Engineering's secret weapon: How ultrasound spots structural problems - with Rachel Edwards

Discover the new ways scientists and engineers are going beyond traditional ultrasound. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYeF244yNGuFefuFKqxIAXw/join Watch the Q&A here (exclusively for our Science Supporters): https://youtu.be/W5OAT-ssEcY This lecture was recorded at the Ri on 15 November 2025. Imagine being able to spot flaws in a rollercoaster, railway line, or power station before disaster strikes - all without laying a finger on them. Sounds like sci-fi? Welcome to the world of non-destructive testing, where engineers use sound to uncover hidden dangers like cracks and corrosion. The standard method of ultrasound testing involves the same gel couplant used in medical ultrasounds, but researchers are seeking out more optimal alternatives. But what if we could ditch the gel and make sounds using electricity or lasers instead? Or better yet - what if we could see sound ripple through a structure, interacting with defects in real time? Physicist Rachel Edwards will explore new ways of generating and detecting sound, and the tantalizing possibility of developing a “sound VISOR” to help visualise sound and revolutionise engineering. --- Rachel Edwards is a Professor of Physics at the University of Warwick, and Faculty Public Engagement Lead for Science, Engineering and Medicine. Her research focuses on the use of ultrasound to inspect a wide range of structures, from tiny semiconductor membranes to long sections of railway track. She is particularly interested in developing new methods for generating and detecting ultrasound, as well as studying how sound waves travel through materials and interact with defects. Her work has practical implications for safety, maintenance, and structural integrity across multiple industries. She has given a range of rather over-enthusiastic talks and lectures, for audiences from Reception Class kids through to academic audiences. --- The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ri_science Listen to the Ri podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ri-science-podcast Donate to the RI and help us bring you more lectures: https://www.rigb.org/support-us/donate-ri Our editorial policy: https://www.rigb.org/editing-ri-talks-and-moderating-comments Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.