new york a singaporebased scientist has developed a harry potterstyle invisibility cloak which can shield objects behind it baile zhang of singapores nanyang technological university showed off his magical device earlier this week at ted2013 conference in long beach california despite being branded a cloak the gadget is actually a box two pieces of calcite a natural carbonate mineral that can bend light and suppress shadows around objects pieced together new york daily news reported but it shares the same principles as the robe donned by the famous movie wizard said zhang in the potter movies and books the invisibility cloak completely shields the wearer from sight and cannot be worn out by time or spells 31yearold zhang told boingboing his latest creation first dreamed up in 2010 was developed more as a hobby than a serious breakthrough in a video posted to youtube zhang demonstrates the devices ability to make things disappear he passes a rolledup postit note in front of a patterned background by the box when the note is behind the cloak neither can be seen