The World’s First "Nano-Ear" Can Listen to the Songs of Bacteria - Polidicks

[QUOTE]German researchers have turned an optical tweezer device into the world’s first “nano-ear” capable of detecting sounds six orders of magnitude below the threshold of human hearing. Using an optically trapped gold nanoparticle as their listening device, the team says they can now detect sounds made at the bacterial level or use their device to tune (or perhaps to test?) the minuscule MEMS machines of the future. The nano-ear is pretty simple, considering that it relies on technology that has been laying around in the lab for decades now. Optical tweezers are laser devices that use light to trap or manipulate a small particle in a particular point in space by drawing the particle to the most intense point in the laser beam’s electric field. By trapping a gold nanoparticle in just such a optical trap and measuring the influence of various sound waves on that particle, the found that they can “listen” to very small vibrations. That means sound analysis at extremely low levels. The gold nanoparticle itself is just 60 nanometers (that’s 60 billionths of a meter, or roughly a thousand times smaller than a human hair), which makes it pretty sensitive to very small forces. The researchers used both a “loud” source--a tungsten needle glued to a speaker that vibrates at roughly 300 Hz--and a second source made up of bunches of other gold nanoparticles heated by a second laser to vibrate at just 20 Hz. The nano-ear could hear them both loud and clear. The sound waves nudge the trapped gold nanoparticle in the same direction that the waves are propagating, allowing for precise measurement of the sound itself based on the particle’s motion. Experiments showed the nano-ear could detect vibrations down to about -60 decibels--or six orders of magnitude lower than human hears can. That means the device could be used to identify microorganisms or processes at the microscopic level by their sound signatures, or to help design and tune microelectrical mechanical systems. [img]http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/48267.jpeg[/img][/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-01/listening-bacterial-chatter-world%E2%80%99s-first-%E2%80%98nano-ear%E2%80%99-listening-bacterial-chatter-world%E2%80%99s-first-%E2%80%98nano-ea[/url]

Aw they didn't even provide one of the sounds. Still cool, though.

finally we'll be able to listen in on the scheming little bastards

"Let me play you the song of my people"

Whilst this is interesting, I am personally far more interested in biotech that can be used to repair ears that're damaged by excessive sound, which would yield mucho monies from all those kids who listened to loud music for so long.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqOVYpkZ0qs[/media]

Someone needs to make one of those TF2 dub videos where the TF2 characters dub a bunch of bacteria.

Does this functionality come with the Nanosuit? [img]http://images.wikia.com/crysis/images/6/63/500x_nanosuit_0008.jpg[/img] MAXIMUM HEARING

[QUOTE=V12US;34174966]Someone needs to make one of those TF2 dub videos where the TF2 characters dub a bunch of bacteria.[/QUOTE] there is one, search along the lines of "heavy/scout is bacteria"

[QUOTE=aurum481;34175069]there is one, search along the lines of "heavy/scout is bacteria"[/QUOTE] There was one called like "Heavy is white blood cell" or something. But that's not bacteria, but it is microorganisms.

Oh god, now I know there is something worse than being deaf; being able to hear bacteria. The sound would never stop, they're everywhere, all over all the time. Then again I guess if your hearing was [I]that[/I] sharp, the first normal sound you hear would deafen you anyway.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;34175609]Oh god, now I know there is something worse than being deaf; being able to hear bacteria. The sound would never stop, they're everywhere, all over all the time. Then again I guess if your hearing was [I]that[/I] sharp, the first normal sound you hear would deafen you anyway.[/QUOTE] This is for lab purposes, not a hearing aid replacement.

[QUOTE=djjkxbox360;34175035]Does this functionality come with the Nanosuit? [img]http://images.wikia.com/crysis/images/6/63/500x_nanosuit_0008.jpg[/img] MAXIMUM HEARING[/QUOTE] More like "Maximum sound"

Bacteria listen to Cannibal Corpse

Well seeing as there is some bacteria in fecal matter. Bacteria must sound like dubstep.

[QUOTE=booster;34176942]Well seeing as there is some bacteria in fecal matter. Bacteria must sound like dubstep.[/QUOTE] That's racist Sir. Not all bacteria resides in fecal matter. We will see you in court.

inb4 Bacteria music becomes a hit and owns Justin Beiber

[QUOTE=djjkxbox360;34175035]Does this functionality come with the Nanosuit? [img]http://images.wikia.com/crysis/images/6/63/500x_nanosuit_0008.jpg[/img] MAXIMUM HEARING[/QUOTE] MAXIMUM FAT

[QUOTE=mobrockers2;34177714]MAXIMUM FAT[/QUOTE] MAXIMUM ENVIRONMENT HEARING!

will there be bacteria rights groups now we can hear their pleas for justice "people for the ethical treatment of e-coli"

I wonder if they play heavy metal.

[QUOTE=BoSoZoku;34177406]That's racist Sir. Not all bacteria resides in fecal matter. We will see you in court.[/QUOTE] I said "Some" not "All" Prepare to get counter-sued I'll see you in Guantanamo bay

[QUOTE=noobcake;34171186]finally we'll be able to listen in on the scheming little bastards[/QUOTE] Maybe we can predict the next outbreak / pandemic now.

[QUOTE=djjkxbox360;34175035]Does this functionality come with the Nanosuit? [img]http://images.wikia.com/crysis/images/6/63/500x_nanosuit_0008.jpg[/img] MAXIMUM HEARING[/QUOTE] Well, it already has that. As in, you can listen to things miles away using the tactical view thingie.

No Dexter's Lab pics yet?

[QUOTE=djjkxbox360;34175035]Does this functionality come with the Nanosuit? [img]http://images.wikia.com/crysis/images/6/63/500x_nanosuit_0008.jpg[/img] MAXIMUM HEARING[/QUOTE] My hearing is augmented.

bacteria music better not be creepy ass noises

Imagine if they just sang Beatles songs and they keep singing "With a Little Help from My Friends". It would be the best thing ever.

[QUOTE=Fatman55;34171182]Aw they didn't even provide one of the sounds. Still cool, though.[/QUOTE] "capable of detecting sounds six orders of magnitude below the threshold of human hearing." You realize that you wouldn't be able to hear it... right?

My ear is augmented.