Article by William Brown, Biophysicist, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

An acoustic tractor beam that can bend sound around an obstacle to levitate an object on the other side has been created by researchers in the UK. Dubbed SoundBender, the device combines an ultrasound transducer array with an acoustic metamaterial.

In recent years, researchers have used transducer arrays to build sonic tractor beams that can create complex acoustic holograms to manipulate objects in mid-air. Acoustic metamaterials are engineered materials with structural properties that do not usually occur naturally. They have been used to produce acoustic holograms, bend beams of sound and create static acoustic levitation devices. But the team behind the SoundBender, based at the University of Sussex, say that these technologies have key limitations.

Devices based on transducer arrays cannot bypass obstacles that lay between them and the levitating object....

By Johanna Deinert, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

Chairman Dr. Gerald Pollack from University of Washington, Seattle, opened the lectures by presenting Nobel Laureate Prof. Luc Montagnier. Co-founder of the World Foundation for Medical Research and Prevention. He introduced a highly sensitive method for detecting infections like Lyme, when usual Lab tests like serology and classical PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) fail. QuanticPCR uses the unique properties of water to store or even amplify specific pathogen-derived frequencies and is proving experimental evidence for the homeopathic principle of diluting without dilution of the contained information. The mechanism how PCR exactly works is commonly known to be not well understood. Giuseppe Vitiello presented a way to describe the bio-chemical reaction and its basics in physical terms.

We have recently posted news about the vaporization of water droplets and their unique shapes. In these kinds of...

by Dr. Olivier Alirol, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

Identifying the shape of massive astronomical object is not a simple task. Even with recent observations of gravitational waves the mass and angular momentum of the object remain known with large uncertainty. Moreover, it exists exotic objects, as wormholes who can mimic the shape of black holes for example. The gravitational spectrum of wormholes has a wide range of interpretations. A current challenge addressed by researcher R. A. Konoplya consists of mathematically describing wormholes in order to be able to eventually identify them in the space.

According to current theory a wormhole is a theoretical passage through space-time that could create shortcuts in the universe. The original wormhole solution was discovered by Einstein and Rosen (ER) in 1935 and later John Wheeler has shown their importance in quantum gravity. It was then discovered that it was possible to construct “traversable” wormhole...

Article by Dr. Amira Val Baker, Astrophysicist, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

The universe as we currently understand it may not be allowed to exist – at least according to the cosmological model of string theorists.

To understand the behavior and evolution of the universe, cosmological models provide a mathematical description capable of making validated predictions. Current models are based on Einstein’s general relativity and assume a ‘flat’ universe – that is a universe that appears flat on large scales. Within this framework the geometry of the universe can then be described as a closed ‘de Sitter’ universe or open ‘anti-de Sitter’ universe.

Observations show that the universe is expanding at an ever so-slightly increasing rate and that as it expands the vacuum energy remains constant. The best cosmological model to describe such a universe is an inflation model which occurs in a quasi-de Sitter universe...

Article by Johanna Deinert, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

In search of a cure against cancer patient voice Bonnie J. Addario called out at Forbes for a new paradigm called Transformational Medicine. It is about the Information flow in academic and pharmaceutical efforts to find cures. Currently, the standard of “translational medicine” has a one way information flow in exchange for individual-data, she states. The Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, launched one of the first patient-driven, advocacy campaigns in lung cancer research. “Patients should be driving the research together with pharmaceutical companies and academia, because the cure lies with the patient” says the board member of the Personalized Medicine Coalition. 

Instead of one-way flow of information, we can institute Transformational Medicine, where all parties collaborate. The patient is involved at the beginning in clinical trial design, and the information...

Article by Dr. Oliver Alirol, Physicist, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

Point particle, electron cloud, if the electron is actually a physical object with a finite size, then how big is it. Surprisingly, there is yet no clear answer to this simple question. However, some theories turn out to be pretty interesting such as the Bohr radius (10^-10m), the classical electron radius (10^-15m), the Compton Wavelength (10^-12m), the Planck length (point particle 10^-35m), or finally the empiricist’s view with the measurement of the electron electric dipole moment (EDM).

Some theories suggest that some subatomic particles outside the electron could create a slight separation between a positive and a charge, giving the electron a pear shape. However, a new measurement from the ACME team at Yale suggests that any extra particles that exist may be permanently beyond the LHC’s reach.

We’re gonna need a bigger tunnel.

Yale University physicist David DeMille, a...

^{By Dr. Inés Urdaneta / Physicist at Resonance Science Foundation}

Atomic Hydrogen (H) – the first element in our periodic table – has made an unexpected and unprecedented apparition. A recent study by Lutz Wisotzki of the Leibniz Institute of Astrophysics in Potsdam with collaborators from different institutions reveals the presence of H all over the sky, including the apparently empty space between galaxies. This was concluded after detecting one of the traits that characterize the H element, part of the digital print of the atom, called the “spectrum.” We’re referring to the Lyman-alpha transition of atomic hydrogen at a wavelength of 121.6 nanometers.

(Ly-α in Figure 1), corresponding to a frequency of 2.47×10¹⁵ hertz.

The Lyman-alpha line is in the ultraviolet section of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because it is absorbed by air, its astronomical presence must be detected by satellite-borne instruments, unless the source is...

by Dr. Olivier Alirol, Physicist, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

Three scientists on Tuesday won the Nobel Physics Prize, including the first woman to receive the prestigious award in 55 years, for inventing Chirped-pulse amplification, or CPA. The 9-million-Swedish-kronor award (about $1 million) will be doled out to Arthur Ashkin of Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, N.J., Gérard Mourou of École Polytechnique in Palaiseau, France, and Donna Strickland of the University of Waterloo in Canada.

This is a technique for creating ultrashort, yet extremely high-energy laser pulses necessary in a variety of applications. It is remarkable what can be achieved with lasers in research and in applications, and there are many good reasons for it, including their coherence, frequency stability, and controllability, but for some applications, the thing that really matters is raw power.

With this he was able to use the radiation pressure of light to move tiny...

Article by by Johanna Deinert, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

A study published late September depicts the mean rotation rate of the Sun as a function of velocity vs. radius at different latitudes. The subsurface boundary shear and the angular velocity gradient gives rise to a latitudinal migration of a toroidal field dynamic with a cycle of 22 Years, and the magnetic field as a primary driver of torsional oscillations on the surface.

”All manifestations of solar activity, from spectral irradiance variations to solar storms and geomagnetic disturbances, are caused by the magnetic fields generated by a dynamo mechanism operating in the convection zone deep below the visible surface of the Sun. Despite substantial modeling and simulation efforts, our understanding of how the magnetic field is generated, transported to the surface and forms the solar activity cycles is very poor." – Alexander G. Kosovichev and Valery V. Pipin

Torsional...

Article review by Dr. Amira Val Baker, Astrophysicist, Resonance Science Foundation Research Scientist

Photo: ANITA's 48 antennas are aimed down at the Antarctic ice on a 25-foot-tall gondola. Credit: Christian Miki/University of Hawaii at Manoa

The detection of cosmic rays is rare – however the latest detection is even rarer as it appears to be going in the wrong direction.

Cosmic rays are bombarding the Earth every day and are measured at observing sites across the world, with the most notable being located at the Earths south pole.

Not to be fooled by their historical name, cosmic rays generally refer to high energy particles with mass whereas high energy in the form of gamma rays and/or X-rays are photons. These cosmic particles were discovered in 1912 by Victor Hess when he ascended to 5300 meters above sea level in a hot air balloon and detected significantly increased levels of ionization in the atmosphere.

In many cases the cosmic rays are not directly observed and it...