Will the 'Invisible Man' Become Reality? Success in Creating a 'Transparent Mouse'

Expected to Contribute to New Drug Development and Disease Research
Aiming for Human Application as Well

The invisible man is no longer just a figure in fantasy movies. German researchers have succeeded in developing technology to create a "transparent rat."

According to a recent report by the British BBC, researchers at the Helmholtz Munich Institute in Germany have developed a solution that makes not only the skin but also all the bones, nerves, and organs of the body transparent.

Photo by BBC News capture

By using this technology, it is possible to see clearly inside the body, so the industry expects it to accelerate progress in new drug testing as well as disease research.

Professor Ali Ert?rk explained, "The solution treatment causes dehydration and fat removal. It's like turning milk into water."

The research team reported success in observing early-stage cancer at the cellular level, which cannot be seen with MRI. Before the development of this solution, it was only possible by slicing body tissues thinly, staining them, and observing under a microscope.

So far, this technology has only been applied to dead animal corpses, but recently the research has expanded to understanding the microstructure of human organs and tissues. The goal is also to make the human body transparent.

The researchers anticipate that if it becomes possible to look inside the brain of a living person, it will enable diagnosis of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.