A new study by Brown University researchers found that the left inferior frontal sulcus brain area processes both phonetic sounds and decision-making tasks. The findings suggest that this region of the brain is a shared resource used for categorizing language and non-language items.
Researchers create Saser, a sonic equivalent to lasers producing ultra-high frequency sound waves on a nano scale. The new device has potential applications in computing, imaging, and anti-terrorist security screening.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a computer algorithm that can simulate the sounds of water and other fluids, allowing for more realistic graphics simulations. The algorithm is based on physics-based simulations and uses computational models to generate sound waves in response to vibrations and movements.
Researchers at Ohio State University have designed a new control system software that can adapt to changing conditions during a flight, enabling experimental aircraft to fly faster than sound. The system performed flawlessly in computer simulations of flight maneuvers, guiding the jet along its trajectory and keeping it stable.
The 157th ASA Meeting explores various disciplines and unique sounds. Wimps hear dangerous noises differently due to physical fitness, while fish living in darkness have exceptionally sensitive ears. Researchers also study medical devices using sound to treat disease, a long-gone whale's comeback, and cowards' evolution.
A new study by University of Utah researchers reveals that tiny hair-like tubes atop hair cells in the ear act as flexoelectric motors to amplify sound mechanically. This discovery sheds light on how humans can hear very quiet sounds, and may also have implications for our sense of balance.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have discovered a connection between the sound produced by volcanic eruptions and jet engines. By analyzing infrasound from Mount St. Helens and Tungurahua volcanoes, they found that the large-amplitude signals are generated in a similar way to smaller-scale man-made jets.
Researchers at University of Warwick have developed a groundbreaking new loudspeaker technology that delivers planar directional sound waves, projecting further than conventional speakers. The 'Flat, Flexible Loudspeaker' (FFL) is lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture and can be concealed inside ceiling tiles or car interiors.
The five-year grant will enable the researcher to further explore how inhibitory components influence sound localization circuitry in vertebrate systems. The study aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of sound localization circuitry that can contribute to clinical applications, such as improving cochlear implants.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a new technique that converts high-frequency sound waves into light, allowing for more accurate characterization of semiconductor devices. This method has the potential to improve the manufacturing process for computer chips, LEDs, and transistors.
The Sea Grant programs have awarded nearly $820,000 in grants to study the ecological health of Long Island Sound, focusing on hypoxia, red tide blooms, and climate change. The research will provide valuable information to resource managers to solve these environmental challenges.
A study by Northwestern University researchers suggests that musical training enhances an individual's ability to recognize emotion in sound. Musicians were found to have finely tuned auditory systems and more efficiently process the complex part of the sound carrying emotional elements.
MIT Sensory Communication Group researchers create tactile devices that translate sound waves into skin vibrations, improving communication for deaf people relying on lip reading. The devices could be integrated into smartphones, providing a cost-effective alternative to cochlear implants.
A Texas A&M University professor has confirmed his long-held theory that chemicals used on Stradivarius and Guarneri violins contribute to their distinctive sound. The study found the presence of borax, fluorides, chromium, and iron salts in the wood, suggesting a deliberate chemical treatment by violin makers.
A global team of researchers has discovered an alteration in the ear's nAChR protein that contributes to protecting against permanent hearing loss by limiting sound. The study found that genetically altered mice with improved sound-blocking ability suffered less permanent hearing damage when exposed to loud sounds.
Researchers have developed a novel technique using photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and gold nanocages to noninvasively image sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in breast cancer patients. This method reduces the need for invasive surgical biopsies and minimizes patient radiation exposure, offering a promising alternative for cancer diagnosis.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a novel ultrasound display that allows doctors to view images within the object being scanned, reducing the need for visualization. This innovation improves accuracy in surgeries guided by ultrasound technology, which relies on combining direct perception and visualization.
Researchers warn that 10-30 year delay in predicted cleanup date may occur due to increased urban growth and non-point sources. Despite regulations, pollutants have returned to pre-industrial concentration levels, while stormwater discharges pose a significant threat to coastal systems.
The revolutionary Space-DRUMS system, installed on the International Space Station, uses acoustic levitation to position chemicals in zero-gravity without a container. This technology enables the production of ultra-pure materials, such as temperature-resistant ceramics used in plane and engine coatings.
