  Antenna technology is at the basis of ubiquitous wireless communication
systems and sensors. Radiation is typically sustained by conduction currents
flowing around resonant metallic objects that are optimized to enhance
efficiency and bandwidth. However, resonant conductors are prone to large
scattering of impinging waves, leading to challenges in crowded antenna
environments due to blockage and distortion. Metasurface cloaks have been
explored in the quest of addressing this challenge by reducing antenna
scattering, but with limited performance in terms of bandwidth, footprint and
overall scattering reduction. Here we introduce a different route towards
radio-transparent antennas, in which the cloak itself acts as the radiating
element, drastically reducing the overall footprint while enhancing scattering
suppression and bandwidth, without sacrificing other relevant radiation metrics
compared to conventional antennas. This technique offers a new application of
cloaking technology, with promising features for crowded wireless communication
platforms and noninvasive sensing.
