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Can the INVISIBLE MAN avoid blindness?

We have been fascinated by the heroics of the Invisible Man.Off and on we keep hearing about the breakthroughs in the field of developing some kind of magic substance that will confer upon us the power of becoming invisible. But as soon as we apply basic physics there is a problem. Retina needs to be opaque to let the image be formed on it before the optic nerve takes the neural signals to the visual cortex.... which simply means that a completely invisible man will be Blind!! Isn't IT SO??

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  • Asked by vinigma
  • on 2010-03-22 10:10:47
  • Member status
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Last edited on: 2010-03-22 10:11:52

Categories: Human Body.

Tags: technology, unanswered, humanbody.

 

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Jon-Richfield says:

Definitely, but there are several buts.

There some invisible aquatic animals in practice. They are transparent, with a few coloured spots in strategic places, and their eyes are small and camouflaged. In the field they are invisible to most of their potential enemies.

Then again, if the retina only has to intercept light that is invisible to the seekers of invisible creatures, for example if it only has to see UV or infrared, then the creature could be invisible to X-rays, "visible" light and microwaves.

What about a retina that is split into tiny sub-retinae that one could not see without a lens?

Also, if it is possible to direct light round the retina, one could achieve near invisibility.

Finally, I have seen examples of camouflage that, though they did not confer theoretical invisibility, were so good that I could not see the whole animal without picking it up. What about those that I did not see at all?

Theoretical perfection is seldom a useful concept.

As far as I can see, anyway...

 

Cheers,

 

Jon

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Tags: technology, unanswered, humanbody, camouflage, invisibility.

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posted on 2010-03-23 07:25:19 | Report abuse

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vinigma says:

I appreciate your views Jon - But practically the issue remains unsetteled. A truely invisible man will be blind; isn't it...or may be somehow we should selectively spare his retinae from becoming invisible (or may be the entire Eye) ..Imagine the Invisible man running around with his floating eyes !!

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posted on 2010-04-05 18:42:58 | Report abuse


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