Alexander Bell invented the photophone and considered this “the greatest invention he had ever made, greater than the telephone.” Although the photophone was not commercially viable, it did demonstrate that one could use light to transmit sound. This invention is therefore considered to be the forerunner of fibre optics and wireless communications. Physicists today working with ultrashort pulses of laser light have been successful in initiating unusual sound waves in nanodevices. [1] This work is designed to help engineers achieve higher precision control of heat flow and sound using light. In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell, theorized that light could be converted into sound waves in certain materials. It has been 140 years since his theoretical proposition, and this effect has been proven by scientists. This effect is generating a lot of interest because it can be used to control the flow of heat and sound on a nanometer (1 E-9 meter) scale which enables engineers to make novel functionality in very small devices.
References
- Asuka Nakamura, Takahiro Shimojima, Yusuke Chiashi, Manabu Kamitani, Hideaki Sakai, Shintaro Ishiwata, Han Li and Kyoko Ishizaka, “Nanoscale Imaging of Unusual Photoacoustic Waves in Thin Flake VTe2,” Nano Letters 28 May 2020. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01006
The material they achieved this phenomenon of light to sound was in a VTe2 material (Vanadium Tellurium). VTe2 is trigonal omega structured and crystallizes in the trigonal P-3m1 space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of one VTe2 sheet oriented in the (001) direction. V4+ is bonded to six Tellurium atoms. Sound waves in a material are capable of compressing and expanding the material along the direction of travel. These types of waves are known as longitudinal waves. Other waves are transverse and cause the atoms or molecules of the material to oscillate perpendicular to their direction of travel. In previous experiments, the light was used to induce sound waves in nanomaterials, the light heated the material causing it to expand in all directions creating longitudinal sound waves. In this research, the scientists were able to create transverse sound waves by using a very thin layer of VTe2. Ytterbium-doped Potassium Yttrium Tungstate (Yb:KY(WO4)2) single crystals are the laser crystals used for diode or laser pumped solid-state lasers. The researchers used this solid-state laser as a photon source to probe this phenomenon. The generated laser beam was split into pump and probe beams. A fundamental 1030 nm pump beam with a pulse duration of 290 fs passed through a delay line and was used to excite the sample. These short laser pulses induced a structural instability altering the crystal structure of the material and producing a transverse sound wave. They were able to detect this change in structure using ultrafast electron microscope imaging and electron diffraction measurements. This sound wave phenomenon was observable by the intensities of the diffracted electrons temporally oscillating due to a change in the diffraction (Bragg) condition which indicate the acoustic phonons propagating laterally along the VTe2 sheet. The transient diffraction intensities with longer time scales demonstrate the subsequent acoustic phonon dynamics behavior.
The researchers imaged these waves in the VTe2 which was 75 nanometers thick and the time resolution was on the order of 1 picosecond (1 E-12 second). This microscope allowed the researchers to make videos of the sound waves. The ultrafast electron microscope allowed the researchers to quantitatively measure the amplitude of the acoustic waves by electron diffraction. This electron diffraction technique is analogous to x-ray diffraction which shows the structural information, atom movements, and consequently the sound wave propagation phenomenon.
The Spiritual insights that we receive from this type of research is related to the laser pulses creating a structural instability, altering the crystal structure of the material and producing the transverse sound waves in the material. This is analogous to the Messiah who has made us to be a peculiar people and Moshe, Paul, and Peter spoke of this in the following way:
Shemot / Exodus 19:5-6
וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּקֹלִ֔י וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֑י וִהְיִ֨יתֶם לִ֤י סְגֻלָּה֙ מִכָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים כִּי־לִ֖י כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 19:5 Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, וְאַתֶּ֧ם תִּהְיוּ־לִ֛י מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְג֣וֹי קָד֑וֹשׁ אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ 19:6 but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Titus 2:14
2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (NASB)
1 Peter 2:9
2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NASB)
In each of these scriptures, these men are speaking of this phenomenon of the Lord God working in the lives of His people to become something they were not previously. This is an induced phenomenon that Paul writes to Titus saying the Lord who purifies us makes us zealous for good deeds. This is why the Lord told Moshe to tell the people that if they obeyed His Word, and kept His covenant they would be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Paul connects this to the Messiah in Titus to the Mercy of God who redeemed us and purified us to be his own possession. Peter repeats the words from the Torah that we are chosen to proclaim the excellencies of God as his holy people, a royal priesthood and holy nation. Studying the rabbinic literature, the rabbis describe the mercy of God according to Midrash Rabbah on Shemot / Exodus, with a story about the giving of the Torah to the nations, the Lord God offered His ways and His instruction to all of the nations of the earth prior to His having offered the Torah to Israel. The midrash states this was done so the nations could not claim they had not had the opportunity to accept God’s Instructions.
