Scientists create night-vision contact lenses that even work with your eyes closed

Scientists have developed contact lenses that allow people to see in the dark, and even work better when people have their eyes closed.
Unlike night vision goggles, these lenses do not require a power source and allow the wearer to perceive a range of infrared wavelengths, and researchers say they could give people 'super-vision'.
Professor Tian Xue, from the University of Science and Technology in China, said: 'Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices, and there are many potential applications right away.
'For example, flickering infrared light could be used to transmit information in security, rescue, encryption or anti-counterfeiting settings.'
Humans can see a range of light waves called the visible light spectrum, which encompasses wavelengths from around 380 to 700 nanometers.
The contact lens technology uses nanoparticles that absorb light we cannot see and converts it into wavelengths that are visible.
These nanoparticles specifically enable detection of 'near-infrared light', which is infrared light in the 800-1600 nanometer range - just beyond what humans can already see.
The team previously showed that these nanoparticles enable infrared vision in mice when injected into the retina, but they wanted to design a less invasive option.
To create the contact lenses, they combined the nanoparticles with flexible, non-toxic polymers that are used in standard soft contact lenses.
Tests showed that the contact lenses allowed humans to accurately detect flashing morse code-like infrared signals in pitch blackness.
They could even see better when they had their eyes closed, as it blocked out any interference from light on the normal visibility spectrum.
'It's totally clear cut: without the contact lenses, the subject cannot see anything, but when they put them on, they can clearly see the flickering of the infrared light,' Professor Xue said.
'We also found that when the subject closes their eyes, they're even better able to receive this flickering information.
'This is because near-infrared light penetrates the eyelid more effectively than visible light, so there is less interference from visible light.'
An additional tweak to the contact lenses meant the nanoparticles could color-code different infrared wavelengths.
For example, infrared wavelengths of 980 nanometers were converted to blue light, wavelengths of 808 nanometers were converted to green light, and wavelengths of 1,532 nanometers were converted to red light.
This allowed wearers to perceive more detail in what they were seeing.
It could also one day help colorblind people see wavelengths that they would otherwise be unable to detect, the researchers said.
'By converting red visible light into something like green visible light, this technology could make the invisible visible for colorblind people,' Professor Xue said.
Currently, the contact lenses are only able to detect infrared radiation projected from an LED light source, but the researchers are working to increase the nanoparticles' sensitivity so that they can detect lower levels of infrared light.
'In the future, by working together with materials scientists and optical experts, we hope to make a contact lens with more precise spatial resolution and higher sensitivity,' Professor Xue said.
Writing in the journal Cell the team said: 'Light plays a particularly essential role in conveying a significant amount of external information for living organisms to comprehend the world.
'However, mammals can only perceive a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum as visible light.
'This means that over half of the solar radiation energy, existing as infrared light, remains imperceptible to mammals.
'Here, we report wearable near-infrared up-conversion contact lenses with suitable optical properties…flexibility and biocompatibility.
'Humans wearing [the contact lenses] could accurately detect near-infrared temporal information like Morse code and discriminate near-infrared pattern images.
'Interestingly, humans with [the contact lenses] exhibited better discrimination of near-infrared light compared with visible light when their eyes were closed.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

3 hours ago

• The Sun

I tried Samsung's posh new mobile that makes iPhone look like an expensive BRICK – there's a way to save on upgrading

