Scientists create an 'acoustic cloak'

[The Feedster]

Soon you may be able to soundproof your house with an ‘acousticcloak’, if research by a series of Spanish scientists comes to fruition.

The boffins are working on technology that could soundproofeverything from your home, to concert halls and even stealth warships. Basicallythe tech makes objects invisible to sound waves.

Professor John Pendry of Imperial College London, spoke tothe BBC about the technology and said: "The mathematics behind cloaking hasbeen known for several years.

"What hasn't been available for sound is the sort ofmaterials you need to build a cloak out of."

Sonic crystals

The scientists seem to think that the answer for the cloak’smaterial comes in the form of sonic crystals. "Unlike ordinary materials,their acoustic properties are determined by their internal structure,"says Professor Pendry about the meta-material.

If they crack the commercial market with the ‘acoustic cloak’there could be plenty of use for the material. On top of the list is the Militarywho could use it to conceal submarines, but it could also be used in the hometo get the Environmental Health of your back for noise pollution.



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