You may never have heard of cymatics, the study of visible sound and vibration, but it could be the best way to talk to dolphins.

Animal communication has been studied for decades, although finding a way to communicate between species has so far eluded scientists. Thanks to a technology called a CymaScope, developed by scientist, researcher, and acoustics engineer, John Stuart Reid, this could become a reality.

The technology makes sound visible by capturing unique acoustic imprints and invisible patterns of energy. Reid found when the vibrations of sound are imprinted on water they are converted to water wavelets creating unique geometric patterns that represent a model of the sound.

These sound patterns are not only beautiful but have applications across pretty much every branch of science.

It is widely known that dolphins "talk" to each other, using tissue vibrations in their nasal cavities to produce "whistles" that are the equivalent of speech in humans. Scientists have found dolphins use whistles to communicate a complex variety of things such as identity, location and, potentially, their emotional state. Delightfully, Dolphins have been found to have a signature whistle which they use to identify themselves – which is essentially their name!

Using technology like the CymaScope could help scientists translate - and maybe even communicate with - dolphins and other creatures with complex communication styles such as whales and even bats.

Whether or not this means we'll be chatting with Flipper any time soon remains to be seen, but what is clear is the ability to see sound using water as a medium permits a depth of study previously unavailable to scientists, engineers and researchers.

In the meantime, we can sit back and admire the beauty of sound and how water brings it so visibly to life.