Troops might be able to replace those heavy night vision goggles strapped to their helmets and replace them with contact lenses.
The University of Michigan has developed a prototype contact lens that enhances night vision by placing a thin strip of graphene between layers of glass. The graphene -- a form of carbon -- reacts to photons, which makes dark images look brighter.
The development of the lens still has quite a ways to go before soldiers can scrap those heavy goggles. Right now the graphene only absorbs 2.3 percent of the light. Those percentages have to rise before true night vision can be achieved.
Ted Norris and Zhaohui Zhong of Michigan’s College of Engineering are the ones who have developed the prototype.
This technology is not limited to a contact lens. The developers said the graphene could be incorporated into windshields and amplify night vision while driving.
According to reports, the U.S. Army has already shown interest in the technology.
