Oddity Central

Oddity Central

Camouflage Company Makes Harry Potter’s Invisibility Cloak a Reality

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 04:28 AM PST

Created by Canadian camouflage design company Hyperstealth, Quantum Stealth is a is a material that renders its wearer completely invisible by bending light waves around it, which is in effect very similar to the invisibility cloak worn child wizard extraordinaire, Harry Potter.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could put on your very own invisibility cloak and just roam around undetected? Sadly, that’s not going to be possible for most of us, but if you’re a US soldier, this fantasy could become a reality sooner than you think. Apparently, the US Military is currently backing development of special materials to make American soldiers completely invisible on the battlefield, and according to one camouflage design company, it might soon get its wish. Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp. CEO, Guy Cramer, says their new “Quantum Stealth” material has finally made the sci-fi/fantasy technology a reality. Unfortunately at this time, we can only take his word for it, as its development is so secret that the company cannot even show footage of how it works, on its website, offering only mock-ups of its effects.

Still, Cramer remains unfazed by the wave of skepticism, saying that “the people that need to know that it works have seen it”. And no, he doesn’t mean the students of a real-life wizard school, but command groups from within the US and Canadian Military. “‘These groups now know that it works and does so without cameras, batteries, lights or mirrors…It is lightweight and quite inexpensive.” the Hyperstealth CEO said. ” Both the U.S. and Canadian military have confirmed that it also works against military IR scopes and Thermal Optics.” Instead of going into details about how Quantum Stealth manipulates light waves to conceal even the target’s shadow, Mr. Cramer talked about how he sees the technology being used. In his opinion, it would be invaluable for pilots stranded behind enemy lines in order to avoid capture, but also for special units carrying out raids in broad daylight. Also the next generation of aircrafts could be invisible not only to radars but also to the naked eye, while tanks and submarines could only be detected by the sound of their engines and guns.

In a recent interview with CNN, Guy Cramer said he only disclosed information about Hyperstealth’s breakthrough to attract the attention of the US Military. After it got enough exposure in the press, the Military asked to see Quantum Stealth in action, to verify if it really works. So there you have it folks, the next time you see an invisibility cloak in real life, it’s most likely it won’t be concealing a spectacled wizard, but a machine gun-wielding soldier…

 

Camouflage Company Makes Harry Potter’s Invisibility Cloak a Reality was originally posted at OddityCentral.com

Controversial Artist Unveils Work Created with Hundreds of Dead Insects

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 02:28 AM PST

Damien Hirst is known as one of the most controversial artists of our time, and his latest work only adds to his reputation. Capaneus, part of the ‘entomology‘ series that hirst has been working on since 2009, features hundreds of insect species placed in intricate geometric shapes and fixed in place with household gloss paint.

Considering many people find insects, spiders and scorpions disgusting or even frightening, it’s fair to say Capaneus is not an artwork for the faint of heart. However, considering Hirts’s past “masterpieces” include a diamond-encrusted baby skull, and an installation where maggots hatched, developed into flies and feasted on a severed cow's head in a glass box, I’d have to say his latest creation is one of the least controversial. According to the English artist’s website, “this work's title derives from Dante's 'Inferno' which recounts how the warrior king Capaneus is struck down with lightening and thunder bolts by the angered deities whom he has held in contempt. Dante’s account originates from the Latin epic poem 'Thebaid' in which it is described how, body and helmet aflame, Capaneus falls from the walls to the ground below where he lies outstretched, 'his lifeless body as immense as that of a giant.” Like the rest of the artworks in the “entomology” series, Capaneus alludes to Hirst’s long time interest in the nineteenth century fascination with natural history and the irony involved in having to kill something in order to look at it.

Photo: Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst’s insect painting looks a lot like a colorful Buddhist mandala when seen from afar, but as you draw closer, the true nature of the materials used to create it are revealed. If you’re not too squeamish, there’s a high resolution zoom-able version of Capaneus on the artist’s official site, where you can also watch a timelapse video of the making-of process.

