researchers from the école polytechnique fédérale de lausanne (epfl) and swiss manufacturers have developed a new type of glass that provides enhanced mobile reception while maintaining a comfortable cabin temperature for passengers riding in trains.

(wikimedia commons)

the glass incorporates a laser-treated, metal coating that reflects heat waves but allows visible light and electromagnetic waves to pass through. this avoids the faraday cage of a typical train cabin and gives passengers greater mobile connectivity. according to an article on phys.org, “no more than 2.5% of the surface area of the metal coating is ablated by laser scribing. the resulting pattern is nearly invisible to the naked eye and does not affect the window's insulating properties.”

this will provide better comfort for passengers but also better savings for train companies that are using nearly one-third of energy costs on heating or cooling cabins.

the glass has already been tested by railway company bls and after successful trials will be installed in trains beginning this month.

read more about the windows at http://phys.org/news/2016-08-windows-combine-mobile-reception-thermal.html.