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision,' said Professor Tian Xue of
