Black Is The New Black

Researchers have created a paper-thin material that absorbs 99.955 percent of all light that reaches it -- described in a fascinating WaPo story as "A Roach Motel for photons -- they check in but they don't check out."

Think of the possibilities! Having trouble? Let's prime the pump

Known as transformation optics, the phenomenon compels some wavelengths of light to flow around an object like water around a stone. As a result, things behind the object become visible while the object itself disappears from view.

"Cloaking is just the tip of the iceberg," said Vladimir Shalaev, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University and an expert in the fledgling field. "With transformation optics you can do many other tricks," perhaps including making things appear to be located where they are not and focusing massive amounts of energy on microscopic spots.

For obvious reasons the Defense Department has been funding this research, but it may take a while for absolute invisibility in the field because technologies that block one light spectrum or energy type, don't block others.

But who cares about defense? Imagine your big 'ol electron sucking flat screen with a blacker-than-black case, so the image just floats in the air. Or a little black dress. Or the cover of the next (?) Harry Potter book. Or what a halfway decent SciFi writer could do with this trick!

Please note: This technology was not invented in a country under the fist of Islamic theocracy or Cuban socialism or even European social democracy. It was invented right here in the free market, GNP-butt-kickin' republic, the USA ... which brings up another six-word slogan for America:

Nation of light (and absolute black)

hat-tip: memeorandum

Pentagon's New Math Adding Up

The military's new view of the world, as mesmerizingly presented in Thomas P.M. Barnett's The Pentagon's New Map, is starting to come to pass as big ideas so often come to pass -- via a series of small, pragmatic decisions.

The end of the Cold War military has been long in coming, but large, expensive platforms are beginning to be perceived as having less value in situations like Iraq than well-equipped, well-trained soldiers. Reuters reports on a recent decision that moves away from expensive equipment and towards better troop strength:

The White House plans to shift $3.2 billion in defense spending -- partly from new weapons like the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a trade publication reported on Monday.

In a letter to Congress detailing revised plans for its fiscal 2007 emergency wartime spending request, the White House said it would reduce spending on three aircraft programs by $923 million, freeing up money for armor kits and transport vehicles needed by U.S. troops.

The letter was obtained and released by insidedefense.com on Monday. ...

It said it would remove $388 million for five Lockheed C-130J transport planes; $146 million for one CV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft built by Boeing Co. and Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc.; and $389 million for Lockheed F-35s.

Instead, it would spend an additional $1.5 billion on armor kits and transport vehicles, including $500 million for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, the newest generation of tactical vehicles designed to protect troops against mines and roadside bombs.

It's a simple, immediate decision: More armor is needed because of what's happening in Iraq and the money has to come from somewhere.

But in the process, the military is being transformed a bit. Full transformation will take greater commitment from above, but moves like this get the momentum going.