Researchers have documented a primate mimicking a sound from another species without specific training, shedding light on the evolution of speech and learning in orangutans. The study's findings suggest that orangutans can learn new sounds and use them voluntarily, opening up new avenues for studying human speech evolution.
Human factors researchers suggest adding engine noise to quiet hybrid cars to improve pedestrian safety. Participants rated automotive engine sounds as the most preferred category, followed by white noise and hum.
Researchers mapped brain activity associated with speech sounds and voices to identify unique 'neural fingerprints' in listeners. This breakthrough could improve computer systems for automatic speech recognition, revealing a less hierarchical processing of speech across the brain.
Engineers at Georgia Tech Research Institute create a new approach to noise reduction using micro honeycomb structures that dissipate acoustic waves through viscous shear. The innovative material, developed from nickel-base superalloys, could also protect aircraft from impact by dispersing energy.
Prosthetic ears have been shown to improve sound pickup by 8.1 decibels, benefiting patients with normal hearing who wear them.
Researchers discovered an unusual frog species that can actively select sound frequencies, tuning in to specific sounds like a radio. The 'Odorrana tormota' frog's eardrums respond differently depending on the Eustachian tubes' opening state, allowing it to filter out background noise and focus on ultrasonic calls.
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that loud music in bars increases drinking behavior. The research, conducted by Nicolas Guéguen and his colleagues, discovered that high sound levels led to increased drinking within a shorter time frame.
Researchers have developed an analytical method using Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) to classify a wider range of heart sounds than skilled physicians can. The EMD system, trained with AI algorithms, outperforms conventional methods in identifying murmurs and other anomalies.
Scientists are exploring the use of sound waves to assess atherosclerotic plaques, monitor chronic liver disease, and deliver drugs to specific locations in the body. Researchers have also developed new techniques for treating cancer, including minimally invasive thermal ablation methods and microbubbles-based therapies.
Researchers in Spain have successfully created an acoustic cloak using metamaterials, which can make objects completely impervious to sound waves. The technology could be used for various applications such as warships to avoid sonar detection or concert halls to direct noise away from problem spots.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that the prestin protein embedded in outer hair cell membranes plays a critical role in amplifying sound signals. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms behind acute hearing loss due to genetic mutations or drug overdoses.
Scientists are using integrated ecosystem assessments to prioritize strategies for restoring Puget Sound's ecosystem. Increasing salmon production can have negative impacts on wild Chinook salmon populations, highlighting the need for balanced management approaches.
A new approach to managing marine resources in Puget Sound uses ecosystem services as a framework, including the value of Dungeness crab and eelgrass. This research aims to inform management decisions that balance economic and environmental concerns.
NOAA is investigating how underwater sound affects marine mammals, which may cause them to strand. The agency is also studying the rapid rate of Arctic ice melt due to factors like aerosols and ozone in the lower atmosphere. Additionally, NOAA researchers are using radiocarbon traces to determine fish ages, which helps with fisheries m...
Researchers at Stanford University have created nanoscale drums that can resonate in the same way, despite having different shapes. This discovery has implications for spectroscopy and may lead to new designs for computer chip circuits.
Scientists have found that male Anna's hummingbirds create a distinctive chirping sound by spreading their tail feathers during dive displays, which is used to attract females and deter rivals. The unique mechanism, similar to the whistling of ducks, sheds new light on bird sound production.
Researchers at CSHL used a new technique to measure neural responses in awake rats, finding that only 5% of neurons react strongly to specific sounds. This discovery may help explain how we focus on one sound amidst noise and could inform ways to improve sound learning.
Researchers discover that individual brains are adapted to their unique auditory environment and can learn to localize sounds. The study may lead to more sophisticated hearing aids and speech recognition systems.
Researchers found that human auditory neurons can detect subtle frequency differences down to a tenth of an octave, surpassing other mammals. This sensitivity may be linked to musical skill and cognitive abilities such as working memory.
Researchers at Duke University have successfully created a three-dimensional sound cloak in theory, allowing sound waves to travel around it undistorted. This breakthrough could lead to improved acoustics in concert halls and hidden submarines from sonar detection.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a mathematical model that proves it is possible to gain full control of sound waves using meta-materials. This could lead to improved medical scans, such as ultrasound technology used in pregnancy tests, and quieter noisy machines by trapping sound.
