New contact lenses give you 'super vision,' even with your eyes shut

Researchers from China and the University of Massachusetts have developed contact lenses that grant users the ability to see in complete darkness and even with their eyes closed, according to a study published in the journal Cell. The lenses contain tiny nanoparticles that absorb infrared light and convert it into visible images, effectively granting superhuman visual capabilities. “When wearing them, you still see everything normally,” explained lead author Gang Han. “The lenses simply add the ability to see infrared images on top of what we already normally see.” The researchers believe these lenses could have practical real-world applications, such as assisting surgeons in identifying hidden tumors or enabling firefighters to see through smoke, potentially “transforming how we see and interact with our environment, especially in challenging conditions.”