Ask Slashdot: How to Exploit Post-Cataract Ultraviolet Vision? 350
xmas2003 writes "I recently had cataract surgery with a Crystalens implant. With my cloudy yellowing (UV-filtering) natural lens removed, I see the world in a new light (more on that in a moment) as everything is brighter and colors are more vivid ... plus in focus.
As a typical Slashdot reader, I've been myopic since childhood, so it's wonderful not to have to wear glasses/contacts for distance. One interesting oddity is that I can now see ultraviolet light — it seems that there are a few people who have photoreceptors sensitive below 400nm into the UV spectrum. I've done some testing with a Black Light and UV filter to confirm this but would love to do more conclusive testing such as using a Monochromator — anyone in the Boulder, Colorado area have access to one? And any suggestions from Slashdot readers on how I can further explore this phenomenon? While I can't see dead people, I guess I have a 'superpower' ... although I'm not sure a middle-aged suburbanite dad should don purple tights and cape to become a crime-fighter!"
Re:First step (or post) (Score:4, Funny)
Ultraman
Re:First step (or post) (Score:5, Funny)
As HiveLord, numberless swarms of eusocial attack insects will bend to his will! The crops of man shall be bounteous, or wither unpollinated, by his hand! His amazonian suicide warriors will throw themselves at all foes, laying down their lives that the Swarm's venom may find its target!
Re:Clothing? (Score:5, Funny)
Do I really have to suggest to a bunch of /.ers to try and see thru clothing using UV light?
If I could see through clothing, I don't think I could ever shop at Walmart again.
Re:First step (or post) (Score:5, Funny)
Ultraviolator.
Though I guess that could be open to misinterpretation.
Re:First step (or post) (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Is there anything.. (Score:5, Funny)
Raptors use UV vision. I read a couple of articles about birds floating in the sky, watching the ground for fresh rodent urine. The urine gives off a bright glow under UV, that is invisible in the "visible" light spectrum.
Don't tell Randall about this! He's just recently calmed down.
Re:Dangerous (Score:5, Funny)
UV-C (280-100 nm) is utterly hostile to biology - the upper atmosphere filters this range out so life never evolved mechanisms to deal with it. Actually, UV-C is hostile to damn near everything: just from my own experience, it bleaches everything, and most plastics will degrade and become brittle with mere hours of exposure. I've test-fired a 185nm lamp in the open for a few seconds (wearing goggles!) and even across the room you can instantly smell ozone forming as it starts ripping oxygen apart. Stay away!
Next month's Slashdot headline: WickedLasers introduces 185nm 5W "My 1st Death Ray" for $150 ;-)