Scientists have used a futuristic material to develop a cloak that can hide objects and be turned on and off.

Carbon nanotubes are one-molecule-thick sheets of carbon atoms that are rolled up into tubes. Their unique properties have seen scientists use them in a wide variety of experiments lately.

As you can see in the video below, researchers have used these tubes to deflect light waves away from an object, making it invisible.

The device uses the mirage effect, which is properly known as photothermal deflection. This is usually seen when hot air above a road makes it seem like there are puddles of water on the surface reflecting the sky. This happens because light travels at different speeds through the colder, thicker atmosphere than it does in the warmer air near the ground. The light waves from the sky are then bent upwards towards your eyes, which your brain thinks is water reflecting the sky.

In the experiment, the tubes are heated electrically, which warms up the air close to the tubes and bends light away from them.

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