Scientists have used sound to do all kinds of awe-inspiring things , fromlevitationtobrain surgical process . Now , they ’ve render that sound can be used to put out fires .
scholar Seth Robertson and Viet Tran from George Mason University have developed a way to harness auditory sensation and expend it as a flak extinguisher . low-down frequency wakeless Wave — similar to the deep bass often detect in coxa - hops medicine — can apparentlydisplace oxygen . If the O is pushed away from the fuel , the fervency will starve and go out .
The squad pop out their effort after learning that sound had the ability to disrupt flaming . They did not hear of any products on the marketplace that worked , so they sought to make their own . Robertson and Tram originally experiment with high-pitched frequence strait between 20,000 and 30,000 cps , but they found that30 to 60 hertzwas the idealistic range of a function . The students also learn to obviate music because the sound were not logical enough .
The resulting invention is a portable twist that operate likewise to a traditional extinguisher . A frequency source was plug into a might informant and a composition board tube then transmit the speech sound into a localized place . By point at the fire with the new invention , the flaming dispersed , seemingly by trick .
This could do some serious good — not just on Earth , but also in outer space . " Fire is a Brobdingnagian issue in blank , " say Tran ina passing . “In space , extinguisher contents spread out all over . But you’re able to direct heavy waves without solemnity , " excuse Robertson . The lack of foam is also gross for out-of-door scope or small rooms where the surplus peck would n’t make sense .
The project has a mass of potentiality , but is not yet patent . “ We still want to do a circle more examination , " Tran suppose .
Kenneth E. Isman , a clinical professor at the University of Maryland , toldtheWashington Postthat the invention still had some limitation . “ One of the problems with sound waves is that they do not cool down the fuel , ” Isman said . “ So even if you get the fervour out , it will rekindle if you do n’t either take away the fuel or chill it . ”
