Science Questions

Can rescue or police dogs still hear their handlers in noisy environments ? Gemma, email

No, not at the moment, but thanks to a new invention from a Tokyo company called Temco, that could soon change. The dog receives instructions from its handler transmitted by radio link to a loudspeaker harnessed to the back of its head. The soundwaves from the speaker are transmitted through the skull bones to the ear drums so it can still hear its handler's voice as though they are only a short distance away.
'Bone Phone' - new mobile uses bone conduction to let you chat 'hands free'

June 2002