Nanotechnology could grant humans ‘super vision’ after mice given power to see infrared
could even be adapted as a treatment for people who are color-blind and unable to perceive red.
The colors that people can normally see are just a small fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, which also includes extreme shades like infrared and ultraviolet.
These signals, which have either much longer or shorter wavelengths than the rainbow spectrum we are familiar with, are constantly bouncing around us.
Human and mouse eyes both contain rods and cones — cells that absorb light and convert it into electrical impulses that are sent to our brains. Infrared wavelengths are too long for these cells to absorb. Publishing their findings in the journal Cell, the scientists said that they used tiny particles that functioned as accessories to these cells, anchoring tightly onto them and capturing the larger wavelengths.
The nanoparticles then convert these signals into shorter wavelengths and funnel them into the cells so they can be transmitted to the brain as green light.
Scientists injected this substance into the rodents’ eyes, before carrying out a series of tests to determine what effect they had on mouse vision.
When infrared was shone into the eye of a treated mouse, its pupil contracted in a clear signal it was detecting the light.
Further tests conducted in mazes revealed the mice could see infrared patterns shone onto a surface even during the daylight.
The injection produced minimal side effects, and the mice retained their infrared abilities for over two months.
“We believe this technology will also work in human eyes, not only for generating super-vision but also for therapeutic solutions in human redcolor vision deficits,” said Xue.
The scientists also speculated about possible future applications in which nanotechnology-enhanced humans might have roles in security and military settings.
But first, Xue said, the team will have to test the safety of the procedure in experiments using other primates.