At USTC (University of Science and Technology of China), Yugian Ma and his team conducted research to grant night vision to mice by injecting a special nanomaterial: UCNPs (upconversion nanoparticles) containing elements like erbium and ytterbium (derived from rare earths). Professor Gang Han, the research coordinator, stated that the elements used are inorganic compounds, where biocompatibility is not completely clear, and the aim of the research is to show that highly bright organic UCNPs can be created compared to inorganic ones. The nanomaterial will be refined to improve safety and sensitivity for human testing, which was not an issue for the mice, who kept the nanoparticles in their eyes for 10 weeks with no visible side effects. The study could contribute to granting humans the ability of night vision in the future without the use of devices, as well as having important medical applications in the treatment of eye diseases. check out the full study here