Changing diet might help you see infrared.

[psi29a]

http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2005/08/c ... ight_.html

Thanks to Eric Lundquis for typing this up and putting it on the internet. It's an experiment done by the army and cited by Rubin, M. L., and Walls, G. L. (1969). Fundamentals of visual science. Springfield, Ill.: Thomas, p. 546, which is in turn cited Sekuler, R., and Blake, R. (1994). Perception (3rd ed.). Springfield, Ill.: Thomas, pp. 62-63:

The following story dramatizes how photopigments determine what one can see. During World War II, the United States Navy wanted its sailors to be able to see infrared signal lights that would be invisible to the enemy. Normally, it is impossible to see infrared radiation because, as pointed out earlier, the wavelengths are too long for human photopigments. In order for humans to see infrared, the spectral sensitivity of some human photopigment would have to be changed. Vision scientists knew that retinal, the derivative of vitamin A, was part of every photopigment molecule and that various forms of vitamin A existed. If the retina could be encouraged to use some alternative form of vitamin A in its manufacture of photopigments, the spectral sensitivity of those photopigments would be abnormal, perhaps extending into infrared radiation. Human volunteers were fed diets rich in an alternative form of vitamin A but deficient in the usual form. Over several months, the volunteers' vision changed, giving them greater sensitivity to light of longer wavelengths. Though the experiment seemed to be working, it was aborted. The development of the "snooperscope," an electronic device for seeing infrared radiation, made continuation of the experiment unnecessary (Rubin and Walls, 1969). Still, the experiment demonstrates that photopigments select what one can see; changing those photopigments would change one's vision.

SWEET!

[dialdfordesi]

That's pretty crazy, but being Vitamin A deficient would have some serious side effects wouldn't it? I mean even if that alternative form could be used in photoreceptors, there must be somewhere where that the alternative could not be used.

[MrFelony]

i wonder if it changed how the soldiers perceived the world (just had to use that smiley lol).

[Hyuri]

That's pretty crazy, but being Vitamin A deficient would have some serious side effects wouldn't it?

Funny thing is an overdose of Vitamin A can cause blurry vision.

[MrFelony]

I think you might be thinking of vitamin B-lurry.

[Hyuri]

I had completely forgotten about this topic .

I think you might be thinking of vitamin B-lurry.

No, actually an overdose of vitamin A can cause blurry vision, along with some other more annoying side effects.

See Here.

[uncempt]

Maybe the "altered mentality" side effect could be one of the reasons this was dropped? You wouldn't want your well brainwashed soldiers to suddenly turn pacifist, would you?

[Tonbo]

i wonder if it changed how the soldiers perceived the world (just had to use that smiley lol).

I imagine it would be like looking at the stars out of the corner of your eye. You can see stars in your peripheral vision that seem to disappear when you look directly at them because rods are more sensitive than cones and rod photoreceptors predominate in the periphery of the retina.

[MrFelony]

I think you might be thinking of vitamin B-lurry.

No, actually an overdose of vitamin A can cause blurry vision, along with some other more annoying side effects.

See Here.

it seems you also missed my joke

[Hyuri]

I think you might be thinking of vitamin B-lurry.

No, actually an overdose of vitamin A can cause blurry vision, along with some other more annoying side effects.

See Here.

it seems you also missed my joke

eh yeah...a couple of months late but whatever.

Yes I seemed to have missed the joke. Sorry I really am a Noob and I lack internet forums skills. Interpretation aswell as humour.

Wait a minute...did I just admit my noobiness on EG? Did I juts sign my death wish?