Scientists Draw Inspiration From Shark Skin For Novel New Smart Material

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: So-called "acoustic metamaterials" are specifically designed to control and manipulate sound waves, usually for the purpose of dampening or transmitting sound. But such an acoustic device can only perform the function for which it was created, such as dampening outgoing sound in a submarine, for example. That same device could not be repurposed to communicate with another passing vessel should the situation aboard the submarine require it; a different acoustic device must be used, one developed expressly for that purpose. Now a team of scientists from the University of Southern California have developed an acoustic metamaterial that can switch between different uses by applying carefully tailored magnetic fields, according to a new paper in the journal Research. The structure of these new metamaterials was inspired by the unusual structure of shark skin. They can be used to mimic the function of switches, logic gates, or diodes, raising the possibility of a sound "computer."

More images of the material

[rsilvergun]

here [youtube.com]









Honestly I just wanted to post that clip to /. and when am I gonna get another shark thread? I'll see myself out.

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[sysrammer]

+1 offtopic.
8/10, would click again.

At last!

[Roger W Moore]

They can be used to mimic the function of switches, logic gates, or diodes, raising the possibility of a sound "computer."

Perhaps they should aim for something a little simpler first, say like a sonic screwdriver?

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[Canberra1]

Already a few prior examples Scilla in ear canal Feather - such as a bird Piezo effect Bimetal strip flex Dolphin skins ripple Thin tuning forks Cavity microwave Metals with a shape memory So said sharks are quite old, so their design is probably optimal, and you have to re-read to ask was it sound, or air pressure induced by the sound.

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[sysrammer]

That's quite a collection of words, there.

stealing from nature...

[ClueHammer]

There for no one is allowed to make any money from this without compensating nature...

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[drinkypoo]

It's not stealing any more than copyright infringement.

Which is to say, it's not stealing.

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[alvinrod]

If it produces a better product that results in less waste, I’d say that itself does more for nature than any intentional actions some might undertake and puff out their chest over.

Multifunction

[Immerman]

>That same [acoustic dampening] device could not be repurposed to communicate with another passing vessel should the situation aboard the submarine require it; a different acoustic device must be used, one developed expressly for that purpose.

So... they could replace two relatively cheap and simple devices with one vastly more complicated and expensive array of micro-mechanical devices? I can understand why they use a military example... But even there I imagine it would be a hard sell.

Not that I'm dis

4.25cm tall and 1.5cm

[gimho]

how viable is something like this in a real marine environment? i would imagine they'd get gunked up fairly quickly