Technology

Scientists Create ‘Nano-Ear‘ to Listen to the World’s Smallest Sounds

If microorganisms were having a conversation, we certainly couldn’t hear it, until perhaps now. German physicists developed the world’s first “nano-ear”, which they claim can be used to listen to microorganisms as well as tiny machines.

According to the Institute of Physics website, Physics World, the ear was created by “optically trapping” a gold nanoparticle. What this means is a highly focused laser holds the particle, like a tweezer, in its beam. This technique, Physics World reports, has long been useful for observing small specimens because it doesn’t damage them, but it has now exhibited properties that show it is sensitive to sound as well.

According to Physics World, Jochen Feldmann and Andrey Lutich at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, along with a team of researchers, have seen that the particle can be moved in the beam by vibrations from sound waves — even the smallest ones. By measuring the movement of the particle, researchers can “listen” to the vibrations being made.

Nano Ear

Artists rendition of how the nano-ear works. On the left side in the red beam is a gold nano-particle. To the right is the vibration-emitting sound source. (Image via Physics World)

Physics World has more on the methodology:

The team’s set-up consisted of two sound sources placed in a water-based medium. The first “loud” source is a tungsten needle glued on a loudspeaker that vibrates at a frequency of 300 Hz. The second, weaker source is made up of bunches of gold nanoparticles that are periodically heated by a second laser to create sound waves at a frequency of 20 Hz. The nano-ear is a 60 [nanometer] nm gold nanoparticle trapped in a 808 nm wavelength laser beam.

When either of the sound sources is turned on, the ensuing vibrations cause the trapped particle to move in the same direction as the propagating sound waves.

[Alexander] Ohlinger and colleagues used a video camera to track the motion of the trapped particle. They then tested how sensitive their nano-ear was by analysing the recorded trajectories of the particle.

The research found that the nano-ear can “hear” sounds at six orders of magnitude lower than that of humans. The team will be using the technology to try and listen to bacteria and viruses. Ohlinger said the technology could emerge as a new type of “acoustic microscopy”, giving organisms a new form of identification based on their sound.

[H/T Popular Science]

Comments (20)

  • TexBork
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 4:26pm

    Even though it can hear the world’s smallest sounds, it still cannot pick up any viable truth in policy speeches read from a teleprompter by Obama, but has found even new levels of socialism in the agenda spewed forth in the form of CO2 exhaust and a cloud of Marxist flavored spittle.

    Report Post » TexBork  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 11:23am

    Listen! Two fleas having intercourse.

    Report Post »  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 10:21am

    “We are here, we are here, we are HERE!!!!!” Maybe there is a whoville floating around out there.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • Tracy Y. Andersen
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 9:49am

    “That looks stoopid, so lets make fun of it….”

    Yeah, that really helps progress, doesn’t it?

    Science and technology progresses in most unusual ways, if you were to look at the history of many things. Even many eminent scientists denigrated developing things. “The US will need at most a half dozen computers….” comes to mind, from an IBM official. Nowadays, how many “computers” have passed through your hands?

    Keep knocking it, that will be the next technological revolution. Just jump back out of the way.

    Report Post »  
  • objectivetruth
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 9:21am

    They already have this tech.Not quite that small, but small enough to be of good use.Well ,would have been ,if they had only used it against the terrorists, rather than true americans.

    Report Post »  
  • montaneview
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 8:13am

    Maybe there’s hope now for finding The Incredible Shrinking Man.

    Report Post »  
  • Californiasodbuster
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:26am

    Scientist in this day and age? give me a break, degenerates with their hand out for government grants.
    I can scientifically tell you we are F–ed by these liberal educated a holes, trying to write their own self important theorys .
    Wake up America

    Report Post »  
    • Californiasodbuster
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:39am

      Sorry, not to be down on all scientist, just the one’s sucking off the government teat.

      Report Post »  
    • RisetovotesiR
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:54am

      I think you are letting your ignorance and distrust of science cloud the issue.

      Report Post » RisetovotesiR  
    • RisetovotesiR
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:59am

      the ability to hear at a quantum level cannot be quantified (pun intended). the things we can learn from listening to engines, plants, cancer cells, hearts, processors, etc. will be of use for many generations to come.

      Report Post » RisetovotesiR  
    • Californiasodbuster
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 4:43am

      You’re right sir, after reading my post after your reply, i feel real dumb now.
      Thank you for educating me, my emotions get the best of me.

      Report Post »  
    • ZengaPA65
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 7:35am

      Horton Hears A Who technology.

      Report Post » ZengaPA65  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:59am

    They can give them to Democrats to go along with their nano brains !

    Report Post »  
    • Ray2447
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:11am

      Or have them grafted onto people who listen to Obama’s speech. After all, they‘re for listening to the world’s smallest sounds.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:47am

    So they invented this thing just to hear the faint sound of someone saying “Pull my finger…”

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • rsanchez1
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:25am

    I wonder how they avoid hearing sounds like people breathing and trucks driving down the road outside…

    Report Post »  
    • RisetovotesiR
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:56am

      different wavelengths are able to be filtered out with the right equipment. think of your old hi-fi but better, digital and smart.

      Report Post » RisetovotesiR  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 6:55am

      multi band graphic equalizer

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
  • msswim.com
    Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:21am

    Maybe they could’ve gotten a $40 Billion grant from the stimulus package for trying to implement these as hearing aids for amoebas.

    Report Post » msswim.com  
    • Huckabee Gingrich 12
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:44am

      I guarantee you there’s a small army all over that. No doubt they will try to establish two-way communications.

      Report Post » Huckabee Gingrich 12  

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