Scientists have discovered a way to create localized pockets of sound isolated from their surroundings, creating sound exactly where it needs to be. The technique involves using ultrasound as a carrier for audible sound - ultrasound transports sound through space silently, becoming audible only when desired. The ultrasonic beams can bend as they travel, allowing for the creation of curved sound paths that can navigate around obstacles and meet at a specific target location.

The core mechanism involves parametric arrays that project modulated ultrasonic beams (typically 100-110 dBSPL) through air. These high-frequency waves (inaudible to humans) interact nonlinearly with the air medium, causing self-demodulation that generates audible frequencies along the beam's path. Key features include:

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Directional precision where ultrasound's short wavelength (millimeter-scale) creates narrow beams maintain focus over distance, unlike conventional speakers.

On-demand audibility where the sound only becomes audible where the beam terminates, either in mid-air or upon hitting a surface.

Curved propagation where the Berkeley Lab researchers developed "acoustic bottles" using phased arrays to bend ultrasound along convex trajectories, enabling sound to navigate obstacles.