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Microscopic Underwater Sonic Screwdriver Successfully Tested

Posted by timothy on from the twisting-in-the-waves dept.

afeeney writes: Researchers at the University of Bristol and Northwestern Polytechnical University in China have created acoustic vortices that can create microscopic centrifuges that rotate small particles. They compare this to a watchmaker's sonic screwdriver. So far, though, the practical applications include cell sorting and low-power water purification, rather than TARDIS operations. Appropriately enough, one of the researchers is named Bruce Drinkwater.

14 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. One Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Can it reverse the polarity of the neutron flow?

    1. Re:One Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Can it reverse the polarity of the neutron flow?

      Only if Sean Pertwee or Jon Pertwee does it. Also note if David Tennant and Matt Smith do it at the same time it results in confusion of the polarity.

  2. bloody sex on the beach by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    An "Underwater Sonic Screwdriver" sounds like a drink you'd order at a Panama City bar.

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    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:bloody sex on the beach by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Ever been to a Panama City Bar?

      Oh yeah. When I was in college, I had a cousin who was stationed at Tyndall AFB and visited him. Must have been February 1981 or '82.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:bloody sex on the beach by KGIII · · Score: 1

      PCB is fantastic! Their CCA run jail - not so much, I was not there long. They do not like self defense it seems. I did some consulting there and stayed on the other side of the bridge at the Econo Lodge right on Rt. 98 across the way from the noms at the Omelet House or some Chinese dinner with a forgettable name. I have been to the bars in PC and PCB. I have chilled with the strippers at the Omelet House after. I would not sleep with any of them but they always knew where the fun was.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    3. Re:bloody sex on the beach by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      they don't even have bars in panama city. its cuz of the laws.

      https://www.google.com/webhp?s...

      https://www.google.com/webhp?s...

      https://plus.google.com/106354...

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  3. Re:Turdis by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 2

    No. No, you can not. What sort of person are you to even consider something like that, much less ask such a thing out loud?

    I don't think you should be here...

  4. Re:Useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Apple's already on it: microscopic pentalobe screws on the next iPhone. The more expensive the kit to open their gear up the better.

  5. Re:Turdis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Can we please have articles that do not mention science fiction garbo.

    No, can we have commentary without Emo idiots with no sense of humor? Get a job and a haircut and lighten up boy.

  6. What is a sonic screwdriver? by dcooper_db9 · · Score: 1

    My searches turn up links that describe a fictional device employed by the Doctor Who series. Is there a real device that watchmakers use?

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    1. Re:What is a sonic screwdriver? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 2

      No. They're describing it as a watchmaker's sonic screwdriver (after the fictional device which gets the Doctor out of scrapes each week, but doesn't work on wood), not (as the summary has it) comparing it to one.

      "If the large-scale acoustic vortex devices were thought of as sonic screwdrivers, we have invented the watchmakers sonic screwdriver."

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    2. Re:What is a sonic screwdriver? by Falos · · Score: 1

      I still feel like harmonic resonance might lead to some applicable tool, if only as a novelty. BRB, calling dibs on thoughtproperty. Er, "filing a patent".

  7. It was created by Dr ... by penguinoid · · Score: 1

    Bruce Drinkwater and Dr ZhenYu Hong.

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    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  8. Re:Turdis by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    Cos not liking something popular makes you look smart.

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    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)