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The human eye can see ‘invisible’ infrared light - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis (source.wustl.edu)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] vampire 21 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

I've always been able to see the IR light from those depth sensing cameras used for facial recognition on laptops, as well as those sensors old android phones used to use to detect if they're face down on a table or up to your ear.

It just looks like dark red to me. My science teacher in highschool told me it's not common but some people have a wider spectrum of light thats visible to them than others. This special gift from nature has not meaningfully impacted my life in any way, shape, or form.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I had just assumed those were supposed to be visible. Like the lights the Xbox Kinect had.

But if they aren't, that's annoying lol. Same deal with hearing the high pitch frequency old CRTs would emit.

[–] CookieOfFortune 15 points 10 months ago (3 children)

The CRT thing is pretty common I think, you just lose your high frequency hearing as you age.

[–] bitchkat 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The high pitch squeals just move to inside your head.

[–] CookieOfFortune 5 points 10 months ago

Ugh this has become very true as I’ve aged :’(

[–] 474D 4 points 10 months ago

I lost it at a Cypress Hill concert

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Yeah, I was using it as an example of annoying things fitting around the same niche lol.

[–] UPGRAYEDD 3 points 10 months ago

Its not intentional as much as it is a cost savings

[–] UPGRAYEDD 6 points 10 months ago

Thats mostly because the vast majority of IR lights and led's also emit visable light. To get an ir light to not also emit within the visable light spectrum is much more expensive.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

I can barely see normal visible red.

Stupid Deuteranomaly

https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/color-blindness/types-color-vision-deficiency

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Do you suppose the green flash phenomenon should be revisited? A combo of light, atmosphere and the human eye seems reasonable to me.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Considering it's been photographed I don't think the human eye is a factor.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

What does being able to capture it on film have to do with it?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

When you take a photo, your eyes are not involved (apart from setting up the camera). The light comes from the source and goes through the camera lens onto the film or camera sensor, your eyes are not a factor at that point.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 10 months ago

Yes in a vacuum where you are only trying to capture a pinpoint light source. The sun is many orders of magnitude greater and refracted through an atmosphere of gas, water molecules and dust. Are you saying none of these are factors in the ability for a camera to capture what the human eye can only observe in very specific circumstances? If I’m still wrong, please explain yourself better than just basic information on how a camera works.