Objects that sculpt light

Researchers at EPFL have found a way to make images by controlling the reflections that are produce when light passes through a transparent object. This technology is now being marketed by the startup Rayform. Researchers at EPFL have found a way to make images by controlling the reflections that are produce when light passes through a transparent object. This technology is now being marketed by the startup Rayform. When light shines on a plain, polished metal medallion, Vermeer's famous painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" appears on a nearby wall; out of random reflections, a piece of plexiglas illustrates the portrait of Albert Einstein; and lifting up a whiskey glass reveals the brand's name on the table top. But none of these objects has been encrusted or imprinted in any way. It may seem like magic, but there is pure science behind this invention.