An Actual Sonic Screwdriver Is On Its Way

?Probably in 2175 or something, admittedly, but we’re getting closer. From a press release by Bristol University:

Television’s favourite Time Lord could not exist without his trusty
sonic screwdriver, as it’s proved priceless in defeating Daleks and
keeping the Tardis in check. Now Doctor Who’s famous cure-all gadget
could become a reality for DIY-ers across the world, say engineers.

Ultrasonic engineers at Bristol University and The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair
are uncovering how a real life version of the fictional screwdriver –
which uses sonic technology to open locks and undo screws – could be
created.

Professor of Ultrasonics, Bruce Drinkwater,
who is working with The Big Bang to inspire young scientists of the
future, says the answer lies in ultrasonic sound waves. By operating the
waves at frequencies way beyond the realms of human hearing, they can
be used to apply forces to objects.

The technology is already being trialled in modern manufacturing to
fix parts together and ultrasonic force fields are being developed
within the medical field to separate diseased cells from healthy cells.
Professor Drinkwater and The Big Bang team are now exploring whether
super powerful versions of these sound beams could bring Doctor Who’s
iconic device to life.

He says: “Doctor Who is renowned for bending the rules of science.
But technology has radically moved on since the Doc first stepped out of
his Tardis in the sixties. Whilst a fully functioning time machine may
still be light years away, engineers are already experimenting with
ultrasonic waves to move and manipulate small objects.”

Engineers are looking into how ultrasonic waves can be spun at high
speed to create a twisting force similar to that of a miniature tornado,
which could undo screws remotely. They have also experimented with
rotating ultrasonic force fields which would act like the head of a real
screwdriver.

My favorite part is how that no one in this release is pretending their doing it for any other reason than Doctor Who. A lot of time scientists start making cool things like laser tech that could be used for phasers or lightsabers, and while Star Trek/Wars is almost certainly their inspiration, they never admit it. These guys are straight-up “Doctor Who is awesome, his Sonic screwdriver is awesome, and we’re doing this shit because we want a fucking Sonic Screwdriver.” Nice. (Via NerdBastards)