We discovered that by dissolving certain dye molecules, including a food dye commonly used in snacks called FD&C Yellow 5, into water, we can change the way light travels through the water.

A piece of chicken breast looks transparent after a soak in FD&C Yellow 5 dye. Credit: Guosong Hong However, something else happened. It became more transparent to red light.

When we soaked the chicken breast in a solution containing FD&C Yellow 5 dye, something amazing happened. It became more transparent, allowing us to clearly see a Stanford sign placed underneath.