Radio waves can’t be transmitted through water, but submarines can now
transmit e-mails without having to surface and reveal their location. Using an
“acoustic modem” that pumps out pressure waves, the US Navy sub USS Dolphin,
travelling at a depth of 120 metres, sent e-mail consisting of text and pictures
over a distance of 5 kilometres at 2.4 kilobits per second to a radio buoy. This
subsequently relayed the message to shore. However, the Navy’s research comes at a time
when the effect of underwater acoustic transmissions on sea life is ringing alarm bells
(see “Ear-splitting sonar”).
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓÆµ
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓÆµ articles
1
The best new science-fiction books of June 2026
2
Pancreatic cancer halted by virus injection in three patients
3
Glaciers in the 'roof of the world' have suddenly started melting
4
Does gravity create reality? A shocking path to a theory of everything
5
Start-ups are racing to revolutionise mathematics with AI
6
Aim high but don't shoot for the moon, mathematicians advise
7
Professor Daisy Fancourt on the life-changing power of the arts
8
Mirror life: ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓÆµs clash over threat of lab-engineered bacteria
9
Where did the laws of physics come from? I think I've found the answer
10
We may finally know why gold stays so shiny



