Mirrors can actually reflect sound as well as
light. Mirrors that reflect sound waves are known as “acoustic
mirrors,” and were used in Britain during World War I to detect
certain sound waves coming from enemy aircraft from 8 to 15 miles
away. This was before the development of radar.
Several were built around the coast of Britain, and are still
standing today on both the north and south shores of England. They
are also called listening stones.
Concrete acoustic mirrors were built on the south and northeast
coasts of England between about 1916 and the 1930s. The ‘listening
ears’ were intended to provide early warning of incoming enemy
aircraft.
They did work, but the development of faster aircraft made them less
useful, as an incoming aircraft would be within sight by the time it
had been located. Also, increasing ambient noise made the mirrors
more difficult to use successfully, and then radar rendered acoustic
detection redundant.
There is also an example of one that is a parabolic sound mirror
carved into boulders to dramatically magnify the sound of a nearby
stream for listeners. It is inspired by satellite dishes, the
seating in choir lofts where curved walls reflect sound, and the
antique hand-held sound magnifiers used in the days before hearing
aids.