Tractor beams are a not often used but powerful tool in the arsenal of star ships and stations in major sci-fi franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek.

It doesn't look as impressive, but researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered a new and more powerful method for moving objects with light and sound waves.

Employing metamaterial physics.

Metamaterials are artificially engineered to interact with light and sound waves.

Placing a metamaterial pattern on an object allows them to be pushed or pulled - like a tractor beam.

Of course enemy star ships aren't likely to be covered in convenient metamaterial patterns but this is another sci-fi technology moving towards reality.

[ Main Image: Metamaterial Pattern. Credit: Olivia Hulgren via IMechE. ]

References

College of Science and Engineering, UMN (December 7, 2022). Researchers move object hands-free using ultrasound waves and metamaterial physics. YouTube.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (December 6, 2022). ‘Tractor beam’ style manipulation moves objects without touching them.