SEFRI ON DEVARIM, PARSHAT V’ZOT HABRACHA 343
WHEN THE HOLY ONE BLESSED BE HE REVEALED HIMSELF TO GIVE THE TORAH TO ISRAEL, HE DID NOT ONLY REVEAL HIMSELF TO ISRAEL, RATHER HE REVEALED TO ALL THE NATIONS. FIRST HE WENT TO THE CHILDREN OF ESAU AND SAID TO THEM, “WILL YOU RECEIVE THE TORAH?” THEY SAID, “WHAT IS WRITTEN IN IT?” HE SAID, “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER.” THEY REPLIED, “THIS IS THE INHERITANCE WHICH OUR FATHER LEFT US …” HE THEN REVEALED HIMSELF TO THE CHILDREN OF AMON AND OF MOAB AND ASKED THEM, “WILL YOU ACCEPT THE TORAH?” THEY RESPONDED, “WHAT IS WRITTEN IN IT?” HE SAID, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.” THEY REPLIED, “WE ALL SPRING FROM AN ADULTERER … “THEN HE REVEALED HIMSELF TO THE CHILDREN OF ISHMAEL AND SAID, “WILL YOU RECEIVE THE TORAH?” THEY RESPONDED, “WHAT IS WRITTEN IN IT? HE SAID, “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.” THEY DEMURRED SAYING, “OUR FATHER WAS DESTINED TO BE A ROBBER … ” FINALLY, WHEN GOD CAME TO ISRAEL THEY ALL PROCLAIMED TOGETHER, “ALL THAT THE LORD HAS SAID WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE ARE COMMANDED.”
It is interesting how the rabbis reason these things; this midrash may have been developed to counter the claims of foreign peoples against the exclusive nature (the choosing of Israel) at the expense of the other nations. This is not exactly what it means to be chosen. To be a chosen person adds more responsibility to our lives, meaning we are called to live in righteousness and holiness for the glory of God. The promises of God include the blessing to the nations, so our lives are not simply lived for the Lord, but also for the welfare of the world! This is found in the command to love our neighbor. The chosen people are charged with the role to not only draw near to God, but also as priests, which requires a special sanctification of our lives unto God. We are a holy nation such that we are ambassadors for God to the nations. All of those who believe in Yeshua are part of the priesthood of the Messiah Yeshua and have access directly to God our Father in heaven in the Name of Yeshua His Son. The scientific research tends to draw out this very important observation! The Scriptures describe God as being no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) He is able to make the unclean clean (Acts 10:28) and to make those who are called “Not My people” to be “My People.” (Hosea 2:23, Matthew 3:9) This again is what the scientific research is drawing out for us in the sense of the laser pulses creating a structural instability, altering the crystal structure of the material and producing the transverse sound waves in the material. This is what the Lord is doing in our lives if we allow Him to do so! The Torah describes the need for a spiritual brit millah, this is the circumcision that is inwardly something God does in us! (Devarim / Deuteronomy 10:16, Romans 2:28-29, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Galatians 5:6, 6:15, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:11) We could analogize this spiritual brit millah to the structural instability that God is putting inside of us for the purpose of our having a relationship with the God of Israel in the Messiah by faith. Paul writes in his epistles that this is how righteousness is imputed, and not by birthright. (i.e. which is paralleled to the ground state of the material as opposed to the excited state induced by the laser pulses.) Regardless of one’s ethnic background, gender, or social status in the world, those who believe and trust in Yeshua the Messiah are called an “am segulah” (עַם סְגֻלָּה, a treasured people). Peter wrote this saying that we are being built up as a spiritual house (as living stones), a holy priesthood, and because of these things, we are to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through His Son Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Peter 2:5) To understand this in the greater context, consider that over 40% of the Torah’s written commandments focus on the laws of sacrifice to be performed at the Temple, and many other laws governing various social, ethical, moral, and interpersonal relationships and the commands to establish a system of justice so that the land is governed by the rule of law through courts, such that lawlessness does not overtake the land. Notice how important the Torah is for our lives! These things illustrate what exactly those spiritual sacrifices are that Peter is speaking of, which are those things related to righteousness, holiness, justice, and truth.
