Using camouflage netting and trompe l'oeil, they brilliantly disguised the enormous plant as something completely benign. Just look at these before and after pictures! Fortunately, it all ended up being unnecessary, but what a cool example of creative thinking in a time of crisis. [Think or Thwim, Thanks, Jason!]

Designed by Military Wraps, Photo Veil gathers images from cameras on drones, satellites and lidar to create an almost identical duplicate of the object's surroundings. These images are then displayed on its lightweight, customizable, foldable, portable and waterproof mesh exteriors, thus camouflaging the military vehicles underneath. For those out on foot, the Photo Veil's breathability and ability to mask thermal and infrared footprints also makes these wraps useful in blinds for snipers and in uniforms for soldiers out in the field. Ooh, you think they'll make a cloak out of this material just for me to review? I want to be the ultimate Hide n' Seek champion. [Military Wraps via cnet]

Simply named Invisible, this erased torso pattern is available on a short sleeve or long sleeve tee. But before you get too cocky and attempt an infiltration of the girl's locker room, remember, females have excellent eyesight and can spot those little grey boxes a mile away.

And another word of warning: semi-transparency is not immune to knife attacks or gunfire.

With these caveats in mind, Invisible can be yours for $24. Use the power responsibly. [redbubble via FashionablyGeek]

This belongs to a series called Urban Camouflage, and the stunt aims to solve the mystery of disguising oneself in an urban space. I can certainly respect the high-mindedness behind the idea, but I refuse to believe the artist didn't do it part just to screw around and be a jackass (0:45 into the video is especially great). Be sure to check out more photos and video over at [Urban Camouflage via Boing Boing via Prefix]

Optifade may have an uphill battle on its hands with regard to hunting purists, however. The difference between Optifade and traditional camo is that it does not seek to mimic the natural environment—and until someone can prove that this newfangled fancy technology actually provides an advantage, hunters are likely to stick with what they know. [NYT and NYT]

The fake gunwales on the rear of the hull fall away, and the masts come down (hopefully not on someone's head). Suddenly, the boat is less encumbered, more free to speed out to open sea where the good ole USAF can provide adequate air support. If you're found out, says Spycraft co-author Keith Melton, this would increase "your chance of living," which is nice. Boats like this were definitely in use, though the CIA will not say how often, or in what specific situations.

Melton says the concept is similar to an earlier one, the Q Boat or Mystery Ship, a gunship masked as a merchant vessel used during World War I to lure submarines to the surface.

All of this CIA tech and much more like it is covered with great depth and hair-raising anecdotes in Spycraft, a new book by Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton, reviewed by us, and available for pre-order at Amazon.

The inventor's story is an interesting one, involving thousands of hours of lab trial and error, as well as international military interest in his product...that far outshined the response from his own country's military.

But apparently the most promising and equitable use for such a paint could be civilian. Airport towers and buildings have a long history of interfering with flight control radars. And to simply make them disappear would be quite useful—as opposed to calling hangar 12 in for a landing or something. [Spiegel Online via NewLaunches][image]

Each one is hand painted, and we're thinking that Art and his Ukrainian minions have done such a good job of camouflaging these ornaments, if you put them on your Christmas tree you won't be able to see them at all.

Find out for sure for $24.86 for a six-pack. [Art.Lebedev, via 7 Gadgets]

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