Scientists have identified the GLAST gene as a potential protector against tinnitus, a condition characterized by ringing in the ears. The study found that mice with normal GLAST function were less prone to developing tinnitus when exposed to toxic substances.
A new study suggests that sound plays a limited role in attracting coral larvae to reef systems. By recording particle motion using accelerometers, researchers found that the signal drops rapidly below levels detectable by most marine species just a few meters away from the reef. This finding challenges previous studies and highlights ...
Researchers at the University of Arizona are pioneering phononics, the science of sound, with potential repercussions in fields like energy, biomedicine, and computing. The team, led by Pierre Deymier, is using unconventional materials to manipulate sound waves in new ways.
A team of scientists developed a new approach to visualize oxygen in tissue, using optoacoustic methods and a novel algorithm that corrects for light propagation effects. This non-invasive imaging method achieves high accuracy and resolution, enabling the study of various medical conditions such as tumor growth and metabolism.
Scientists at Rice University found a phonon band gap in spider silk, enabling the material to block certain frequencies of sound waves. This discovery has implications for creating tunable, dynamic metamaterials with novel sound or thermal insulation properties.
Scientists have discovered a mathematical resemblance between swarm dynamics and gravitational interactions in midge swarms. The team proposes an 'adaptive gravity' model that explains how swarming insects maintain cohesion despite the dominant interaction being long-range.
A new modular design approach simplifies the creation of acoustic filters, allowing for rapid prediction of acoustic properties in complex assemblies. This enables the development of innovative applications such as audio tags and wind instruments with customizable sound profiles.
Researchers have developed a method to control sound waves using acoustic voxels, small hollow cube-shaped chambers that can modify acoustic filtering properties. This enables the creation of unique acoustic signatures for objects, potentially replacing QR codes and RFID tags.
A new discovery has revealed that parts of the inner ear processing speech and music work differently than other areas. The study used optical coherence tomography to measure the inner ear's response to sound in an intact ear.
Male cicadas use their calls to attract mates, but they also draw in pregnant female flies looking to lay eggs. The study found that both males and females demonstrated reproductive intent and successfully mated with each other.
A study by Simon Fraser University researchers found that the loss of sea stars led to a quadrupling of green sea urchins, which prey on kelp, causing its decrease by 80 per cent. The ecosystem is still recovering, with no sign of recovery in sea stars.
Researchers are investigating various vinyl formulations to enhance sound quality in classic vinyl records. Early studies suggest that materials such as wax cylinders are surprisingly stable when handled properly.
Researchers at Kyoto University found that cats use causal logic to infer object presence based on sounds. The study revealed cats' expectations are shaped by what they hear, enabling them to predict prey locations.
A Yale team has developed a new waveguide system that harnesses the interaction of light and sound waves to boost light intensity on a silicon microchip, solving a long-standing problem in hybrid technologies. The breakthrough enables precise control over the interaction, leading to potential commercial applications in fiber-optic comm...
Research finds that skilled readers don't need to 'sound out' words they know, with a separate area for visual dictionary-like recognition. A different region processes sounds, explaining why people with dyslexia struggle with reading.
A study found that ICU noise levels significantly exceeded recommended limits, with average sound levels above 45 dBA and peaks exceeding 52 dBA. The authors recommend measures to reduce sound levels, including earplugs for patients and smart alarm systems.
Researchers aim to develop optimum alarm systems by analyzing alarm errors and predicting their occurrence. The new models will prioritize alarms that reflect urgent situations while balancing staff alertness with patient recovery concerns.
Scientists studying climate change's impact on underwater sound propagation and sonar transmission. Warmer oceans increase sound speed, making detection of submarines more challenging.
Researchers are studying the lowest vocal register, called vocal fry, to better understand its emotional properties and how it affects listeners. The technique has become popular in pop and country music, with female singers' use of vocal fry rating them as more expressive.
Researchers at Penn State tracked the cause of a loud noise made by a type of golf club and found it was due to vibrations in the club head. The vibrations were strongest in the most sensitive range of human hearing, leading to an annoyingly loud sound that some players compared to a cookie tray hitting a car.
