Remember all those amazing things graphene can supposedly do? Well, the wonder material is starting to do them. A team of researchers from the University of Maryland recently developed a graphene-based sensor thatlets people see through walls. Obviously, they want to make goggles with it.
The new sensor is remarkable for its ability to detect the terahertz radiation spectrum (aka T-rays) at room temperature. This unique part of the light spectrum can be tuned to see through surfaces—anything from concrete to human skin. Historically, scientists haven’t been able to make use of T-rays, though because the sensors needed to be kept at extremely low temperatures to work. But the Maryland teamfound a way to make a room temperature sensorwith graphene.
Immediate applications of this technology will almost definitely involve the military. Just imagine how useful goggles that see through walls would be in a war zone. The sensors could also let us use T-rays instead of harmful X-rays for medical applications. The idea that consumers could get ahold of these sensors is dubious from a privacy perspective, not to mention graphene is still so wildly expensive. Useful! But wildly expensive. [Nature Nanotechnology via Discovery]
Image via Flickr / USAF
