How to Turn 0 °C into Freezing Temperatures: A Forgotten Cooling Method
Mikhail T. (Sh0ny)
20 июня 20261 min read
Updated 4 июля 2026In short
When it's hot outside, it's especially interesting to talk about the cold. Humankind has devised many ways to cool things down, and one of them—the thermoacoustic method—remained largely unknown to the general public for a long time.
When the thermometer hits the roof, you can’t help but wonder: how can you cool off? Over the centuries, many devices have been invented—from the Rank-Hilsch vortex tube to the absorption refrigerator, which, paradoxically, runs on fire.
Another Method
But there’s another method that has remained in the shadows for decades. It allows you to go from literally zero degrees to tens of degrees below freezing. We’re talking about thermoacoustic cooling—a process that uses sound waves to create a temperature difference.
How does it work?
- High-intensity sound causes the gas in the resonator to compress and expand.
- As a result, heat is absorbed at one end and released at the other.
- The effect is similar to how a heat pump works, but without moving parts or refrigerants.
The technology isn’t new—it was studied as far back as the 19th century—but it has only recently caught the attention of engineers as a potentially eco-friendly alternative to traditional refrigeration systems.
We can only hope that one day such systems will be found in every home—and heat will no longer be a problem.
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