A new study by NOAA Fisheries finds that ocean acidification may slow development and reduce survival of Dungeness crab larvae, which are key to the Northwest marine ecosystem. The research suggests that lower pH levels could extend vulnerable larval periods or jeopardize timing in relation to food sources.
Megan S. Ballard receives the R. Bruce Lindsay Award from the Acoustical Society of America for her contributions to underwater acoustic propagation modeling and inversion techniques in acoustical oceanography. The award recognizes her research on sound field calculation in complex underwater environments.
Alan R. Palmer has received the William and Christine Hartmann Prize in Auditory Neuroscience from the Acoustical Society of America, recognizing his work on understanding the mechanisms behind sound perception and brain activity.
A new University of Washington study shows that bulkheads and seawalls along Puget Sound's shores have a cumulative impact on the ecosystem, shrinking beaches and reducing habitat for invertebrates and fish. The study provides crucial information for improving management approaches to shorelines.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have developed a way to control electron states using both light and sound waves, providing a potential breakthrough for quantum computing. This method uses sound waves to manipulate qubits, which are essential for building advanced quantum systems.
Broadbills make loud sounds with their wings to mark territory and attract females. Researchers found that it's not the outermost wing feathers but those just inside them that produce the klaxon-like sound.
Researchers found that bats exposed to prolonged loud noise showed minimal sensitivity loss, with only a slight decrease of 0.6 decibels over 24 hours. This natural resiliency may hold clues for developing devices or implants to help humans cope with loud noises.
Researchers found that consuming loud noises while eating can mask sound cues that naturally limit food intake, leading to increased consumption. The 'Crunch Effect' suggests being more aware of food sounds can help individuals eat less.
University of Utah researchers discovered how certain brain cells compute sound length and detect short sounds. The study found that for a frog brain cell to recognize a short sound, it is inhibited from firing while the sound occurs, then excited into firing when the sound ends.
Researchers found that varnish increases damping throughout the wood surface, leading to a more isotropic sound radiation. The type of varnish used can also affect the sound, with German master violin makers' varnishes producing a louder tone.
Most aquatic species sense sound via particle motion, yet few studies have included measurements. Researchers from the University of Exeter and others have developed user-friendly tools to maximize its uptake and understand the impact of man-made noise on aquatic life.
Researchers at MIT have developed a general theory that connects gravity waves and acoustic waves, finding that surface-gravity waves can generate powerful acoustic-gravity waves under certain conditions. This energy exchange could play a role in water transport, carbon dioxide distribution, and sustaining a healthy marine environment.
Scientists have discovered a distinct low-frequency hum associated with the daily migrations of deep-sea fish and squid. The sound could help scientists better understand this mysterious ecosystem and potentially inform our understanding of climate change's impact on ocean food webs.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich developed an universal mathematical model that describes how sound waves propagate through the internally coupled ears and which clues for localizing sound sources are created. This system enables animals to pinpoint sound sources, a mechanism applicable to over 15,000 species.
Research from the University of Southampton found that man-made sounds can alter the behavior of seabed creatures, impacting nutrient recycling and carbon storage. Exposure to certain sounds can cause species to reduce irrigation and sediment turnover, leading to reduced oxygen levels and potentially affecting seabed productivity.
Researchers developed a theory that combines vibrations in solid materials and liquid solidification, predicting sound waves formed when compression relaxes. Fast solidification creates large defects, resulting in a 'crackling' sound wave.
Researchers use virtual reality to investigate how people adapt their speech in conversation, finding that language behavior is identical to dialogue with a human partner.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that adding flashing lights and music to a 'rat casino' model led to problem gambling behavior in rats. Blocking a specific dopamine receptor corrected this behavior, suggesting a common biological cause for risky decision-making across vices.
Snapping shrimp sound patterns show seasonal variations, with more snaps per minute during summer and fewer during winter. The research highlights the importance of long-term acoustic sampling in understanding marine soundscape ecology.
Researchers at RMIT University have created a new class of sound wave that can be used to manipulate fragile stem cells without causing damage. The 'surface reflected bulk waves' are gentle enough for biomedical devices and open up new possibilities in stem cell treatment.
