A team of Chinese researchers has developed an invisibility cloak material that combines the characteristics of geckos, glass frogs and bearded dragons.
The glass frog is one of three animals that inspired the study. Photo : iStock
Inspired by the chimera monster in Greek mythology, Chinese researchers have combined the characteristics of three cold-blooded animals – the gecko, the glass frog and the bearded dragon – to create a hybrid material that could make invisibility cloaks a reality, the Times of India reported on January 30. The team from Jilin and Tsinghua Universities said they designed a prototype based on each animal’s unique natural survival strategy, which is undetectable through microwaves, visible light and infrared spectrums.
In a study published on January 30 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the researchers said they took a bioengineering-based approach to the current camouflage problem, which is the lack of flexibility in different terrains. "Our work moves camouflage technology from limited to variable terrains, making a major step towards next-generation electromagnetism," the team said.
The research builds on recent rapid advances in metamaterials and synthetic fibers with unique electromagnetic wave manipulation capabilities, which are increasingly being applied to stealth technology. Through precise control of their surface structure, metamaterials can reflect electromagnetic waves in a specialized way, rendering objects invisible to radar. But their intended function can only provide camouflage in certain environments.
Chinese scientists are working on a metamaterial that can adapt to diverse spectral and terrain conditions while remaining opaque to visible and infrared light. They call the metamaterial Chimera, after the monster made from three different animals, because it combines the color-changing properties of a gecko, the transparency of a glass frog, and the temperature regulation of a bearded dragon.
Lead researcher Xu Zhaohua of Jilin University revealed that their initial inspiration was the gecko, a lizard known for its ability to change its color and skin tone. The Chimera metamaterial mimics the gecko by adjusting its microwave reflectivity to blend into different landscapes, from water to grasslands. Chimera's design was also influenced by the glass frog, which lives in the rainforests of Central and South America, and which stores most of its blood in its liver while it sleeps, making its body transparent. The researchers inserted Chimera's circuitry between layers of PET plastic and quartz glass to achieve a level of optical transparency similar to the glass frog's natural stealth properties.
The team faced the challenge of hiding the heat generated by the electricity used to power the metamaterial’s surface circuits, which could be visible to infrared detectors. To solve this problem, the scientists turned to the Australian bearded dragon. The reptile regulates its body temperature by changing the color of its back, from pale yellow when it needs to cool down to dark brown when it wants to stay warm.
Using a mechanical control design, the team reduced Chimera’s temperature gradient to 3.1 degrees Celsius, a level undetectable by thermal imaging technology in a variety of terrains. By mimicking how bearded dragons respond to their natural environment, the Chimera metamaterial can reduce the likelihood of it being detected by remote heat detectors.
According to the research paper, a prototype version of the Chimera metamaterial was developed in a five-step process, starting with plastic patterning, followed by metal meshing, and ending with manual assembly to achieve multi-spectral invisibility. The team says the potential applications of the new technology are wide-ranging, from military use to wildlife conservation. In the military, Chimera could provide a key advantage by allowing soldiers or objects to blend into diverse environments while avoiding detection by cameras, infrared detectors, and optical devices. The technology could also help observe animals in their natural environment in a non-invasive manner. By minimizing human impact on wildlife, Chimera could contribute to conservation efforts.
An Khang (According to Times of India )
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