Daijiworld Media Network - Beijing
Beijing, May 23: In a groundbreaking scientific development, an international team led by Chinese researchers has unveiled contact lenses that allow humans to see near-infrared light a spectrum invisible to the naked eye. This innovation holds immense promise for revolutionising medical imaging, visual aid technology, and low-visibility navigation.
According to Xinhua news agency, the study published in the prestigious journal Cell outlines how the lenses use rare earth elements and visual neuroscience to convert infrared wavelengths into visible images.
Typically, the human eye can only detect light between 400 and 700 nanometres. However, the new lenses expand vision into the near-infrared range between 700 and 2,500 nanometres which can penetrate biological tissue with minimal radiation, making it ideal for medical use.
The scientists, hailing from the University of Science and Technology of China, Fudan University, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (US), engineered materials that convert three types of infrared waves into red, green, and blue visible light.
Previously, the team had created a nanomaterial that enabled animals to see infrared light through retinal injections. However, acknowledging the impracticality of such procedures for humans, the researchers turned to a wearable and non-invasive solution: soft contact lenses.
By modifying the surface of rare earth nanoparticles, the scientists successfully dispersed them in polymer solutions to fabricate clear, infrared-detecting lenses.
In initial trials, human volunteers wearing the lenses were able to distinguish infrared patterns, time-encoded signals, and even “colours” within the infrared spectrum essentially extending the human visual range.
Unlike traditional night vision goggles, these lenses require no external power and provide a more natural visual experience. The researchers believe the innovation could eventually aid people with vision impairments, assist in rescue operations, enhance security measures, and provide new tools in medical diagnostics.
Though currently in the proof-of-concept stage, the development marks a significant leap forward in human sensory capabilities.