Seeing infrared: scientists create contact lenses that grant super-vision
GuardianMAY 10
The Spin
Techno-optimist narrative
The breakthrough, a revolutionary advance in human sensory enhancement, offers unprecedented potential for security, rescue operations, and medical applications. These lightweight, battery-free lenses could replace bulky night-vision equipment and provide superior multi-wavelength detection capabilities. The technology's ability to work through closed eyelids adds an extraordinary dimension to human perception.
Techno-skeptic narrative
The technology faces significant practical limitations that must be addressed before widespread adoption. The lenses' current inability to detect natural infrared levels, potential heat exposure risks from light conversion, and possible nanoparticle leakage into eye tissue raise serious questions about their practical utility and safety. The scattered light effect also produces blurry images, limiting their effectiveness for detailed vision.