Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas disclosed this week that they've developed an imager chip that could turn mobile phones into devices that can see through walls, wood, plastics, paper, and other objects.

The research team, led by Kenneth O, director of the and a professor of electrical engineering, tapped an unused range in the electromagnetic spectrum and some microchip technology to brew their X-ray chip.

Portions of the electromagnetic spectrum are already used for consumer devices. For example, microwaves are used to cook food, broadcast radio uses AM and FM waves, and infrared waves are used for seeing in the dark. For their purposes, the researchers used waves in the .

“We’ve created approaches that open a previously untapped portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for consumer use and life-saving medical applications," . “The terahertz range is full of unlimited potential that could benefit us all."

The researchers' approach reduces the size of the mechanics needed to create images with terahertz waves. Combined with --which is used in a number of consumer devices such as digital cameras and camcorders, smartphones and HD TVs--a chip can be created that can "see" through solid objects.