SCIENCE IN THE NEWS DAILY
A "Cloaking Device" for Earthquakes
from ScienceNOW Daily News
Researchers say they have found a way to
make buildings essentially invisible to
earthquakes. If perfected, the technique
could protect skyscrapers and homes alike
from even the most devastating temblors.
Earthquakes, sunlight, and radio all share
a common factor: They propagate via waves.
The only difference is that earthquake waves
are so powerful--their energy can equal
several nuclear bombs -- that they literally
shake apart rigid structures.
Researchers ... have now developed a
barrier that keeps buildings from feeling
these waves. They took a cue from stealth
aircraft, which employ combinations of
specially shaped and fabricated materials
that absorb radar signals and deflect them
off course. For earthquakes, the concept is
the same: Using computers, the team modeled a
device composed of layered, concentric rings
of plastic, copper, and four other materials
of varying flexibility and stiffness -- all
designed to harmlessly deflect earthquake
waves.
Read
more...
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