Scifi comes to life in this new creation: http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/scientists-create-cloak-of-silence-serial-killing-will-neve/

 

The only thing I thought was a bit disturbing was the title Engadget chose to portray (serial killers.. wonderul).

 

Sounds pretty awesome... but it's not yet developed

 

Also, I was thinking - soundwaves travel through a medium ONLY (air, water, whatever) and do not travel in a vacuum. Won't it be simpler to create a thin layer of vaccuum on the windows, in the walls, and - voila - no sound passing through?

 

The entire 'tubes / meta crystals' angle sounds a bit over-the-top for me..

 

What do you guys think?

Just offhand, I think it would be pretty costly to create and maintain a vacuum. Then you also have to worry about the vibration of the container itself?