In a story to file under ‘Shit That Is Pretty Cool’, sub-category ‘Childhood Dreams’, sub-sub-category ‘Inspiring’, a University of Sydney researcher has realised our dreams of becoming Superman after helping develop an X-ray vision device.
Beijing-born Xiaopeng Wang or “Big Tom”, a 25-year-old PhD research candidate at USyd’s School of Electrical and Information Engineering, leads the telecommunication research group that has successfully developed the not-a-play-thing, which has capabilities to see through the walls of collapsed buildings and piles of rubble.
It’s the realisation of a life-long ambition to be super-human really smart, says Wang:
“I suppose I have had a little bit of heroism in me since I was a kid. I wanted to be Superman, with super powers to protect the innocent, fight against crime and save lives. I envied Superman’s X-ray eyes the most! I thought his ability to see through walls would have great value in the real world.”
Wang and his team have successfully trialled a large-scale version of the X-ray device and is now working on a smaller model of the prototype, which works using electromagnetic waves (the same things that give us radio and WiFi) and real information about the objects behind them.
The device, while undeniably cool AF, could have several life-saving applications, most obviously helping locate survivors of natural disasters and emergencies like the recent Nepalese earthquake or Bangkok bombing.
As Wang’s PhD supervisor, Dr Zihuai Lin, says:
“When people get buried under collapsed buildings, a device such as this one could pinpoint the precise location of the survivor and definitely speed up the rescue mission.”
Next on the agenda: a device that gives you scientifically-perfect nipples, as repped by George Clooney‘s Batman.
Lead image via Warner Bros.
Image of Wang supplied.
