Leap forward for invisibility cloaks
nature.com
nature.com
I believe that.
"And making a similar device that shields objects in visible light should be relatively straightforward, they say.""
I do not believe that. Not because I think they're wrong, but rather I believe it is their nature to be overly optimistic. It seems whenever scientists make a new breakthrough, the next step is always 'easy' and 'should be out in the next 5-10 years". Never happens.
The most conspicuous example I can think of is:
Giant MagnetoResistance (GMR) read heads. These went from a laboratory discovery to a widely adopted practical technology in about ~10-12 years. It's discoverers were given the 2007 nobel prize in physics.
There are many other smaller profile examples from the materials processing and photonics industries. Exponential growth in computing power / storage depends on fast tracking these kind of discoveries.