Infrared: Encyclopedia II - Infrared - History

Infrared - History

Infrared - Biological systems

The pit viper is known to have two infrared sensory pits on its head. There is controversy over the exact thermal sensitivity of this biological infrared detection system.

• Thermal Modeling of Snake Infrared Reception: Evidence for Limited Detection Range, B. S. Jones, W. F. Lynn and M. O. Stone, Journal of Theoretical Biology Vol. 209, Iss. 2, 201-211 (2001) DOI:10.1006/jtbi.2000.2256
• Biological Thermal Detection: Micromechanical and Microthermal Properties of Biological Infrared Receptors, V. Gorbunov, N. Fuchigami, M. Stone, M. Grace, and V. V. Tsukruk, Biomacromolecules vol. 3 Iss. 1, 106-115 (2002). DOI:10.1021/bm015591f

Infrared - Human history

The discovery of infrared radiation is commonly ascribed to William Herschel, the astronomer, in the early 19th century. Herschel used a prism to refract light from the sun and detected the infrared, beyond the red part of the spectrum, through an increase in the temperature recorded on a thermometer.

Simple infrared sensors were used by British, American and German forces in the Second World War as night vision aids for snipers.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki