Now build your own Levitator at homes and schools

Levitator

Levitation is a process by which an object is held in the air, without mechanical support, in a stable position. It provides an upward force that counteracts the pull of gravity, with stabilizing force to push the object to a home position whenever it is a small distance away from home position.

Now, University of Bristol engineers developed an easier way for suspending matter in mid-air by developing a 3D-printed acoustic levitator. Acoustic levitation is a scientific phenomenon, powerful acoustic waves that levitates and moves objects in mid-air. The new techniques applied to a range of applications, including blood tests.

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Magnetic levitation suspends objects in mid-air. Howerver, Acoustic levitation can act on a wide range of materials, from liquids to living animals.

Acoustic levitator

The University of Bristol team developed an instruction pack for those wanting to assemble their own levitator at home or school. The instructions can enable any researcher to put together a levitator and conduct experiments in acoustic levitation. This levitator can use safely, also strong against temperature or humidity changes, and operates for extended times, enabling experiments that were not possible before.

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Dr. Asier Marzo from the University of Bristol, explains, levitating samples in mid-air improves diagnosis from blood samples and detection of the structure of molecules.

Acoustic levitation explored in several studies for applications in pharmaceuticals, biology or biomaterials. It grasps the assurance of supporting innovative and groundbreaking processes. However, historically levitators restricted to a small number of research labs because they need custom-made, carefully tuned and required high-voltage. Now, people can build their own levitator at home to experiment and try new applications of acoustic levitation.

More information: [Review of Scientific Instruments]

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