Acoustic Levitation: Scientists Use Sound Make Objects Levitate (VIDEO)

Scientists have developed a sound generator so powerful its shock waves can stun, and even kill people.

Another group of researchers have developed another unusual application for sound: a method of "acoustic levitation" that could help maintain colonies on Mars or the moon by using high-pitched sound waves to remove alien dust.

Wired explains,

Blasting a high-pitched noise from a tweeter into a pipe that focuses the sound waves can create enough pressure to lift troublesome alien dust off surfaces, according to a study published January in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

Extra-terrestrial missions have been plagued by dust and debris, which cling to rovers and astronauts because lunar and Martian environments lack the Earth's water or atmosphere that can displace the particles.

According to Wired,

Electrostatic charging from solar winds and UV radiation on the Moon makes this sharp dust cling to everything, including astronaut suits where it can work its way through the glove air locks. It also sticks to the solar panels that power rovers and other instruments.

See acoustic levitation for yourself in the video below! Using only sound waves, the scientists are able to lift mock "Martian and lunar dust" off of a solar panel. Cool!

WATCH:

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Comments

[foxdove]

07:43 AM on 02/25/2010

Funny, no one mentioned my ultrasonic levitation device using supplied H2O, or any fluid as a media to send US waves along a focused path. Ergo, no atmosphere need apply. Have a think on that.
We don't see things as they are; rather we see things as we are. This is the essence of the creativity of inventors and visionaries.
Dr. Deak (That's me)

[CloseToTheEdge]

01:48 PM on 02/03/2010

That happened to me at a ZZ Top concert in the late 1970s.

[gorgol]

11:06 AM on 01/24/2010

When you run the video...turn the sound up and point your screen at your keyboard......amazing...

[totalliberal]

08:30 PM on 01/22/2010

Nothing new. I saw a Base-Bin blow a plate of food across the room a few years ago.

[Odds Bodkins]

04:03 PM on 01/22/2010

"There may be no such thing as the
'glittering central mechanism of the universe.'
Not machinery but magic may be the better description
of the treasure that is waiting."
John Archibald Wheeler

[gorgol]

11:03 AM on 01/24/2010

Quantum Entanglement to name one...we use it but can't understand it..."like magic"...

[bridge to somewhere]

11:17 AM on 01/22/2010

All that technology, and they film it with an 1982 HandyCam? The video is obviously VHS!

[foxdove]

07:12 AM on 02/25/2010

That is my video they are using, since I designed and built same. I did this back in 1987, and then I had nothing else to use but a VHS system. Think before you make an anal cavity of yourself.

[Lazslo]

04:35 PM on 01/21/2010

Swiffer - $3.99

[KriTiKiT]

04:34 PM on 01/21/2010

don't you think that could make you deaf... it's like rattling the fine bones in your inner ear

[Marc Berard]

04:00 PM on 01/21/2010

Are they getting close to reproducing The Doctor's sonic screwdriver now? :-)

[foxdove]

07:13 AM on 02/25/2010

They're working on it. My screwdriver that is.

[CanUFeel2012]

03:47 PM on 01/21/2010

Well, how did you think UFO's work ??? ..with hemi engines... .

NASA KNOWS MORE THAN WE THINK....

WAKE UP... ..

[AtheistUS]

05:28 PM on 01/21/2010

This must be a joke.

[WilliamTheV]

08:08 PM on 01/22/2010

it's impossible to differentiate good satire from radicalism

[foxdove]

07:13 AM on 02/25/2010

No god, no joke!

[vinny]

11:25 AM on 01/26/2010

yawn.

[Whitley2009]

02:19 PM on 01/21/2010

Thousands of years ago, many ancient priests from India, China, Tibet and other areas wrote about elevating stone and other objects using the power of sound.

Now we know it may not have been a myth, but ancients could actually lift stone with sound.

[AtheistUS]

05:27 PM on 01/21/2010

"...many ancient priests from India, China, Tibet and other areas wrote about elevating stone and other objects using the power of sound."

- ancient priests of all sort of religions wrote so many things, one is more hilarious than another.

Is "ancient" priest more trustworthy than a normal today priest?

Can you please ask some of priests to elevate stones by sound?

[StephenJK]

08:26 AM on 01/22/2010

Because all priests to you are pedophiles bent on brainwashing their followers, right?

Nevermind, carry on.

[davyd56]

09:24 AM on 01/22/2010

And I do believe that is how big stone slabs were elevated in the ancient world.

[JaredMcInnis]

09:52 AM on 01/26/2010

I read an article about a German Doctor in Tibet in the 1930's who watched the monks, using loud drumming, bells, chimes, horns and chanting, levitate large stones. Once they were high enough on the wall other workers would set the stone in place and secure it. It was said that some of the stones would crack and break before they got high enough to be placed. The stones also took several minutes to get to the workers on the wall, so it wasn't a fast process. But hey when you don't have cranes and dozers use sound waves! Look up Coral Castle in Fla. as well. Dude built the whole thing by himself, no heavy equipment.

http://www.crystalinks.com/levitationtibet.html

[paliuli]

03:09 AM on 02/04/2010

I have been reading about Coral Castle..amazing story, fascinating.

[JonShank]

01:47 PM on 01/21/2010

it's a trick... they admitted it

[foxdove]

07:15 AM on 02/25/2010

I did it and it is no bloody trick I assure you. Dr. Deak

[nexxtep54]

01:35 PM on 01/21/2010

Raytheon and GE have been working on this and other microwave crowd control technology for years. Google Sunshine Project.

[Neil Plascencia]

01:04 PM on 01/21/2010

How do you think they built the Pyramids Of Giza? They moved all those blocks using this accoustic levitation method. Before you knock the source, read this article and you will see.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread533345/pg1

Sphinx on Mars?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/ss162/morrist0/sphinxonmars1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php%3Ft%3D70700%26page%3D5&usg=__l_xewzG9cTWb5pafssaa-96rubw=&h=590&w=892&sz=64&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=4akYS5jUvKHclM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsphinx%2Bon%2Bmars%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1

http://media.photobucket.com/image/sphinx%20on%20mars/morrist0/sphinxonmars1.jpg

[alex98]

01:11 PM on 01/21/2010

Reality its a nice place you should visit it sometime...

[gurukalehuru]

02:49 PM on 01/21/2010

I disagree about reality being a nice place. Give me the fantasies every time.

[Kaviraj]

09:47 PM on 01/23/2010

As if you are there.

[AtheistUS]

05:37 PM on 01/21/2010

Nice links for SF-crazy dudes...

Detachment from reality is guaranteed.

[Kaviraj]

09:48 PM on 01/23/2010

Depends how you define reality.

[Pecola]

01:03 PM on 01/21/2010

Mars, schmars. When do I get my flying car?

[AtheistUS]

05:31 PM on 01/21/2010

"When do I get my flying car?"

I suggest taking away a driver license from anybody who asks this question. For 6 months. Good enough time to stop dreaming about a "flying car".

Then after a short conversation, the license may be returned.

[Pecola]

04:53 PM on 01/25/2010

lol! When I get my license back, will I get a flying car to go with it? ;-)