Scientists at the University of Dundee have developed what they're calling a real-life version of the Sonic Screwdriver from Doctor Who, capable of using an ultrasound beam to lift and spin a free-floating rubber disc.
The vortex beam has a double-helix shape, which generates angular moment and can exert torque on a target object, causing it to rotate. The beam may have future medical applications, including as a tool for non-invasive surgery.
"The 'sonic screwdriver' device is al