HyperspectralImagine

Researchers build a cheap camera that sees what we can't

Normally, our eyes can see things better than our cameras, which is why those smartphone shots of a full moon at night are so bad. Hyperspectral imaging is a way to fix that, since it can capture parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, like near-infra-red light, that humans are incapable of seeing. Unfortunately, these cameras are hideously expensive, so you're more likely to find one on a military satellite than in Best Buy. Thankfully, a team made up of members from the University of Washington and Microsoft Research think that they've been able to create a hyperspectral camera smartphone accessory that would cost just $50. It's not just useful for improving your Instagrams, either, since these devices can tell you if fruit has gone bad, peer into your body and even find mineral deposits underground.