Scientists' 'perfect' invisibility cloak would disappoint Harry Potter

Scientists have demonstrated a "perfect" cloaking device for the first time — but the breakthrough isn't quite as exciting as it initially sounds. Professor David Smith of Duke University, N.C., and his colleague Nathan Landy used a diamond-shaped cloak created from synthetic "meta-materials" to beam microwaves around a cylinder approximately 3 inches in diameter and 0.3 inches tall. But the trick only works when viewed from one direction, and would be difficult to achieve with visible light. So while Landy says the new meta-materials could apparently revolutionize the transmission of light and waves, Harry Potter-style invisibility cloaks will remain firmly in the fictional realm — for now. [Source] and [Source]

Click to see more on msnNOW.com, updated 24 hours a day.