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Underwater sound waves help scientists locate ocean impacts

Scientists have developed a new method to locate the precise time and location that objects fall into our oceans using underwater microphones. The method relies on measuring acoustic gravity waves generated when an object hits the sea surface. Researchers validated their method by locating recent earthquakes in the Indian Ocean.

SourceCardiff University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 24, 2017

SUTD researchers developed single cell level sorting technology using sound waves

A research team from SUTD developed a highly accurate single cell level sorting technology using sound waves, which enables the isolation of rare cell populations in complex biological samples. This technology has the potential to advance precision medicine for cancer treatment by examining DNA mutations at single cell level.

World first: 'Storing lightning inside thunder'

University of Sydney researchers have achieved a groundbreaking breakthrough in transferring digital information between light waves and sound waves on a microchip. The innovation enables faster processing and reduces energy consumption by slowing down data transfer velocity to five orders of magnitude, making it suitable for use in te...

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 18, 2017

Imaging how magnetism goes surfing

Scientists have developed a method to control magnetic properties of materials using surface acoustic waves, which can induce rapid changes in strain and magnetization. This technique has the potential to enable low-power magnetic devices, which is key to developing memory, computing, and communication devices at the nanoscale.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 13, 2017

Raucous crystals

Scientists have discovered that organic crystals send out acoustic signals when their crystal structure changes, providing insight into the phenomenon. The crystals' rapid transformation of heat into movement is potentially useful for developing artificial muscles or microscale robotic arms.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 15, 2017

Lego figures don't stand a chance against time reversal

Physicists at Brigham Young University have developed an acoustic technique called time reversal that uses targeted sound vibrations to knock over Lego figures. This technology has far-reaching implications for fields like private communication, targeted noise cancelation, and even medical treatments such as destroying kidney stones.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateApr 5, 2017

Sound waves boost older adult' memory, deep sleep

A new study from Northwestern University finds that sound wave stimulation synchronized to brain waves triples memory scores in older adults and enhances deep sleep. The technique, which uses real-time brain wave analysis, shows promise as a non-meditation approach to improving brain health.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateMar 8, 2017

Sound-shaping super-material invented

Researchers have invented a super-material that bends, shapes and focuses sound waves, pushing the boundaries of metamaterials. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize medical imaging and personal audio, allowing for precise control over sound waves.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 27, 2017

Scientists reconstruct formation of the southern Appalachians

A team of geophysicists has reconstructed the terminal phase of the collision between North America and Gondwana, revealing a 300km-long shear zone that stretches from Alabama to Florida. This discovery provides new insights into the formation of the southern Appalachians and has implications for understanding mountain-building processes.

SourceBrown University·JournalGeology·DateNov 21, 2016

Lego-like wall produces acoustic holograms

Researchers at Duke University have developed a simple, energy-efficient way to create three-dimensional acoustic holograms using Lego-like metamaterials. The technique manipulates sound waves into desired patterns, enabling applications such as improving sound quality in speakers and creating realistic ultrasound images.

SourceDuke University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 14, 2016

The sound of a healthy reef

A new study suggests that sound plays a limited role in attracting coral larvae to reef systems. By recording particle motion using accelerometers, researchers found that the signal drops rapidly below levels detectable by most marine species just a few meters away from the reef. This finding challenges previous studies and highlights ...

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 26, 2016

The exception and its rules

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology and colleagues around the world have discovered exceptional points in wave physics, where complex frequencies emerge. By steering a system around these points, they have observed surprising effects, including asymmetric mode switching.