The tractor beam is a fundamental concept in popular science fiction, and as expected, many real-world scientists have tried to mimic its function. The latest news comes from researchers at the universities of Bristol and Sussex, who have developed a system capable of moving and holding small objects in the air using high-intensity, precise acoustic waves.
A Science Fiction Staple
I can't recall exactly how many Star Trek episodes revolve around the tractor beam, but I know there are several. The Star Wars universe is also no stranger to this concept, being mentioned on multiple occasions across its films. The Star Trek beam relies on fictional particles, while Star Wars appeals more to force fields, but the goal is always the same: move or stop an object without touching it. With that plan in mind, the researchers have accumulated years of work, as its applications could be very broad, including touchless and friction-free manufacturing methods, or the localized treatment of certain conditions (and the transport of the necessary drugs) in the human body.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/s5r2nmvxA4sAcoustic Holographic Elements
So we come to the most recent publication, made by scientists at the universities of Bristol and Sussex. The official text speaks of "acoustic holographic elements", and although we always have reservations about the use of the word 'hologram' or its variants, in this case it carries some justification. Basically, what the experts have created is a platform composed of dozens of speakers installed in a special configuration, with the ability to emit high-intensity acoustic waves. This generates a kind of "3D acoustic field", through which it is possible to move, rotate, and hold small objects in the air. How small? For now, on the order of millimeters.
Applications and Limitations
Previous developments in acoustic tractor beams worked underwater, but this version only needs air, or why not, an alternative mixture that helps conduct the waves. Needless to say, this design eliminates any possibility of using it in space, distancing itself from our 'romantic idea' of the tractor beam, but it would be crazy to ignore such a development. Even if it seems absurd, using acoustic tractor beams to transport medicines inside the body with precision would be very valuable in multiple treatments.
