‘T-ray specs’ that bestow on wearer Superman-like power to see through clothing now a step closer to reality
Scientists find way of downsizing detectors of terahertz radiation but say wearable glasses could still be years away
A tiny terahertz detector developed by a team of Chinese scientists may have brought glasses that can see through clothing, or certain materials like cardboard and paper, a step closer to reality, according to their recently published paper in the journal Advanced Materials.
The effect of the glasses would be similar to Superman’s X-ray vision, but safer for human use.
One key difference is that it relies on an alternative form of radiation - one that can penetrate certain non-conducting materials but not, for example, metal or water.
The radiation emitted by X-rays is in some ways too powerful and potentially harmful as it can cause cell mutations that may lead to cancer.
In contrast, so-called T-rays, which fall in a lower range of the electromagnetic spectrum between infrared and microwave radiation, are weaker and therefore safer.
READ MORE: ‘X-rays can be a double-edged sword’: Radiation also found to have beneficial effect of boosting cell’s batteries to slow ageing
Scientists have been studying terahertz radiation for decades. But the equipment used to detect them remains bulky and sometimes requires an entire room to house and several technicians to carry out a series of complex operations.