Tiny X-Ray vision chip can peer through nearby objects, like cardboard boxes and even walls — researchers say it is small enough to fit into a smartphone

Official graphic of the X-Ray Imaging Chip developed by UTD and SNU researchers.

A Superman-inspired, CMOS-powered X-ray vision imager chip has emerged from the combined research of the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and South Korea's Seoul National University (SNU), per a release from UTD and a corresponding IEEE paper. This imager chip demonstrates the ability to see objects through cardboard from about an inch away — a deliberate distance restriction in the technology to prevent abuse, though a future version is expected to scan as far as five inches. The range restrictions here should be reasonable enough to prevent most worst-case scenarios, though those prone to taking naps in public places and the such may want to be especially cautious if these chips become commonplace.

(Image credit: University of Texas at Dallas and Seoul National University )