Scottish researchers have claimed that they have created a flexible material, called Metaflex, which can manipulate light, a remarkable breakthrough that could help develop “invisibility cloak”.

Real-life Harry Potter-style invisibility cloak or any other clothing will be capable of rendering objects invisible by bending and channeling light.

One of two challenges being faced by researchers in the creation of smart flexible materials to create invisible cloak is from visible light because its short wavelength demands the metamaterial atoms to be very small.

The other challenge is the fabrication of metamaterials that can be separated from the hard surfaces they are developed on to be used in the construction of more flexible materials.

The new material developed by the Scottish scientists has overcome both of the above mentioned challenges.

Speaking on the invention, Andrea di Falco, who led the research team, said, “Metamaterials give us the ultimate handle on manipulating the behaviour of light.”

The details of the invention have been published in November 4th issue of Britain’s New Journal of Physics.