Researchers have developed a metamaterial that can more than double the resolution of acoustic imaging, focus acoustic waves, and control angles. This breakthrough has potential applications in medical diagnostics and structural integrity testing.
Seniors struggle to process multisensory information, affecting tasks like driving and balance. Training methods, such as video games or brain stimulation, may help improve perceptions of time in older adults.
A recent study found that humans and birds employ the exact same myoelastic-aerodynamic theory (MEAD) mechanism to produce sound. This discovery sheds light on the sophisticated vocal talents of songbirds and offers insights into the neural mechanisms underlying vocal learning in both humans and birds.
Inner ear cells in newborn rodents practice processing sounds through a self-stimulation process involving chloride ion channels. This process helps establish and refine connections between the ear and brain, enabling proper hearing from an early age.
Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear found that chronic conductive hearing loss can lead to permanent hearing impairment if left untreated. The study, published in PLOS ONE, showed dramatic changes in the inner ear after a year of sound deprivation.
A new method using sound waves can detect cell stiffness changes that could signal disease, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. The technique uses low-frequency ultrasonic waves to levitate cells and high-frequency ultrasonic waves to measure their stiffness.
Researchers at the University of Rochester found that humans can detect and process sound delays as short as 40 milliseconds to fine-tune visual distance estimates. Participants consistently perceived shapes paired with delayed clicks as more distant, even when they were not, suggesting an unconscious link between sound delays and visu...
Computer scientists at Columbia Engineering and Harvard have developed an algorithm to 3D print vibrational sounds by optimizing the shape of objects. The 'zoolophone' is a metallophone with keys in the shape of zoo animals that produces professional-sounding notes.
Researchers from McGill University found that people are highly accurate at judging emotions based on head movements alone, even without sound or facial expressions. This discovery could aid in the development of automated emotion recognition systems or human-interaction robots.
A team of researchers from Caltech and the University of Cambridge discovered that booming and burping sounds emanating from sand dunes are different acoustic phenomena governed by distinct physical principles. The study found that booming sounds originate from linear P-waves, while burping sounds correspond to surface Rayleigh waves.
A team of researchers has created a working sonic tractor beam that uses high-amplitude sound waves to generate an acoustic hologram, allowing them to lift and move small objects. The technique could be developed for applications such as transporting delicate objects or gripping drug capsules through living tissue.
Researchers found that male mosquitoes are lured to traps emitting sounds similar to female wing-beats. The frequency used was around 484 Hz, capturing over 95% of males exposed to it. This method could enhance studies and mosquito control in developing countries.
Researchers discovered that intrinsic neural connections can be used to help the blind detect their environment, making tasks easier and more intuitive. The study used a sensory substitution device to translate images into sound, allowing blind people to associate different sounds with features of their environment.
Researchers used asteroseismology to probe magnetic fields in the cores of red giants, finding them strongly magnetized. The strong fields disrupt gravity waves, causing energy loss and affecting star evolution.
A new study suggests that geoduck farming in central Puget Sound could have significant impacts on the food web if farming activities increase by 120 percent. The equipment used to farm geoducks, including PVC pipes and nets, may have a greater impact than the addition of the clams themselves.
Allan D. Pierce, Professor Emeritus at Boston University, has been awarded the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Distinguished Service Citation for his outstanding service to the organization. Pierce received the citation in recognition of his 15-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief.
Professor Yang-Hann Kim has been awarded the Rossing Prize for his contributions to acoustics education, including teaching and textbook writing. He is recognized for his work on sound visualization and manipulation, which enables the creation of private sound zones.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a new type of acoustic imaging device that extracts contour information during measurement, creating detailed outline images of objects. The method uses evanescent waves and is useful for quickly recording relevant information about objects.
A five-neuron circuit in the female cricket brain identifies species-specific chirp rhythms by delaying pulses to match gaps between pulses. This discovery reveals a fundamental neural mechanism for sound processing that could be applied to more complex brains.
Researchers found female mice singing back to male mice during courtship, with voices registering at 35-125 kilohertz. The discovery could lead to advances in understanding autism and social communication in the brain.