Tested FEELING THIN The Galaxy S25 Edge makes two key sacrifices for its lighter, thinner new model All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. Jamie Harris Published: 20:56, Updated: 20:56, SAMSUNG has had a pretty packed year in smartphone world. First, we had the usual Galaxy S25 launches at the start of the year - and then there were some great budget-friendly models too. 6 6 And now we're back to the Galaxy S25 again with a new category. This time it's all about thin, thin, thin. All the tech packed inside ever-powerful phones make it tricky business to stop them from becoming almighty hunks of metal. What with chunky batteries, all that processing power needed for AI tools, the list goes on. But Samsung is determined to give it a go with the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge - even if there are some sacrifices. As The Sun's main Android smartphone reviewer I get hands-on with all sorts of devices all the time. Here's why you might want to consider the Galaxy S25 Edge if you're fed up with chunky mobiles weighing down your pocket. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Look and feel How the Galaxy S25 Edge looks and feels is arguably the most important first bit of information you want. And the good news is, it's immense. I can't remember the last time I held a phone of this size and power that felt this light, at only 163g. Samsung insider reveals top tricks every user needs to know about to save battery and storage A website on the weight of items tells me that's about as heavy as an average hockey puck. The Galaxy S25+ and iPhone 15 Plus are the fairest comparisons to note, because they both have a 6.7inch display like the S25 Edge. A Galaxy S25+ weighs 190g, while the iPhone 15 Plus is 201g. But it's not just the weight, the Edge is super thin at 5.8mm - Samsung's thinnest ever phone. Looking for objects around the house, the nearest item I could compare it to is a tiny bit thicker than my passport. Again, the Galaxy S25+ is 7.3mm thick and the iPhone 15 Plus is 7.8mm. This makes the iPhone - and just about every other smartphone, even Samsung's other models - look and feel like a brick. Despite all this, the titanium body and hardened glass on the S25 Edge feel pretty tough, though I'd worry it might bend if I accidentally sat on it a few times too many. 6 Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Performance and software From a software and performance perspective, the Galaxy S25 Edge feels just like the other phones in the series. It runs on Samsung 's own version of Android, One UI. One UI has a consistent, clean and easy look that I like. All the S25 devices run on Android 15, One UI 7, which is the very latest version of both, straight out of the box. And once again, Samsung offers a whooping seven years of security and software updates. Look after the handset it could last you quite sometime thereby saving you money on upgrades. Who offers free updates longest? The longer you receive updates, the longer you can safely continue using your smartphone - with the latest features thrown in too for free. Samsung For the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung said it would provide at least seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates. OnePlus At the launch of the OnePlus 13, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and six years of security updates. Xiaomi Xiaomi offers four years off Android updates and five years security updates. Google For the Pixel 9 series, Google said that devices would receive at least seven years of support. Like the other S25 devices, the Edge version uses the same powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip on the inside to keep things running super smooth. As such, apps, games and anything else you throw at it glides through without any issue or lag. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Features The Galaxy S25 Edge carries all the same great features as the other models too, with a large focus on AI tools this year. Samsung moved closer to Google and its Gemini digital assistant. Though not exclusive to Samsung, it's worth mentioning that Gemini is really handy - I was using it to identify problems with my plant the other day. As for Samsung's own newer features there's Now Brief, an AI companion that acts as a central hub for everything going on in your day. This keeps you in check with not only your calendar and weather but learns about your habits so will warn you about things such as traffic. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Battery Now battery is the big one I was most curious about given that it's the part that takes up a lot of physical space in phones. Sticking to its nearest comparable sibling, the S25+, the battery on the Edge is smaller. The Edge has a 3,900 mAh, compared to the S25+'s 4,900 mAh. And seeing as I mentioned the iPhone 15 Plus before, it's worth noting that the battery there is 4,383 mAh. The battery and camera sacrifices are bold to say the least So, physically speaking the Edge is much lower. Samsung has done some performance optimising to get around this but there's still only so much they can do. With general on and off usage throughout my day - using apps like WhatsApp, checking emails, watching the odd video and going on social media - I could get a day out of it. But constant power users watching loads of videos probably won't make it through the day without help. What's more, the Galaxy S25 Edge doesn't charge as fast as it's sister handsets either. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Camera The other big difference is on camera with only two on the back of the S25 Edge. There's no telephoto sensor to take clear photos from a distance - which is something you would expect from a phone that costs upward of a grand. But the 200-megapixel main camera and 12-megapixel ultrawide camera do manage to take some detailed pics popping with colour. 6 6 6 Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Pricing The Galaxy S25 Edge starts from £1,099 / $1,099. But there is a new way to keep the cost of expensive phones down in the form of Samsung Club. For a lower monthly cost, you can get the latest Galaxy every year rather than buying outright each time, plus other perks. The Galaxy S25 Edge is the first phone being offered as part of the scheme from £33.31 per month. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Verdict Final thoughts by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a slick looking phone there is no questioning that, it oozes sexy. You get a gorgeous display, as well as the tried and trusted Samsung experience on the phone as well. The battery and camera sacrifices are bold to say the least. While I love not being weighed down by a phone in my pocket, it's hard to overlook these two drawbacks when the price tag tops a grand. Rating: 4/5 All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.

Times

3 hours ago

• Times

Looking for love? Ask your crush for help

If you're looking for love, try asking for help from the object of your affections. Researchers have found that people who seek assistance from potential love interests are seen as more attractive. The researchers said that asking for help was a 'small act of reliance' that could 'foster intimacy'. However, it was important to do it in a certain way, they said, describing two types of help-seeking — 'autonomy-oriented' and 'dependency-oriented'. Examples of autonomy-oriented help-seeking are when a person asks somebody to show them how to fix something — they are given knowledge or skills so that they can tackle the problem for themselves in the future. With dependency-orientated help-seeking, however, the person will ask, 'Can you fix this for me?' instead. It is this dependency-orientated help-seeking that makes people more appealing when they are looking for love, researchers from City University of Hong Kong and South China Normal University discovered. It also acts as a better signal that someone is interested. • I'm 30 and single. How can I make women like me on dating apps? 'The reason why asking for help can be very useful to initiate romantic interests is because interdependence is essential in close relationships,' the study's co-author, Professor Xijing Wang, from City University of Hong Kong, said. 'When we ask someone for help by having them solve a problem for us — dependency-oriented help-seeking, instead of just guiding us — we signal that we trust and want to rely on them. 'Such trust and reliance can be a strategic way to signal romantic interests. This happens because, similar to how we are attracted to people who appreciate us, those we ask for help often feel closer to us when we show that we rely on them.' For the study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the team carried out nine experiments involving 2,500 people from the UK, the US and China. They found that the more someone was interested in finding a partner — what psychologists call 'mating motivation' — the more likely they were to use dependency-oriented help-seeking, rather than the autonomy-seeking kind. They also felt a stronger attraction to those who asked for this kind of help from them. People in couples also felt that strangers who approached their partners for dependency-oriented help were more likely to try and steal them and felt more jealous, compared to when strangers asked for autonomy-oriented help instead. The results were the same for men and women. 'Our analysis revealed no gender differences, indicating that dependency-oriented help-seeking is effective for both men and women during the romantic initiation stage,' Wang said. However, using a similar strategy to build trust with colleagues at work is not a good idea, she warned. 'Competence is one of the most critical traits valued in a professional environment, and using dependency-oriented help-seeking to convey reliance and trust [at work] could potentially backfire.'

