Dr. Who Sonic Screwdriver Becomes A Reality

A team of research physicists at the University of Dundee in Scotland used energy from an ultrasound array to form a beam that can both carry momentum to push away an object in its path and, by using a beam shaped like a helix or vortex, cause the object to rotate. The Dundee researchers were able to lift and spin a free-floating 10 cm diameter rubber disk with the ultrasound beam.



For the news article:
www.sundaysun.co.uk...

For the technical details:
prl.aps.org...

Cool,

but would it be able to apply torque t an object like a screw to turn it or just affect free floating items?

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by stanguilles7


What is that?

I'm sure you can add more than a url even if you are new.

reply to post by mainidh


My mistake, I thought you were directing that comment to me for a second, my apologies.

reply to post by mwood


To be honest, I'm not sure. I would just like to point out that "Sonic Screwdriver" is a device used by "The Doctor" in the BBC program Doctor Who. I believe that the purpose for this will be for surgeries.

reply to post by stanguilles7


Thank you for the link, i wasn't aware of that thread or I would not have posted this one.

reply to post by DiscoveryOfTruth


As if they have retreived an alien tool and have succeeded to duplicate the science behind it. That is what my first thoughts were. It is kind of strange coincedence when devices shown in sci-fi movies become reality. Thinking about Capt. Kirk and his communicator and Dr. Spock his poratable handheld analizer....not to mention transparant flatscreens....stil waiting for transparent alluminium to surface.

reply to post by zatara


Very interesting you say that because if you recall, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, they had an "Internet" of sorts where they had wireless (wifi) devices that were flat and touch-screen. At the time, it was something that the average viewer thought was just part of the science fiction genre, but we have things like iPad now.

I wonder if we will have transporters as depicted in Star Trek: TNG.

Do you have any proof?