Scientists have been able to utilize a nanoparticle solution to increase an ordinary mouse’s capability of seeing things in near-infrared.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Medical School discovered that upon the injection of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to the mice’s eyes, an infrared vision was incorporated for nearly ten (10) weeks. The researchers evaluated the behavioral and physiological responses of the mice when viewing infrared light.
The nanoparticle solution contains the rare-earth elements erbium and ytterbium, which can convert low-energy infrared photons into higher-energy green light that is visible.
Gang Han, the project’s principal investigator, explains that people are only able to see a certain level of light. However, he asserts that this can be changed if people possessed infrared vision.
For instance, people may use their naked eyes to visualize infrared astronomy. They might also view things at night with the absence of bulky equipment.
Infrared vision limitation
It has been stipulated that people can generally see due to the retina’s photoreceptor cells absorption of light photons. Later on, the emerging electric signals are sent to the brain.
Infrared vision is, however, hindered because not all of the available light gets absorbed, but only certain wavelengths.
As a result, people are only able to see narrow wavelengths of visible light or electromagnetic spectrum.
Expressly, the visible spectrum ranges from three hundred and eighty (380) nanometers to seven hundred and forty (740) nanometers.
Conversely, the infrared spectrum has a wavelength of beyond eight hundred (800) nanometers. As a result, people’s infrared vision is hindered.
Specialized equipment needed for infrared vision
People usually need specialized equipment, such as thermal cameras or telescopes, to see infrared light emitted by various objects.
This is made possible because thermal cameras have detectors that come in handy in translating infrared radiation, whereby every temperature is assigned a color shade.
Colder temperatures have a shade of green, purple, or blue color, whereas hotter ones are assigned a yellow, orange, or red color.
Different scientific studies have been taking place across the globe intended to enhance human capabilities.
For instance, in China, human-monkey embryos are being made with the ultimate purpose of developing feasible human organs for transplantation purposes. Additionally, hallucinations in mice have been found to be fundamental in neuroscience.
