Acoustic Superlens Built From Soda Cans 59
Freddybear writes "Researchers in France have assembled an acoustic superlens from an array of soda cans. The cans act as resonators, and by exciting the array with tailored sound waves, the sound volume can be made to peak in specific volumes less than a few centimeters wide."
Science? (Score:5, Funny)
Why can't we have more articles about comic book movies, video games, political partisanship and trading music in the name of human rights instead of this garbage?
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And reviews for books about obscure scripting languages.
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And reviews for books about obscure scripting languages.
...and 1970's green-screen, 2400 baud text editors.
Soda cans? (Score:1)
Pah... Real men would use beer cans!
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Re:Soda cans? (Score:4, Insightful)
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I hear Michael Jackson came in little white cans.
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Beer doesn't come in cans.
Milk does?
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Milk comes in jugs or bags. Or jugs that eventually become bags.
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Beer doesn't come in cans.
They come in pints?!
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Pah... Real men would use beer cans!
But then it wouldn't be the sound of diabetes coming to get you!
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yea dude builds drum out of cans, uses it to focus only specialized frequency's to a fine point in front, no one really cares, out side of the "look what this dude did" factor
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Until someone accidentally says "Muad-dib!" through the array and something explodes.
Vengence is mine!!! (Score:1)
This is the perfect solution to getting the neighbor to turn down their stereo
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From what I gathered from the topic this would be the perfect solution for your neighbor to listen to his music full blast while the sound only takes place within a small area and wouldn't be able to be heard outside of that small area.
Hell, if you were attempting to use this against your neighbor it would just make his music louder, probably making him happier.
Re:Vengence is mine!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
As I read it, you could make the music appear very loud in the neighbor's apartment above you, while barely noticeable in your own.
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I hate to advocate something for the TSA... (Score:2, Interesting)
Given the idea of directing sound waves, if this could be done with an inaudible frequency, for imaging, would sound waves be able to penetrate clothing?
This is coming from someone who is not modest, so the scope part of the scope&grope doesn't bother me.
Radiation, however, is one of my many, only weaknesses.
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The backscatter... but now that you mention it...
My wireless frequencies impact me negatively, when they aren't working correctly that is.
Honestly though, could it be used similarly to a sonogram, as mentioned a few days ago, with this tech?
I am no acoustics or physics major, so its an honest question.
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Crappy Speakers? (Score:2)
Here's a tip: those speakers suck. I just tossed a pair because the left speaker was about half as loud as the right speaker. Don't believe me? http://www.google.com/search?q=logitech+speaker+left+not+working [google.com]
I only mention this because I would think with a scientific experiment like this, speaker volume consistency would be VERY important...
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Here's another tip:
Google 'Stereo balance control'
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Hah, I actually did that. Maybe it was less than 50%-- the volume was so low it was really lame to equalize both to the lowest denominator. Not to mention when I'd plug in my headphones I'd have to go reset the balance because the physical defect didn't affect the headphone jack on the speaker.
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all consumer grade speakers suck, they never use big enough drivers and never enough air volume so you end up with tin cans and a floppy sub that instadistorts whenever a female voice comes though for the ultimate in ass
buy a decent monitor set, or if that is out of your budget at least get some beefy drivers and do a little bit of math to make a correct size enclosure
Hooo boy! (Score:1)
FTFA: "The team managed this through time reversal...."
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A fancy way of saying, "We played it backwards."
A fancy way of saying. "Only then did we realize what it said."
Research Proposal (Score:2)
Please allow my duplex neighbor to be an early prototype tester. That sonofabitch has a big-screen TV (in his bedroom!) with a very bass-heavy sound system, and he just can't sleep without it on.
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It means they can focus sound energy into a small spot, much smaller than without the superlens array. They can also control the location of the spot, or even have more than one focus spot at the same time. It wouldn't be practical for music because of the limited frequency range, but there are applications where they can use sound energy to push small objects around. If they can scale it down to microscopic size using ultrasonic frequencies, it might be useful to manipulate cells or large biological molecu
Kwisatz Haderach (Score:1)
Our research was sound, our results undeniable. We would propel the world with our acoustical actuators. Every day brought new discoveries ... until today.
As the echoes of a blaringly successful session faded, Geoffroy shouted, "Alright, Lemoult!"
Our apparatus rang, then exploded. The devastation ... The horror ...
Today I learned my name is a killing word.
how about scaling this up (Score:2)
How about a car version (Score:2)