Hand gestures captured on an infrared imaging device. (Image by Maximillian Cabinet on Shutterstock)
Infrared lenses now allow you to see in total darkness without night vision devices
In a word
- Scientists have created transparent contact lenses that convert the invisible infrared light into visible colors, allowing humans to see thermal signatures and infrared patterns
- Human trials with 15 participants have shown that people could detect infrared signals, decode messages and even see color infrared images that seem empty to the naked eye
- Although technology works safely for short -term use, it cannot currently produce strong detailed images and requires artificial infrared sources to be the most effective
Hefei, China – Scientists have resolved two major limits of human vision in a breakthrough: our inability to see in darkness and our blindness to infrared light. The newly developed contact lenses convert the invisible infrared radiation in visible colors, effectively giving bearers both an improved night vision and access to an entirely new color spectrum.
Published in the journal Cell,, The study describes how researchers created these transparent and transparent contact lenses integrated with microscopic particles which convert the infrared radiation into visible light. Unlike traditional night vision glasses that produce granular green images, these objectives create net and colorful visuals that work transparently alongside normal views in any lighting condition.
This evolution addresses a basic limitation of human vision. Although more than half of solar energy reaching the earth exists in the infrared spectrum, our eyes are blind. The new objectives help to fill this sensory gap, converting the signals previously invisible into visual indices that the human eye can detect.
The lenses contain what are called ascending conversion nanoparticles – Link's components which absorb low energy infrared light and emit visible to higher energy. The integration of these particles into the material of the mild contact objective posed a challenge: the previous attempts made the lenses cloudy or uncomfortable.
The breakthrough occurred when the research team, led by scientists from the University of Sciences and Technology of China and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Massachusetts, modified the nanoparticles to eliminate fatty residues and carefully adapted the way in which light is bending through the material of the objective. The result was a contact lens with more than 90% transparency, even with concentrations of nanoparticles up to 7% by weight.
Can humans really see the infrared with these lenses?
The tests on laboratory mice confirmed that the objectives allowed animals to distinguish between the models made with infrared light. Remarkably, when the mouse's eyes were closed, they could still detect the IR models through their eyelids – an unexpected feat with visible light. Indeed, infrared light penetrates the tissues more effectively than the visible wavelengths.
“It is completely clear: without contact lenses, the subject can not see anything, but when they put them, they can clearly see the flicker of infrared light,” explains the main author Tian Xue, neuroscientist of the University of Sciences and Technology of China, in a press release. “We also found that when the subject closes their eyes, they are even better able to receive this flickering information, because the close infrared light penetrates the eyelid more effectively than visible light, there is less interference of visible light.”
In human tests, 15 healthy participants aged 18 to 40 were divided into groups to test various capacities. They managed to identify infrared light sources, distinguished between different IR wavelengths and simple decreases sent by infrared pulses – judge that humans could perceive and interpret these previously invisible signals using lenses.
The objectives worked in dark and well -lit environments, showing a potential for use in a range of real conditions. “Our research opens the potential for non -invasive portable devices to give people supervision,” explains Xue.
Color infrared vision can be possible
One of the most striking characteristics of the study was the development of trichromatic versions of the objectives, which allow an infrared vision in color. These improved lenses use a mixture of special nanoparticles which emit red, green or blue light depending on the specific IR wavelength detected.
“By converting the light visible light to something like visible green light, this technology could make the invisible visible for blind colors,” notes Xue.
In controlled experiences, participants carrying lenses compatible with colors corresponded to infrared patterns invisible to specific colors. They could see the text and the forms made from IR reflective materials which seemed empty to the naked eye but became colored in a lively way when they are seen through the lenses.
What are the limits and what is the next step?
Although the objectives allow users to perceive infrared light and basic models, they cannot currently provide detailed image resolution due to the diffusion of light during conversion. To remedy this, the researchers have developed a system of portable glasses that works in tandem with objectives, improving clarity and allowing users to perceive more precisely the space details.
The detection of low -level infrared light, such as ambient thermal radiation – is a challenge. Most tests required IR light sources such as LEDs or lasers. In addition, all human participants in the study were of ancestry of East Asia, therefore broader population studies are necessary.
Short -term safety tests have not revealed any major side effects, although minor irritation was noted with prolonged wear, similar to standard contact lenses.
If it is developed, this technology could transform fields ranging from safety to safety. Surgeons could view blood circulation new ways. The first stakeholders can detect people by smoke or darkness. And the portable IR vision could help navigation under low visibility conditions, from fog to disaster areas.
“There are many potential applications right away for this equipment. For example, flickering infrared light could be used to transmit information in terms of safety, rescue, encryption or anti-contail parameters, ”explains Xue.
For the first time, the researchers have demonstrated a safe and portable device that gives humans access to a light spectrum that has remained invisible to our whole evolutionary history. Although always a technology at an early stage, these contact lenses mark an important step towards the infrared vision which is part of daily life.
Paper summary
Methodology
The researchers have developed contact lenses by incorporating cross -conversion nanoparticles (UCNP) into soft polymer materials. They tested several types of polymers to find optimal transparency while maintaining high nanoparticles concentrations. The team first carried out safety and efficiency tests on laboratory mice, using various behavioral experiences to confirm that animals could detect and respond to infrared light. Human trials involved 15 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 40 with a normal vision, divided into groups of 5 for different experiences testing visual sensitivity, recognition of motifs and color discrimination using infrared light.
Results
The mice wearing contact lenses have managed to detect infrared light models and have made behavioral decisions based on infrared stimuli. Human participants could identify infrared light sources, distinguish between different infrared frequencies, decode temporal models (such as Morse code) and recognize space models. Advanced trichromatic lenses have enabled a color infrared vision, allowing humans to carry out color correspondence experiences with invisible infrared light. The lenses have maintained more than 90% transparency while containing 7% of nanoparticles by weight, worked in dark and ambient conditions of light, and did not interfere with normal vision.
Boundaries
Contact lenses cannot produce detailed and detailed images due to the diffusion of light during the infrared conversion process to visible light. Detection of natural infrared radiation without artificial lighting remains difficult. The human participants of the study were all of the ancestry of East Asia, limiting generalization. Prolonged continuous wear has shown minor irritation similar to regular contact lenses. The perception of fine image requires additional portable glasses systems to obtain optimal spatial resolution.
Financing and disclosure
This research was funded by several Chinese government agencies, including the major science and technology innovation 2030, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Natural Science Foundation and various provincial foundations. Additional support came from the New Cornerstone Science Foundation, the Human Frontier Science Program and the Feng Foundation of Biomedical Research. The authors have not declared any competing interest.
Publication information
Ma, Y., Chen, Y., Wang, S., et al. “Vision of almost infrared spatio-temporal colors in humans activated by contact objectives of positive conversion”, published in Cell2025. DOI: 10.1016 / J.Cell.2025.04.019. The study was published online on May 22, 2025.
