As a lifelong fan of science fiction and a self-proclaimed chemistry enthusiast, I find myself utterly captivated by the latest breakthrough in invisibility research. The idea that we could one day don a cloak of nacho-flavored chips to turn invisible is nothing short of mind-boggling!
As a fan, I’ve often pondered: What links H.G. Wells and everyday snacks? Well, while Wells wrote about an invisible man in 1897, it seems like today’s snack scientists might just pull off that feat! You see, when Wells created the character of Griffin in his novel The Invisible Man, he was using groundbreaking chemistry to make him completely invisible. Couldn’t help but wonder if someone could invent an invisibility-inducing snack sometime soon!
Over a hundred years after the original tale, the story has been reinvented as “Hollow Man,” currently streaming on Peacock, featuring Kevin Bacon in the role of Dr. Sebastian Caine, who serves as this adaptation’s Griffin equivalent. Alongside a group of scientists, they are working on creating biological invisibility for military purposes. However, once they achieve their goal, events take a turn for the worse – just like always.
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In H.G. Wells’ novel, the concoction created by Griffin alters the body’s refraction to make it blend with the surrounding air. Refraction is a physical characteristic that describes how light changes direction when it passes through different substances. Since light behaves differently in various materials, we can observe objects. This phenomenon is evident even with something as simple as a straw seeming to break when dipped into water, despite water appearing almost transparent. The slight difference in refraction index between water and air is what causes the light to bend and appear distorted to our eyes.
In simple terms, when light hits your body, it encounters various materials, primarily water and fat, which have distinct properties that cause light to scatter and reflect so much that it can’t penetrate, making us appear opaque. However, through the use of advanced chemicals or dyes from everyday snack foods, scientists are finding ways to align these materials’ refractive indexes, a method that Griffin and Dr. Caine employ in the story, resulting in light passing more easily through their bodies.
The common food dye that turns mouse (and possibly human) skin transparent
1884 saw the lab creation of Tartrazine, a dye that has since gained widespread popularity in various fields such as textiles, cosmetics, and food products. Often referred to as yellow #5, this colorant lends a bright yellow hue to numerous items, including ice creams, beverages, candies, cake mixes, and even nacho-flavored snacks. It can also be found in soaps, shampoos, and an assortment of other products.
It’s interesting to note that Tartrazine, often used as a colorant in makeup like eyeshadow, can also make you appear temporarily see-through when applied and rubbed into the skin correctly. This unexpected effect is similar to what happens in art, and it works by adjusting the refractive index of your skin so light can pass through, as suggested by a recent study published in the journal Science.
The authors suggest that it may seem unusual, but incorporating molecules which strongly absorb light in the vicinity of ultraviolet and blue light actually enhances transparency in adjacent wavelengths. Essentially, by triggering intense absorption in the blue region, the refractive index in the red part of the spectrum increases without causing additional absorption, as Marc S. Lavine explains in his summary.
Scientists initially proposed a concept: that by introducing specific molecules, they could boost the refractive index of bodily water to resemble that of fats more closely. By arranging how light travels through these two distinct substances, they believed light could potentially traverse skin and visualize our internal structures. The challenge then was locating a suitable dye: one which is ideally safe, temporary, and effective. It appears yellow #5 could be the ideal candidate for this dye.
Researchers diluted tartrazine in water and applied it to specific tissues using either manual massage or microneedles. The liquid was first tested on simulated tissues like silica dissolved in water and raw chicken breast, before being used on live mice. Once applied, the layers of skin, muscle, and connective tissue became translucent, enabling researchers to observe the real-time digestive activities of live mice directly. Examinations on the scalp and hindlimbs also revealed brain blood vessels and intricate views of leg tissues.
Initially, there was a worry that using large amounts of tartrazine could lead to unwanted health issues. Luckily, it appeared to be quickly eliminated from the mice’s bodies within roughly 24 hours, with minimal signs of inflammation or discomfort. While further studies are required to explore potential long-term side effects, the preliminary findings suggest that this method may provide a useful, temporary window into examining the body’s internal workings.
As a fan of science, it’s fascinating to ponder how the unique characteristics of larger human bodies and denser tissues might pose challenges in applying findings from other species. For instance, making certain aspects of the human body transparent seems tricky, requiring a delicate touch, precise delivery methods, and a thorough understanding of potential side effects.
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2024-09-13 21:31