Could troops be issued with an invisibility cloak?

AN ‘INVISIBILITY cloak’ that hides troops or weapons from heat-detecting sensors could be around the corner after a breakthrough by scientists.

They have created a glove which, when worn, blends into the background. Thermal sensors can detect the warmth of people’s bodies – picking up on the infrared radiation given off.

Night-vision devices can pick out humans and anything that is warmer or colder than its background. But new ‘thermal camouflage’ material makes things appear dark - hiding them from detection.

Manchester University researchers created a thin flexible material that uses graphene, which conducts electricity.

When a current is applied to the graphene, within seconds it stops producing the tell-tale infra-red radiation which gives away the wearer’s position.

By sensing the background heat levels, it can also give off radiation if necessary to blend into a warmer background.

To demonstrate how it works, the researchers used it to cover a human hand, which turned the same colour as its backdrop.