Series: Far out

Far out

Angelic visions

  • The Guardian,

Canadian inventor Troy Hurtubise could rewrite the physics rulebook if his newest creation lives up to the claims of its supporters, who apparently include MIT engineers and French government officials. The Angel Light, they say, makes solid objects transparent.

Hurtubise is no stranger to the science headlines, having received a 1998 IgNobel prize in safety engineering for his RoboCop-inspired bear- and bulldozer-resistant suit. He has since developed Fire Paste, a substance that withstands blowtorch temperatures and cools extremely quickly (and is highly reminiscent of Starlite, developed by British hairdresser Maurice Ward a decade ago and featured in Far Out) and, more recently, lightweight, blastproof cushions.

His newest creation would, literally, change the way physicists view the world around us.

The 8ft long Angel Light, looking like a sci-fi laser cannon, came to Hurtubise in a dream, as he says do most of his inventions. "I saw it, the whole casing and everything, and I saw what it could do," he told a Canadian newspaper. "I had the same dream three times, and by the third time I had it in my head and I started to build it."

The device is composed of three units: a "centrifuge" including seven industrial lasers and black, white, red and fluorescent light sources; the "deflector grid", containing optical glass, a microwave generator and plasma mixed with carbon dioxide; and a third part made of 108 mirrors, powerful lights and magnets, eight ionisation cells and some trade secrets.

When shone onto a surface, the light temporarily creates a window-like effect, allowing users to see through to the other side. It shines through wood, ceramics, plaster, metals (including steel, lead and titanium) and also skin. "I could see my blood vessels, muscles, everything, like I'd cut into my skin and peeled it back," said Hurtubise.

The cannon has side effects: it knocks out electrical motors and TVs and cancels the effects of stealth technologies. It also has a detrimental effect on living creatures: until he fitted a shield, using it made Hurtubise seriously ill and several goldfish died after being targeted in their bowl.

Whether used for war or peace, the Angel Light could be a world-changing invention. As its creator might say: watch this space.

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