Is it possible to 'disappear into thin air'?

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In summary, Shy says that carbon dioxide ice disappears into thin air because it sublimes. Vivekhavent says that one possible way to disappear into thin air without movement is to use comuters, similar to the Predator effect. Finally, Shyla says that there is a military invisibility suit that uses small emitters to blend in, but it can never get dirty.
  • #1
Shyla
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This isn't really homework, just a point of interest that my teacher couldn't answer:

Is it possible to 'disappear into thin air'?

And if so, is it possible without movement?

I can't find anything in reference to this, so even if you post things that I could look at would be helpful.

Thanks

Shy
 
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  • #2
You could say Carbon Dioxide ice dissapears into thin air because it sublimes. (It goes from solid to gas, without going through the liquid phase). Although it doesn't turn to gas all at once.
 
  • #3
Welcome to PF, Shyla!

Well if you mean that for human beings (and not carbon dioxide :approve:), one of the primary reasons why we can't become "transparent" is that we're opaque (ideally, transparent bodies have what's known as a "zero reflection coefficient")--to be transparent, we have to be like water (which isn't perfectly transparent by the way) or a jellyfish.

Cheers
Vivek
 
  • #4
havent you seen predator. But we would need those handy dandy comuters they have.
 
  • #5
If you mean "disapear" like in "nothing left" it is certainly impossible. Now if you mean "become invisible" it is theoretically possible : you just have, somehow, to reproduce light incoming from the left to the right. Then apply spherical symmetrizer :biggrin: Seriously, I think the US army is working on that :bugeye: and they might be more advanced than just the prototype step :surprise: But then of course, we European think your army is trying to build everything we already secretly know how to do :tongue2:
 
  • #6
Actually mate, the Japanese have already got somewhere with http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_747591.html [Broken]! Although it doesn't look like what u'd call perfect, that was over a year ago now! They may have made improvements.

Also: http://edition.cnn.com/2003/TECH/02/07/japan.invisible.ap/ [Broken]
 
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  • #7
But then of course, we European think your army is trying to build everything we already secretly know how to do

LOL! :smile:

I heard about a military "invisibility suit" from some source a little while ago. If you use small emitters, like sequins, which transmit light that is coming in directly opposite the other side of the body, you could blend in quite well, similar to the Predator effect. It certainly wouldn't be as nifty as Predator, but could dramatically improve concealment for intelligence/recon missions. The one problem I see with the setup, though, is that it can't ever get dirty. :tongue2:
 

1. Is it scientifically possible to disappear into thin air?

No, it is not scientifically possible to disappear into thin air. Objects cannot simply disappear without a trace due to the laws of physics, such as the conservation of mass and energy.

2. Are there any documented cases of people disappearing into thin air?

No, there are no documented cases of people disappearing into thin air. Many stories and legends exist about people mysteriously vanishing, but these are often sensationalized or lack concrete evidence.

3. Can technology or advanced science make it possible to disappear into thin air?

There is currently no technology or advanced science that can make it possible for someone to disappear into thin air. While science and technology have advanced greatly, they are still bound by the laws of physics.

4. What could potentially cause someone to seemingly disappear into thin air?

There are a few potential explanations for why someone may seem to disappear into thin air. These include optical illusions, mental illness, and hoaxes. In some cases, people who are believed to have disappeared may have actually run away or been the victim of a crime.

5. Is there any scientific evidence to support the concept of disappearing into thin air?

No, there is no scientific evidence to support the concept of disappearing into thin air. While there are some natural phenomena, such as mirages, that can create the illusion of objects disappearing, there is no evidence to suggest that people can actually disappear without a trace.

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