The current event article I looked up was an article from the New York Times website, under technology. It was published November 28, 2010. The premise of the article was that European scientists have found a way to tailor the flow of light around an object. In layman's term, the ability to make something invisible. The European commission is very eager to showcase this because it feels that Europe is behind on technological advances in comparison to the United States. Their inability to produce their own versions of Google, Apple, Facebook, Intel, and Cisco to rival US technological prowess is a concern to them. This new breakthrough is something scientists are excited about.
What the article is getting to is the application of such technology. Besides the invisibility, the research could also provide development of perfect lenses that would provide high-definition images through microscopes, advancement in laser designs, and devices that can "store" light artificially. However, skepticism on military application arose. However, they were supposedly thought on a broader term of application, specifically on the global economy. Here is where the article lost me, because I do not see how making things invisible can help the economy. Taken from the article, it said "That stack of Portuguese bonds? Poof! That bundle of Irish bank loans? Now you see them, now you don’t. Those Greek budget fudges? Gone." I do not see how making those things invisible can help solve the economy crisis, as they are invisible, not non-existent. The article also cites how for city beautification, they can make certain ugly buildings invisible, so that the place of interest looks more beautiful. Again, I see this as masking the problem, not really solving it. But what do I know. But anyways, it will be interesting if this technology was perfected.
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