To further illustrate how God is working in our lives, and this phenomenon that is revealed by the scientific research, when speaking with Nicodemus, Yeshua told us that unless one is born new, having a spiritual rebirth, one cannot see the kingdom of God according to John 3:3. Yeshua said “amein amein” (Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν) “truly truly” I say to you unless one is born from above (ἄνωθεν) he is not able to behold the kingdom (βασιλείαν) of God. The principle of “life from above” is revealed in God’s covenant and His holy and righteous ways in which He would bless His people by dwelling among them. The covenant was to show the people to God how to trust Him, how to delight in Him, and how to be one with Him. Being born from above is God working in our lives to change us from the inside out because of His great love for us. Because it is written לְאַהֲבָה אֶת-יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקֹלוֹ וּלְדָבְקָה-בוֹ כִּי הוּא חַיֶּיךָ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֶיךָ “… to love the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, …” This describes our submitting our lives to the Lord all the days of our lives! The Lord loves His children as it is written in Jeremiah 31:2 which says מֵרָחוֹק יְהֹוָה נִרְאָה לִי וְאַהֲבַת עוֹלָם אֲהַבְתִּיךְ עַל-כֵּן מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ חָסֶד “I love you with an everlasting love and in chased (חָסֶד, mercy/grace) I draw you to me.” According to Jeremiah, God the Father draws us to Himself. Yeshua believed the Scriptures saying in John 6:44 οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐλθεῖν πρός με ἐὰν μὴ ὁ πατὴρ ὁ πέμψας με ἑλκύσῃ αὐτόν, κἀγὼ ἀναστήσω αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” (NASB) God’s chased (חָסֶד, mercy/grace) takes action, allowing us to come to our senses and turn from our sin and turn to Yeshua the Messiah. All of these things may be paralleled to the Scientific research with the laser pulses creating a structural instability, altering the crystal structure of the material and producing the transverse sound waves in the material in the sense that the Lord God Almighty is working in our lives to transform us such that we would show forth His Glory! Last week we studied how scientists reverse engineered the cellular mechano-chemical feedback system (https://www.matsati.com/index.php/scientists-reverse-engineer-cellular-mechano-chemical-feedback-system-a-spiritual-insight/) where the new visualization technique show how cells pull on one another as opposed to pushing. This also parallels what is taking place here in the Scriptures, the Lord God is pulling on our hearts and our lives drawing us to Him! Being born from above is this action of drawing found in an act of creation by the hand of God as it says in John 1:13 לֹא מִדָּם וְלֹא מֵחֵפֶץ הַבָּשָׂר נוֹלְדוּ, אַף לֹא מֵחֵפֶץ גֶּבֶר, כִּי אִם מֵאֱלֹהִים׃ “not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.” The Hebrew translation of the Greek says מאלהים נולדו meaning “from God he is born,” The reference here is to the Word of God (John 1:1) and of being born new. The Lord God makes a place in our hearts through which He works His will in our lives. As a result, rather than fearing (יִרְאָה) the Lord in the sense of judgment, we fear the Lord to walk in His ways, and to seek Him for help. It is written לְאַהֲבָה אֶת-יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקֹלוֹ וּלְדָבְקָה-בוֹ כִּי הוּא חַיֶּיךָ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֶיךָ “… to love the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, …” Is this what David meant when he tells us the Lord has rewarded him according to his righteousness and the cleanness of his hands? Is this what is meant when Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 1:8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (NASB) those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah? It says in the Hebrew text “לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקֹלוֹ” “to hear His voice” and the English translation says “by obeying His voice” and “וּלְדָבְקָה-בוֹ” “to be devoted in Him” and the English translation says “by holding fast to Him.” According to Paul, to know the Lord God Almighty is synonymous with obeying the gospel of Yeshua in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8. In the Torah portion (Parashat Re’eh, Devarim / Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) to hear His voice is synonymous with obeying His voice. To be devoted to Him is synonymous with holding fast to Him. We hear the Word of God and we believe by faith (Romans 10:17). We hold fast to the Word of God because He is the length of our days, He gives us life. David in the Psalms describes the way his life is being devoted to following God’s Torah (His ways) and the Lord God Almighty turns back (יָשִׁיב) to him because he seeks to walk righteously before the Lord. Today, believing in Yeshua the Messiah, the Living Word of God (John 1:14), we are obeying the Torah command for substitutionary atonement. But if our lives do not change to follow God in His ways, are we really holding fast and being devoted to Him according to the gospel of Yeshua? The Scientific research draws out these truths, and of the need to seek the God of Israel in the Messiah Yeshua. Listening and obeying is as much a work of God in our lives as it is for us to humble our hearts and listen and obey His Word!
