Duke University creates 'perfect' one-directional microwave cloak, might lead to stealthier vehicles
![](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/B_g1fYjoZxC1WzkOgNdqYg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTcwOA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/UXLe9_sHvDkhJfu.SfBadw--~B/aD00NjU7dz0yNzY7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/https://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/11/duke-university-perfect-microwave-cloak.jpg)
Most attempts at cloaking, no matter the slice of spectrum, usually leave clues as to what's there -- even microwave cloaks can spoil the surprise through reflections. At Duke University, researchers have licked some of those past problems with the first instance of a flawless microwave cloaking scheme. By crafting a special diamond-shaped cloak where the light properties stay consistent at the corners, the school's Nathan Landy and David Smith have successfully shielded a 3-inch wide cylinder from microwave detection without a hint that something was amiss. The gotcha, as hinted by the shape, is a two-dimensional nature that gives away the secret at less than ideal angles. Duke suggests that it still has the groundwork for something that could be vital for communications or radar -- we can imagine a stealth aircraft or ship in the far-flung future that could actively mask itself from radar signals. It's not quite the optical illusion we're looking for, but a refined version of the Duke project might be enough for a rare practical use of cloaking when fantasies are much more common.