History Main / SonicStunner

->''"Well, it projects two parallel unidirectional, high-amplitude '''VHF audio streams''', with slightly differing frequencies. When those streams intersect a target, a high amplitude '''difference-tone''' is generated in the body of the target. This low-frequency tone interferes with the target's '''synaptic refresh''', effectively jamming the nervous system and rendering the target '''instantly unconscious.''' (''{{beat}}'') [[LaymansTerms It's a]] '''[[LaymansTerms magic sleep gun]]'''."''

->''"Well, it projects two parallel unidirectional, high-amplitude '''VHF audio streams''', with slightly differing frequencies. When those streams intersect a target, a high amplitude '''difference-tone''' is generated in the body of the target. This low-frequency tone interferes with the target's '''synaptic refresh''', effectively jamming the nervous system and rendering the target '''instantly unconscious.''' (''{{beat}}'') It's a '''magic sleep gun'''."''

** In ''Film/BlackPanther'', Wakanda uses a special sonic frequency to suppress the properties of Vibranium, as otherwise its energy-absorbing-and-redirecting nature makes it incredibly dangerous to transport. [[spoiler:The climactic battle between Black Panther and Killmonger takes place on a Vibranium supply railroad that emits this frequency, with both their Vibranium nanobot suits partially dissolving when exposed to it, which gives Black Panther the opening to stab Killmonger. Shuri also wields a pair of [[ArmCannon Arm Cannons]] armed with this frequency during an earlier battle with Killmonger.]]

-->'''Stane:''' It's a shame the government didn't approve. [[ThinkOfThePotential There are so many applications]] regarding short-term paralysis.

** ''Film/IronMan'' has Stane using a small device twice. It emits a high-pitched sound that paralyzes anyone not wearing special ear protection. He specifically states that it has many uses despite Tony refusing to sell it to the military.

* The protagonist of ''Madame Sin'' (1972) is knocked unconscious by one so he can be kidnapped, and he's informed that extended exposure would "collapse the brain" of the target. The weapon is later used for a more lethal purpose once YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness, though the hero escapes, albeit at the cost of losing his hearing for some time.

* And in Lois Bujold's ''Literature/MilesVorkosigan'' stories, from 1986 onwards. Bujold's characters joke about "stunner tag" in a way that suggests it has become an almost ritualized substitute for more lethal confrontations. Stun shock is definite with these.

** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', Tony Stark's collapsible gauntlet includes a sonic weapon that he uses against Bucky, momentarily stunning him and allowing Tony to get close enough to disarm him.

* Music/{{Hawkwind}}'s spoken-word track "Sonic Attack" (written by Creator/MichaelMoorcock) describes a world where sonic weapons are used to destroy whole cities, and graphically lists the symptoms of sonic attack (both real and imagined).[[note]]The lyrics are deliberately ambiguous as to whether this is done by an external enemy and hints this is all part of [[BavarianFireDrill mind-control]] by a big brother state[[/note]]

* In ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'', the [[RunningGag first time]] Sergeant Schlock's plasma cannon was destroyed, Commander Kevin tried [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-09-03 replacing it with one of these]]. He... [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-09-13 wasn't very happy with that]], as they're useless for intimidation. The concept has made a couple of [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-12-24 appearances]] since then, but they've mostly switched to using "[[StickySituation goober guns]]" for situations where the enemy needs to be restrained without being killed.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* In {{Naruto}} several ninja from the Sound Village use abilities with these effects such as Dosu's Melody Arm and Kin's bells. [[spoiler:Kabuto has a jutsu that combines this with [[BlindedByTheLight a bright shining light]] blinding and disorienting enemies at the same time.]]

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/IronMan'' has Stane using a small device twice. It emits a high-pitched sound that paralyzes anyone not wearing special ear protection. He specifically states that it has many uses despite Tony refusing to sell it to the military.

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* Sonic stunners are standard-issue Alliance subdual weapons in ''{{Series/Firefly}}''. You can see them in action in "Ariel" (though they do nothing to blast open a locked door, to Jayne's dismay) and in "Trash".

* Quinn builds an unreliable sonic stun bomb in Series/{{Zoey 101}}.

[[folder:TabletopGame]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* Infrasound (sound waves below 20Hz in frequency) genuinely produces some [[BrownNote odd physiological effects]]. According to Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}, it may trigger feelings of awe or fear in humans, and it has been observed to cause difficulties in breathing and digestion in humans and animals.
** The nausea and headaches associated with this trope are real physiological side-effects of exposure to intense infrasound.

