Scientists in China Unveil Pioneering Technology

In a landmark breakthrough, researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei have developed contact lenses embedded with nanoparticles that allow humans to see infrared light, making night vision possible without bulky equipment or invasive procedures.

The Team Behind the Technology

The research was led by neuroscientist Tian Xue and co-author Yuqian Ma, alongside a multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists, materials scientists, and chemists at USTC. Their findings were published in the journal Cell on May 22, 2025, marking a new era in non-invasive night vision technology.

How It Works: Nanoparticle Innovation

The contact lenses are composed of conventional soft polymers infused with gold-based upconversion nanoparticles—45 nanometers in diameter—crafted from gold, sodium gadolinium fluoride, ytterbium, and erbium ions. These nanoparticles absorb invisible near-infrared light (800–1,600 nm) and convert it into visible wavelengths (400–700 nm). Some lenses have been engineered to convert specific infrared wavelengths into blue, green, or red visible light, even enabling differentiation of “colors” within the infrared spectrum.

Thanks to this conversion, users can perceive both regular visible light and additional infrared signals simultaneously. The lenses remain comfortable and transparent, with infrared vision actually enhanced when the wearer’s eyes are closed—the infrared light penetrates through eyelids better than visible light, eliminating ambient interference.

From Lab to Human Eyes: Testing and Applications

Initial experiments involved injecting nanoparticles into mouse retinas, proving the concept of infrared vision in mammals. Transitioning to human trials, participants in Hefei were able to distinguish patterns and flashing signals illuminated solely by infrared LEDs—even with their eyes closed, a feat previously impossible for humans.

Though current prototypes detect only strong infrared sources, further improvements are being made to increase sensitivity for weak signals. Researchers also addressed image blurriness caused by light scattering, using additional optical elements to partially resolve clarity.

Opportunities and Implications

The development offers a practical alternative to night-vision goggles, requiring no power source and avoiding invasive methods used in previous animal studies. Potential applications range from security, military operations, rescue efforts, and encrypted communications to anti-counterfeiting and aid for the color-blind.

The Future of Human Vision

As the technology continues to evolve, the USTC team envisions higher sensitivity, greater spatial resolution, and broader practical deployment, including possible medical imaging uses and enhanced super-vision capabilities.

The invention of infrared contact lenses by Tian Xue, Yuqian Ma, and the USTC team in Hefei, China—published in May 2025—marks a historic step forward in expanding the limits of human perception, bringing science-fiction vision closer to everyday reality.