Here’s something interesting from The New scientist 4th June 2011 written by MacGregor Campbell that shows how some ideas in one field of science can be adapted and used by others.
It looks at how ideas related to the creation of invisibility cloaks has been applied to the more practical use of shielding coastlines from destructive waves. The idea for wave protection has come from semiconductor physics and meta-materials, the technology behind the invisibility cloaks. The application could lead to a zone in front of vulnerable coastlines where waves of certain frequencies will not be able to reach, with the added bonus of energy production.
The system works by using an array of offshore tubes. By adjusting the size of the cylinders, the size of slits within each cylinder and the spaces between them water can be made to flow in and out of the columns at a frequency to stop incoming waves. By using hollow cylinders and a float inside the peaks and troughs of each passing wave could be used to generate electricity.
