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Tsunami Invisibility Cloak

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the just-deflect-those-waves-to-the-poor-town-next-door dept.

BuzzSkyline writes "New Scientist is reporting on a lab-scale experiment that may lead to a tsunami invisibility cloak, which could protect islands, open-ocean platforms and even coastlines from dangerous waves by effectively making them invisible to tsunamis. The technology is based on the same sorts of negative index of refraction ideas that some physicists are exploring as they try to make an optical invisibility cloak, except that it works with water instead of light."

7 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Okay... but... by mattsgotredhair · · Score: 4, Interesting

    how do you end up getting ships in and out of the coast?

  2. Definition of terms... by microcentillion · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Invisible != Invincible.

    The brakes on the Semi-Truck behind you go out... 'Quick! The invisibility cloak will save us!'

    Ehh... No. Some scientists have too much grant money.

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    But clearly you have something better to say...
  3. well... by thermian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As a general rule, when science fights nature, nature wins.

    We are, after all talking about dealing with forces that have shaped the planet upon which we evolved. Star trek fiction aside, I don't think we have enough energy available to seriously hinder a tsunami.

    Early warning systems so people can get the hell out of the way would be better then a 'stand back, I'm going to try science' approach.

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    A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
  4. Re:Waterhenge! by arethuza · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually there was a pretty nasty one about 7000 years ago caused by a underwater landslide off of Norway. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2001/glasgow_2001/1531049.stm

  5. Energy source? by tylerni7 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The article mentions that a strong whirlpool is created near the center of the structure. Would it be possible to harness this energy to generate electricity?

    A possible nice side effect of this could be that instead of letting the tsunami pass, it would decrease the energy of it, so that it won't be as destructive for those in the wake.
    Or it could just make the wave pass through even more powerful *shrug* Seems like something to look into though.

  6. Re:But what about the other islands by Laser+Dan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't think tsunamis are a big problem for offshore drilling platforms in the first place. From what I've read, they use the ballast tanks in daily operation, and they can also be used to rise above the waves.

    From what I know about tsunamis they are barely noticable until they reach shallow water, so offshore drilling platforms don't need this. I believe the point is for small low islands where the tsunami would otherwise wash right over most of the habitable area.

  7. Custom Designed Reefs by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Instead of spending a lot of energy and wasteful construction techniques building many pillars surrounding islands, maybe we could cultivate coral reefs around them in the right shape. It could take years, but tsunamis don't hit any one island or platform very often.

    That is, if this "refractive shield" is any more protective than just the same amount of "armor" in a simple wall around the defended location. Is it?

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    make install -not war