Physicists over at the Australian National University (ANU) have figured out a new technique that allows them to control water flow patterns. The invention could provide fresh ways to move objects floating in water, with the potential to revolutionise certain manufacturing processes or help control oil spills. But how do you control the waves without Poseidon's help?
The tractor beam is actually deceptively simple. It uses wave generators to create patterns in the water that move an object against the wave. While not exactly a tractor beam in the Star Trek sense, the team was able to control and move a ping pong ball in a wave tank.
The system can also be used to create other paterns of flow in the water. One of the Scientists, DR Punzmann, said "As yet no mathematical theory can explain these experiments.Check it out in action below.
For more info, head over to Phys.org