* The pistol shrimp utilizes a large asymmetrical claw as one of these. Snapped faster then a man can blink, the resulting cavitation produces a pressure wave measured in dozens of atmospheres, capable of killing small fish, and stunning larger ones. [[MundaneUtility It's also handy for long distance communication]].

* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Range_Acoustic_Device LRAD]], originally developed for [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin long distance communication]], also has applications in less-than-lethal crowd control.

->''"Well, it projects two parallel unidirectional, high-amplitude '''[[TechnoBabble VHF audio streams]]''', with slightly differing frequencies. When those streams intersect a target, a high amplitude '''[[TechnoBabble difference-tone]]''' is generated in the body of the target. This low-frequency tone interferes with the target's '''[[TechnoBabble synaptic refresh]]''', effectively jamming the nervous system and rendering the target '''instantly unconscious.''' ''({{Beat}})'' It's a '''[[LaymansTerms magic sleep gun]].'''"''
-->-- '''[[TheProfessor Kevyn Andreyasn]]''' makes [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-09-03 his sales pitch]] to [[Webcomic/SchlockMercenary Sergeant Schlock]].

!!Examples

* The Tekwar {{Made For TV Movie}}s and short-lived TV series had non-lethal "pulse guns" - these were the only weapons the ex-con protagonist was legally permitted to carry. Notably, they used the same cheap special effect as BabylonFive - the "pulses" fired heat shimmer-like distortions.

* Quinn builds an unreliable sonic stun bomb in {{Zoey 101}}.

* In ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'', the [[RunningGag first time]] Sargent Schlock's plasma cannon was destroyed, Commander Kevin tried [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-09-03 replacing it with one of these]]. He... [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-09-13 wasn't very happy with that]]. The concept has made a couple of [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-12-24 appearances]] since then, but they've mostly switched to using "[[StickySituation goober guns]]" for situations where the enemy needs to be restrained without being killed.

* The Sperm Whale can stun a ''Giant Squid'' with its echolocation, which is released not by its mouth, but the large forehead area. No wonder those things were so huge.

* Sonic stunners feature in Larry Niven's KnownSpace universe, from 1964 onwards. The stories include several references to "dueling stunners", and in one the stun sound is amplified through speakers to knock out everyone on a space station.

* And in Lois Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan stories, from 1986 onwards. Bujold's characters joke about "stunner tag" in a way that suggests it has become an almost ritualized substitute for more lethal confrontations. Stun shock is definite with these.

* In the SteamPunk world of ''{{Boneshaker}}'', Dr. Minnericht’s Doozy Dazer can stun [[OurZombiesAreDifferent rotters]] for about three minutes.

* Infrasound (sound waves below 20Hz in frequency) genuinely produces some odd physiological effects. According to Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}, it may trigger feelings of awe or fear in humans, and it has been observed to cause difficulties in breathing and digestion in humans and animals.

* The spoken-word track ''Sonic Attack'' by Music/{{Hawkwind}} (written by Creator/MichaelMoorcock) describes a world where sonic weapons are used to destroy whole cities, and graphically lists the symptoms of sonic attack (both real and imagined).[[note]]The lyrics are deliberately ambiguous as to whether this is done by an external enemy and hints this is all part of [[BavarianFireDrill mind-control]] by a big brother state[[/note]]

* The spoken-word track ''Sonic Attack'' by {{Hawkwind}} (written by Creator/MichaelMoorcock) describes a world where sonic weapons are used to destroy whole cities, and graphically lists the symptoms of sonic attack (both real and imagined).[[note]]The lyrics are deliberately ambiguous as to whether this is done by an external enemy and hints this is all part of [[BavarianFireDrill mind-control]] by a big brother state[[/note]]

* Infrasound (sound waves below 20Hz in frequency) genuinely produces some odd physiological effects. According to ThatOtherWiki, it may trigger feelings of awe or fear in humans, and it has been observed to cause difficulties in breathing and digestion in humans and animals.

[[folder:TabletopGame]]
* ''Stutter'' weapons are used in TabletopGame/{{Alternity}}'s ''TabletopGame/StarDrive'' setting. They deal very high subdual damage but have poor performance against armor. (They also presumably don't work in a vacuum.)

* Sonic stunners are standard-issue Alliance subdual weapons in ''{{Firefly}}''. You can see them in action in "Ariel" (though they do nothing to blast open a locked door, to Jayne's dismay) and in "Trash".

* And in Frank Herbert's {{Dune}} and sequels, from 1965 onwards

[[/folder]]

* Quinn builds an unreliable sonic stun bomb in {{Zoey 101}}.