Photo: Designboom

 Photo: Designboom

Photo: Designboom

Source: Designboom

Controversial Artist Unveils Work Created with Hundreds of Dead Insects was originally posted at OddityCentral.com

Londoners in Need of a Hug Attend Cuddle Workshops

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 01:32 AM PST

It was only a few months ago that we told you about this professional cuddler in New York who provides snuggles and cuddles for a fee. Now we've found out about an entire workshop that's dedicated to the act of cuddling, this time in London. Organized by 36-year-old Anna Nathan and 42-year-old Neil Urquhart, the workshop takes place twice a month on Sundays and costs £29 (about $46). Participants at the cuddle workshop get to do just that – hold each other.

But it's not just 'ready-set-cuddle' from beginning to end. There's actually a process that's followed during the four-hour sessions, for the participants to get acquainted before they can hold each other in full-on cuddles. And of course, there are rules as well. According to Anna, "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." Some of the other rules include keeping a layer of clothing on at all times, placing your sexual energy aside, and the most important – no kissing. Attendants at the cuddle workshop come from various walks of life – ranging from a divorced 30-something badly in need of a hug, to a retired and lonely person. The room in which the classes are held is quite cozy, with green and red cushions scattered on the floor. However, the temperature is mostly cool, perhaps to encourage participants to keep their clothes on at all times.

Photo: Cuddle Workshop

Cuddle class begins with a series of exercises. First, everyone walks around the room in time to some music (mostly, the beat of 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'). They click their fingers as they walk, briefly touching their fingers to get to know each other. Then, they slowly start touching each other's shoulders, feet, ears and finally, the hips. Students are generally hesitant at first, but nervous laughter soon breaks the ice. Afterward, the class is divided into pairs and then small groups, and guided through stroking each other all over their body. Thankfully, the torso and pelvic area are excluded. In the final exercise, the groups break up and everyone lies on the floor, touching and holding each other while still respecting the rules.

Photo: Cuddle Workshop

The whole concept sounds bizarre, especially to people who've never cuddled a stranger before. Bailey, a 20-year-old American student said after her first class, "At some point, I was like: wait, I am just cuddling someone I just met. In any other place this would be weird. But because we are coming to a workshop, it's fine." Although, she does admit that she finds it strange to see a workshop like this in London. "If I expected this place to be anywhere, it's in California, with some hippies." But for those who are quite experienced with cuddling, the activity is something they look forward to. Grace, a veteran cuddler, says, "I feel really relaxed. I likened it to taking ecstasy tablets. It reminds me of that experience." One of the rules that participants are told of before they arrive is to make sure they aren't wearing too much perfume or aftershave. Still, there's no telling when you might have to cuddle with a stinker. Bailey says, "Some guy had a really freshly laundered shirt, and I was like, 'that's nice, that's so comforting.' But the next person, I was like, 'noooo that's not comforting, you could have tried better, come on!' And I was like, 'Oh my God, I hope I don't smell'."

 

As strict as the rules are at the cuddle workshop, it is inevitable that such a close proximity of contact could lead to attraction for more. However, Anna and Neil say that they keep a close watch on participants, and that they never had much trouble in the two years they have been doing this. "We've never had to separate people or pull them apart," says Neil. The true aim behind the workshop is just to help people derive some comfort in a society where human contact has mostly gone digital. At the end of a session, returning to the real world outside could seem cold and come as a shock to some participants. To avoid that, the organizers like to soften the blow by arranging a dinner nearby for those who would like to go. Andrew, 42, says, "If I had to go straight to the street and public transport, I would feel kind of cold and alone. I want to hug everybody I see, if they are going my way or not." Andrew has been to over 10 workshops so far. Clearly, the cuddle workshop is providing people with something they truly need and aren't getting enough of in their daily lives.

Source: AFP

Londoners in Need of a Hug Attend Cuddle Workshops was originally posted at OddityCentral.com

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