Researchers Say New Contact Lenses Let You See in the Dark

Scientists have created contact lenses that they claim allow people to see in the dark with the help of infrared light, an invention that could allow colorblind people to see colors again, or spies to relay secret information via flashes of infrared light. As detailed in a paper published in the journal Cell, the contacts don't even require an external power source to turn infrared light into visible light. Experiments involving both mice and humans have shown that the lenses allow the wearer to perceive multiple infrared wavelengths — even when participants closed their eyes. "Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision," said senior author and University of Science and Technology of China neuroscientist Tian Xue in a statement. Beyond allowing wearers to see in the dark, the contacts could even be used to receive data wirelessly. "There are many potential applications right away for this material," Xue added. "For example, fl ... Read full article.