Is there a material that can hide from human eyes, evade microwave radar and escape even the most advanced thermography techniques? Today perhaps yes, thanks to the pioneering work of a group of scientists fromJilin University. Their new “invisible” metamaterial, called Chimera, is a tribute to the camouflage capabilities of some animal species, including the chameleon, bearded dragon and glass frog.
This innovation represents a significant step forward in the field of adaptive materials, offering a range of applications ranging from scientific research to military use.
Biological development and inspiration
The starting point in creating Chimera was examining the camouflage strategies of unique animal species. The chameleon, with his ability to adapt his skin color to his surroundings. OR the bearded dragon, which thermally regulates one's body to blend in with ambient temperatures. Or again the glass frog, practically invisible to the eyes of predators. The integration of these three characteristics has given rise to a material with unprecedented properties. As always, I'll link the research here.
Chimera's technical capabilities
Chimera excels at three distinct methods of multi-terrain invisibility:
- Microwave-tunable in-situ broadband camouflage: The metamaterial mimics the reflection of a wide range of natural terrains between 8 and 12 GHz, simulating surfaces such as water, sand, grasslands and frozen terrain.
- Optical transparency: Similar to the glass frog, Chimera maintains a level of optical transparency that makes it nearly invisible to visible light.
- Electrothermal effect: By mimicking the bearded dragon, Chimera can reduce the maximum thermal difference between itself and its surroundings to just 3.1°C, a change too subtle for the human eye to perceive.
Invisible metamaterial, applications and future
In addition to military implications for camouflaging personnel and equipment, Chimera has potential scientific applications, such as studying animal species in their natural habitat, without altering or influencing natural behavior due to human presence or equipment.
Furthermore, its compatibility with existing camouflage materials and techniques makes it a promising candidate for rapid and versatile deployment.
In conclusion, “the invisible Chimera” opens new horizons for futuristic and multidisciplinary applications of all kinds. As long as you can see them, of course.