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

Ancient 'lost city' found at bottom of the Atlantic Ocean holds clue to origins of life

Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, scientists have discovered a haunting undersea world that may hold the blueprint for how life began on Earth. This vast field of mineral towers, called the Lost City, is the oldest known hydrothermal system in the ocean. Scientists believe its extreme conditions mirror the early Earth, offering clues to how the first life forms might have emerged. The Lost City Hydrothermal Field lie more than 2,300 feet beneath the surface, on the slopes of an underwater mountain in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a massive underwater mountain range that runs through the Atlantic Ocean. It marks the boundary between tectonic plates and is a hotspot for geological activity. Researchers estimate the Lost City has existed for over 120,000 years, making it the longest-living hydrothermal vent field ever discovered. In a recent breakthrough, scientists successfully recovered a core sample of mantle rock from the site. This rock is the deep Earth source that fuels the vent system. The core sample could help scientists better understand the chemical reactions happening beneath the seafloor, reactions that produce hydrocarbons in the absence of sunlight or oxygen, serving as food for marine life. These same reactions may have played a role in the origin of life on Earth billions of years ago. The Lost City is made up of towering spires of carbonate rock, some nearly 200 feet tall, formed by a unique geological reaction called serpentinization, where seawater interacts with mantle rock deep below the seafloor. These reactions release methane and hydrogen gas, which fuel microbial life that survives without sunlight or oxygen, something rarely seen on Earth. The site is located approximately nine miles west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis, just south of the Azores islands. Its isolated position means it has remained undisturbed by human activity for thousands of years, preserving an ecosystem that offers a window into Earth's earliest conditions. Each hydrothermal vent, nicknamed IMAX, Poseidon, Seeps, and Nature emits warm, alkaline fluids. These create a stable environment for life in one of the most extreme corners of the planet. Now, with renewed global attention, scientists believe the Lost City may help explain how life first formed from non-living matter, an unsolved mystery in biology. The site is located approximately 15 kilometers (about nine miles) west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis, just south of the Azores. Its remote position places it far from human interference. Unlike most hydrothermal systems powered by volcanic heat, the Lost City is powered by chemical energy from the Earth's mantle, giving it a distinct structure and chemistry. Inside its towering chimneys, fluids reach up to 194 Fahrenheit, not boiling, but hot enough to fuel chemicals reactions. These vents produce hydrocarbons, organic compounds made from carbon and hydrogen, which are considered the building blocks of life. The site is special because its hydrocarbons form through deep Earth chemical reactions, not sunlight or photosynthesis. This makes the Lost City a rare second example of how life could begin. Microbes inside these chimneys live in total darkness, with no oxygen, using methane and hydrogen as their only fuel. On the outer surfaces, rare animals like shrimp, snails, sea urchins, and eels cling to the mineral-rich structures. Larger animals are uncommon here likely because the energy supply is limited. Unlike surface ecosystems, there's no sunlight or abundant food chain, only chemical nutrients trickling out of the vents. Microbiologist William Brazelton told Smithsonian Magazine: 'This is an example of a type of ecosystem that could be active on Enceladus or Europa right this second.' These are moons of Saturn and Jupiter, which have oceans beneath icy crusts, raising the hope that similar life could exist beyond Earth. Some spires have grown to 60 meters tall over tens of thousands of years. Scientists say they act like natural laboratories, showing how life might arise in environments without sun, plants, or animals. In 2017, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) gave the Polish government a 15-year exploration license for an area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which includes territory surrounding the Lost City. Though Lost City itself lacks valuable minerals, nearby vent fields may contain polymetallic sulfides, a target for future deep-sea mining. That's where the threat comes in. Mining operations near hydrothermal vents can stir up sediment plumes, releasing toxic chemicals or particles that drift through the water column and harm nearby ecosystems, even if the site itself isn't directly touched. The Convention on Biological Diversity has already designated Lost City as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area (EBSA), based on its uniqueness, biodiversity, and scientific value. Being listed as an EBSA gives scientists leverage to argue for protective measures, though it carries no binding legal protection. Meanwhile, UNESCO is reviewing the site for World Heritage status, which could offer stronger international backing against mining and disturbance. Scientists argue this is urgently needed. Once disturbed, such systems may never recover, and we could lose a living example of how life began.