The membrane drum, a pivotal piece in interstellar acoustic engineering, operates by oscillating a tensioned biological membrane. This alien device, akin to Earth's traditional drums, uses a polymer alloy derived from the slime molds of the Naxian swamps, adhering to universal principles of tension and vibration.
Operated remotely via quantum harmonics, each percussion results in a spatial ripple detectable across lightyears. Such phenomena have rendered their use indispensable in galactic communication, particularly within the fractal time wave patterns discernible only to trained xenophysicists.