Hands-on with 'invisibility cloak' material designed for military use

Disappearing Pencils Explanation : The lens diffuses light on a single axis, while the orthogonal axis remains normal. So the pencils which are orthogonal to the diffusion look correct, while those along the axis of diffusion get their light (and color) spread out and lost in the noise. But technically even the "correct" pencils are diffused, it's just that the diffusion of the light overlaps itself, and makes the pencil appear intact. You're not actually seeing underneath the horizontal pencils

Scientists Show You How to Make an Invisibility Cloak (Sort Of)