A new pioneering approach to wave science could help improve the early warnings of earthquakes, optimize renewable energies and advance medical diagnostics, “said researchers.
A team of international researchers led by the Queen’s University Belfast collaborated on a study which, according to her, could improve results through global health care, the environment, engineering and the economy.
Scientists come from various horizons, but they all study waves – including ocean waves, waves that make up mobile phones networks, waves used in X -ray machines and ultrasounds or seismic waves involved in earthquakes.
Scientists say that the methodologies for wave analysis can be similar and that they have the possibility of learning from each other and accelerating major developments.
Wave Analysis Tools has been published in the journal Nature Reviews Methods Primers and is free to use by scientists all over the world.
It was compiled by 26 scientists from 23 institutes in nine countries, including the University of Stanford, the European Space Agency (USA Campus), the Italian space agency, the Niels Bohr Institute (Denmark) and the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
It gives an overview of a certain number of tools for the analysis of waves, evaluating the relevance of different methodologies for different fields of science.
The group has also created a free access benchmark called Walsa.Tools to help researchers access the latest discoveries, forge new partnerships and promote greater integration and ethical.
The main author, Dr. Shahin Jafarzadeh, of the Queen’s astrophysics research center, said: “Analyzing waves and oscillations correctly is really important in multiple areas of scientific research.
“Wave signals can be incredibly complex and require a very detailed analysis.
“Simplified or poorly applied methods can lead to incomplete or misleading conclusions.
“This applies, whether observation of magnetic waves in the atmosphere of the sun – which can influence the space weather – or interpret a graphic of the blood sugar levels of a patient.
“The use of good tools for the particular context is essential.
“The unification of our approach between disciplines and nations should ensure more reliable and reproducible results.”
Waves move energy and can be found everywhere in the wild, from the vibration of an insect wings to extreme weather events and natural disasters.
Geophysicists examine these natural oscillations to predict earthquakes and tsunamis, facilitate weather forecast and monitor climate change.
But the waves are also at the forefront of technology, more and more at the heart of digital and physical infrastructure, astrophysics, energy, health care and economy.
Medical researchers will use wave analysis to interpret a patient’s data, such as the cardiac activity of an electrocardiogram, while astrophysicists use comparable tools to explore life on a much greater scale, such as spatial time and its impact on human security.
Engineers analyze the vibrations of bridges, skyscrapers and planes to identify the weaknesses of structures while electronic experts study oscillations in circuits to optimize communication systems, electricity production and gadgets.
Economists also use sophisticated forms of wave analysis to predict financial trends and advise governments and businesses while environmental scientists rely on detailed analyzes of sea waves, light sun waves and wind models to develop effective renewable energies.
Professor David Jess, of Queen’s, said: “Gather 26 scientists from 23 institutes from around the world guarantees that our work reflects the current state of the tools for analyzing waves.
“The queen’s leadership in this project will help initiate new international collaborations that will improve the global understanding of the phenomena of waves covering the smallest on the largest scale.”