Here’s the scene: Batman cruises down the freeway in the Tumbler, being closely pursued by Gotham Police cars and patrol helicopters. In the meantime, Rachel Dawes, having been exposed to a concentrated dose of fear toxin, is slipping away in the passenger’s seat. Batman slides out of the Tumbler’s “rocket-launching mode” and activates “stealth mode”. All of a sudden, the lights go out and the Tumbler fades into the shadows. Not only do the cops lose sight of him, but the helicopter’s glaring spotlight completely drifts away.

Video of The Chase Scene

I’m sure several million people have asked about this scene: “How did he just disappear like that? Can the cops not see him? I don’t see how that’s called stealth.”

You think so? Better think twice before questioning the genius of Chris Nolan. Here’s the answer:

• Patrol helicopters use thermal imaging on their spotlights to track down moving vehicles. If you notice in the scene for a brief second, Batman switches the Tumbler to an electric engine, thereby stopping its gas-powered heat source.

• When you stare at a bright light for several minutes, your pupils dilate. Turn off the light, and all you see in place of the light source is an amorphous, dark spot. This is because your pupils have not adjusted to the sudden loss of light as they gradually contract back to their original size. And it’s exactly what the cops were experiencing on the freeway once the Tumbler shut its lights off.

Pretty cool, huh? Hope that clears up some questions.

- The Angry Asian Batman