Invisibility isn’t for Harry Potter anymore. For years, scientist have been trying to make Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak.  They have come up the different “sciency” methods that kids like us wouldn’t be able to understand, but now they are able to make a “cloaking” device by using simple things that most people wear. Lenses.

Scientist at Rochester University were able to create a cloaking device with only using four lenses.  They are able to use lenses to bend light waves around the object so you don’t see what’s behind it.  But the true tricky part about the experiment was having the background not change.

They had to determine the perfect distance between the four lenses so that the background behind the object is undisturbed.  You can also do it in all kinds of light too.  So you don’t have to bring out different frequencies to make something invisible.  But the coolest part: you can do it yourself.  Here is a step by step process for probably one of the best “April fools” jokes of all time.

1. Purchase 2 sets of 2 lenses with different focal lengths f1 and f2 (4 lenses total, 2 with f1 focal length, and 2 with f2 focal length)

2. Separate the first 2 lenses by the sum of their focal lengths (So f1 lens is the first lens, f2 is the 2nd lens, and they are separated byt1= f1+ f2).

3. Do the same in Step 2 for the other two lenses.

4. Separate the two sets by t2=2 f2 (f1+ f2) / (f1— f2) apart, so that the two f2 lenses are t2 apart.

(Step by step is from the www.rochester.edu)

Have Fun!!

http://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/watch-rochester-cloak-uses-ordinary-lenses-to-hide-objects-across-continuous-range-of-angles-70592/