Technology

Have Researchers Made ‘Doctor Who’s’ Sonic Screwdriver a Reality?

Dundee University Researchers Use Ultrasound Beams to Spin an Object Like Doctor Whos Sonic Screwdriver

(Image: Screenshot via BBC)

The sonic screwdriver owned by the fictional British character Doctor Who could pick locks, perform medical procedures, subdue evil beasts and blow things up. Until recently, the sonic screwdriver was also only a fictional tool, but a team of researchers from Dundee University in Scotland have brought it closer to reality — to an extent.

Which of the functions in the above list do you think the real life sonic screwdriver could actually be used for? If you chose, perform medical procedures, you’re right. BBC reports that ultrasound technology has been known to push objects before but the researchers at Dundee have engineered it to turn objects. It states this technology could be used in surgery without having to cut a patient open or could move a “drug capsule” to the appropriate location in the body and activate it.

Watch this clip showing the ultrasound beams move a piece of rubber in a vortex motion:

BBC has more from the researchers about the tech:

Dr Mike MacDonald, of the Institute for Medical Science and Technology (IMSAT) at Dundee, said: “This experiment not only confirms a fundamental physics theory but also demonstrates a new level of control over ultrasound beams which can also be applied to non-invasive ultrasound surgery, targeted drug delivery and ultrasonic manipulation of cells.

“The sonic screwdriver device is also part of the EU-funded nanoporation project where we are already starting to push the boundaries of what ultrasound can do in terms of targeted drug delivery and targeted cellular surgery.

Doctor Who’s sonic screwdriver can perform medical scans and pick locks

“It is an area that has great potential for developing new surgical techniques, among other applications, something which Dundee is very much at the forefront of.

“Like Doctor Who’s own device, our sonic screwdriver is capable of much more than just spinning things around.”

Wired explains more of the technical achievements of the experiment:

The theory, which had been proven separately, is used in topics from quantum communications to biophotonics, but had not previously been proved in a single experiment. It creates angular momentum in a vortex beam using a number of intertwined helices similar in shape to DNA. The team showed how they could generate vortex beams with many intertwined helices, using a 1000-element ultrasound transducer array as an acoustic hologram. These beams are powerful enough to levitate and spin the 90g disk.

Just for fun, and for those of you unfamiliar with Doctor Who, check out what out the top 11 scenes showcasing Doctor Who’s sonic screwdriver:

Doctor Who is a popular television series by BBC.

[H/T Gizmodo]

Comments (30)

  • TROONORTH
    Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:13am

    Didn’t I see KLATUU offering one of those to the President so he could view the other planets, just before they shot him?

    Report Post » TROONORTH  
  • Bear-Bear
    Posted on April 22, 2012 at 7:51am

    Breaking News – NPR has an exclusive report about the horrible working conditions in the Foxconn factory where Dr. Who’s screwdrivers are manufactured.

    Report Post » Bear-Bear  
  • burnteye86
    Posted on April 22, 2012 at 7:01am

    Totally useless for removing the bottom radiator hose.

    Report Post » burnteye86  
  • TeslanEdison
    Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:12am

    While Star trek is predated by Dr Who by decades, the sonic seems to be a newer addition, I don’t remember the Broccoli lapel wearing Dr Who waving around a sonic screw driver when I was kid.
    So far as Sci-fi TV tools coming to reality, fiction writing is and has been a source of inspiration to millions globally since before Jules Verne. Would be physics majors like my self actually find that the TV and film industry is less liberal than what can be found in the highest levels of University Physics and sadly too often applied engineering programs too. At least when you start a movie project it is required to finish while, many DOE, DARPA, and other Grant programs just end, no more funding and nothing produced, if only research projects had the same rules as films do.

    Report Post »  
  • OhSnappage
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:42pm

    Neat-o
    A fun televison series and an advancement in technology, two points!!

    Report Post » OhSnappage  
  • sandmannc40
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:28pm

    I was talking about Dr. Who with some co-workers and they have NEVER heard of Dr. Who? What? Are these co-workers living with their heads in the ground? I have known about Dr. Who since I was a child and o am now in my 50′s. Yes, it’s been on the air that long…..

    Report Post » sandmannc40  
  • brickmoon
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 6:42pm

    Best TV series ever. Fun for young and old — and even middle-aged guys like me. Well, maybe not for the really young, as it often has some scary content. I was terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West when I was a kid.

    Report Post » brickmoon  
  • hotrodrockets
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:30am

    I’ll take one of those Sonic thingys….. and a Fez.

    Report Post » hotrodrockets  
  • thetreyman
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:40pm

    well look who it is…..the on coming storm.

    Report Post » thetreyman  
  • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 8:25pm

    I’ve always wondered about why the Doctor would carry around a phallic object that vibrated.

    Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • blackyb
      Posted on April 24, 2012 at 3:58pm

      I always wondered by lesbians wanted to carry them around.

      Report Post » blackyb  
  • The Eleventh Doctor
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:45pm

    Doctor Who and Capitalism – two things I love in the same article. Love it!

    Report Post » The Eleventh Doctor  
  • Comeandtakeit
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:35pm

    I am sorry people It was 1- David Tennant then 2- Christopher Eccleston, then 3- Matt Smith. Not in order of appearance, but of order of kick-ass preference. David Tennant Kicks all other Dr. Who’s Ass (with possibly the exception of possibly Tom Baker). And by the way, Eccleston’s/Tennant’s Blue Tipped Sonic Screw Driver was the best, not this green claw type thing that Smith is whipping around… who is he kidding.

    Report Post » Comeandtakeit  
  • Spokane Armory
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:50pm

    It will probably do very well in the sex shops, and that’s about it.

    Report Post » Spokane Armory  
  • thindime
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:05pm

    Well, this may explain why so many screw-ups in/by the U.S. government over the last 3 years or so — perhaps its sonic!

    Report Post » thindime  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:05pm

    …
    Wish we could hop into the TARDIS and go back to 2008.
    We seriously need a do over.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 4:54pm

    …
    I’m a Geek.
    I love the TV series Dr. Who.

    Matt Smith and David Tennant rule !!!

    Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on April 20, 2012 at 8:07pm

      I don’t know about you, but I’m more interested in watching Miss Amelia Pond than Matt.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • Karama
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 4:48pm

    This just made my inner Dr. Who fan girl drool!!!!! So cool! Now if we can only keep the tech out of the wrong hands.

    Report Post » Karama  
  • Exile
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 4:36pm

    Oddly enough, the Sonic Screwdriver doesn’t work on wood.

    Report Post »  
  • thegodfather
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 3:42pm

    Bones: “Good God Jim I’m a doctor, not a miracle worker’! “My tri-quarter says the man is dead”

    Report Post » thegodfather  
  • lukerw
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 2:33pm

    MAGIC… get it down to the Obama Assembly Line…

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • JawaJam
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 2:31pm

    Age of the Geek

    Report Post »  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on April 20, 2012 at 2:28pm

    Maybe we could use it to fix the screws that are loose in the heads of the moronic left?…naahh, they are too far gone, and besides, they have no spines or souls so who really needs them…

    Report Post » Mark0331  

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