The citizen science group Science for the Masses has developed eye drops that give the superhuman ability to see in the dark — at least temporarily. They found that a natural molecule called Chlorin e6 (Ce6), created from green plants such as algae, boosts eyesight in the dark.

Ce6 has been used in some cancer treatments since the 1960s, and in recent years has been used intravenously for night blindness.

Scientists placed eye drops containing Ce6 in the eyes of volunteer Gabriel Licina.
According to the Daily Telegraph, after one hour he could distinguish shapes from 10 meters (about 33 feet) away. Soon, the effect was even greater.

Licina and four controls were tested. "We had people go stand in the woods," Licina said. "At 50 meters, I could figure out who they were, even if they were standing up against a tree."

The control group, which didn't get the Ce6, could only distinguish objects 33 percent of the time while Licina's success rate was 100 percent.

The effects of Ce6 last for "many hours" according to a report by Science for the Masses, an organization that's independent of any university or government agency and is dedicated to making science more available to the average person.