It sounds like a superhero origin story for a new Marvel movie, but it is real: a group of Chinese scientists have developed an injectable nanoparticle that will give you superhuman near-infrared vision. It’s an amazing discovery that could enable any mammal to see in the dark.
The research team from the University of Science and Technology of China and the University of Massachusetts Medical School published the results of their stunning work in the scientific journal Cell on Thursday, February 28.
The nanoparticle is an ocular photoreceptor that get injected in the eye. Once it is in there, the nanoparticle anchors to the retinal photoreceptors as near-infrared (NIR) light transducers. In other words, it captures NIR light and sends it as visible light to your retina, which allows your eye to see in darkness.
According to the team, the nanoparticles don’t affect your regular daylight vision. It’s just that, when the night comes, you just keep seeing in the dark. In black and white, but you will see just fine. In fact, the team discovered that not only will you be able to see in the dark, but you will see the NIR light patterns. If you are a museum thief, all those alarm beams will be a piece of cake if you have these nanoparticles in your eyes.
The scientists also found out that the nanoparticles didn’t stay in the eyes forever. They continued to work for 10 weeks. The team also found out that the was no side effects on the vision or any damage in the eyes. Read more