11 April 2007: Now you see me ...

Fans of Harry Potter who are intrigued by the boy-wizard's invisibility cloak might soon be able to buy one for themselves.

Last year physicists figured out the complex mathematical equations for bending light around an object. Now a group of engineers at Purdue University in America have used those calculations to design a device that ought to be able to make objects as big as an aircraft simply disappear.

The lead researcher said "It looks pretty much like fiction, I do realize, but it's completely in agreement with the laws of physics."

The still-theoretical design will be published this month in the journal Nature Photonics.

Sadly, if the device is ever developed the first applications are likely to be military.