- X-ray vision
In
science fiction stories, X-ray vision has generally been portrayed as the ability to see through layers of objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. People often pretend to have this ability through the use of X-ray glasses, which are a special type of "joke-around" or prank-gag toys with the secret of its "x-ray properties" being unknown. The goal is usually to see through clothing, usually to determine if someone is carrying a concealed weapon, but sometimes for purpose of seeing a person's private parts. In the non-fictional realm,X-ray s have many practical uses in the fields ofscience andmedicine . While there are devices currently extant which can "see" through clothing (usingterahertz waves), most are quite bulky. However, there are night vision equipped video cameras that can be modified to see through clothing at a frequency just below visible light.Examples
The best known figures with "x-ray vision" are the fictional
superhero "Superman " who once had a heat producing function before that power was separated asheat vision , and the protagonist of the 1963 film "X" (aka "X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes").At least in the first "Superman" movie, Superman's X-ray vision could see through female character
Lois Lane 's clothing to see the color of her underwear. This implies it had nothing to do with actual X-rays, since color is a matter of spectral properties at optical frequencies.In the movie "
Superman Returns ", Superman uses the X-ray vision to see into the interior of Lois Lane's body in order to check for internal injuries.In the anime and manga series "
Naruto ", the Hyuuga clan possesses theByakugan , an eye condition which confers a sort of x-ray vision, along with limited thermographic capabilities and the ability to see the flow of chakra.In the
Bionicle storyline, aKanohi mask called Akaku endows its user with X-Ray Vision. A more powerful version, the Akaku Nuva, grants X-Ray vision to the user and those around him (and can see throughillusions ).In the video games "
Metroid Prime " and "", Samus acquires an X-Ray Visor that allows the player to see hidden recesses in walls and enemies that are outside the normal andinfrared vision spectrums.In the
comic "Buster" there is a strip called X-Ray Specs whose hero, Ray, has a pair of glasses which provide him with x-ray vision.In the
Pokémon series, the "Gleam Eyes Pokémon",Luxray has the ability to use X-Ray vision, to spot prey hiding behind objects.In the Harry Potter series, Mad-eye Moody (Alastor Moody) has an eye which can see through many objects including ceilings and walls.
Paranormal claims
A Russian girl named
Natasha Demkina claims to have the ability to see into people's bodies and diagnose medical conditions. However, a scientific study did not validate her claim, and it is believed that this was more of a case of well-honed intuition.Fact|date=July 2008References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.