Researchers found popular holiday toys emit sounds at decibel levels of 100 or more, equivalent to a power saw or subway train, posing a risk of permanent hearing damage. Parents are advised to provide guidance on safe toy use and volume control on personal media devices.
Researchers found that support cells in developing ears show robust electrical activity similar to nerve cells, which helps explain how the auditory system generates brain activity without sound. This discovery may also contribute to tinnitus and sounds perceived from nowhere.
A brain-imaging study found that sound training can correct the sound processing problem in dyslexic children, leading to improved reading. The study suggests new ways of treating dyslexia, such as musical training, and may help clinicians diagnose dyslexia even before reading begins.
A study found that African elephants strongly respond to the sound of disturbed bees, fleeing immediately after hearing it. This response could be used as a valuable tool for elephant conservation and deterrence.
A rare albino ratfish with a crystalline layer on its skin was caught off Whidbey Island, marking the first time such a specimen has been seen by both experts and scientists. The fish's unusual appearance is due to a gene mutation that prevents it from producing melanin.
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have identified a brain region, the planum temporale, as responsible for perceiving 'sound space', or the location of sounds. The study found that this region is activated when subjects are not concentrating on those sounds and can represent sound locations in a non-intentional manner.
A team of researchers has identified the region in the brain responsible for perceiving sound space. The study used an improved experimental design to map the auditory spatial location center and found that the planum temporale is activated when people locate sounds in space, indicating a nonintentional representation of spatial location.
Researchers found that vowel sounds associated with positive attributes make brand names more favorable among consumers. Front vowel sounds were preferred for fast or sharp objects, while back vowel sounds were preferred for large or dull objects.
Researchers have identified two key proteins, cadherin 23 and protocadherin 15, that join together at the precise location where sound vibrations are converted into electrical impulses in the ear. This discovery sheds light on the hearing process and may lead to more precise therapies for treating people with hearing loss.
Engineers at the University of Bath have developed a diagnostic test that measures sound frequencies produced when the femur bone is vibrated, enabling earlier detection of loosened joints. This method is more sensitive than traditional x-rays and can diagnose smaller gaps, reducing unnecessary surgery.
A University of Oregon research team has found that barn owls' exceptional spatial hearing abilities can help pinpoint problems in the human brain, including those related to hearing and behavior. The study used infrared monitoring to track changes in pupil dilation responses influenced by sound sources around an owl.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have solved the long-standing mystery of how mammalian ears amplify sound, concluding that movement of cilia atop hair cells dominates response in non-mammals but somatic motility drives amplification in mammals.
Researchers at Brown University have successfully captured the motion of a single electron in liquid helium using sound waves. The images show electrons moving through the fluid in snakelike paths, which are believed to be following vortex lines - a phenomenon akin to a tornado in superfluids.
Researchers have developed small acoustic heat-engine devices that convert waste heat into sound and then into electricity. The technology shows promise for harnessing solar energy and cooling electronics, with plans to test the devices within a year at military radar facilities and universities.
The study reveals that the Sun's magnetic field allows the release of wave energy from its interior, enabling sound waves to travel through fountains into the solar chromosphere. This discovery sheds light on why the chromosphere is hotter than the star's surface and has significant implications for climate variability.
New findings suggest that the tectorial membrane in the inner ear varies in rigidity along its length, allowing it to respond to different sound frequencies. This variation enables the distinction of sounds at various frequencies, potentially leading to improved hearing aid design.
A recent study reveals that oil levels in Prince William Sound's sands remain unchanged since tests five years ago, with oil seeping down 4-10 inches. Researchers will conduct field studies to understand the motion of water and effects of waves on beaches, focusing on micro-organism limitations and environmental factors.
Research finds that music training fine-tunes brainstem's sensitivity to speech sounds, benefiting learning activities, and potentially improving sound encoding skills. The study suggests a dynamic relationship between the brainstem and neocortex, allowing basic sensory circuitry to be malleable.
Denmark's researchers claim anesthetics are based on sound pulses rather than electrical impulses. The membrane of the nerve is similar to olive oil and can change state with temperature, allowing concentrated sound pulses to propagate without heat.
Researchers at UCI have identified a novel approach to treating tinnitus by applying a low-pitched sound through an MP3 player, providing temporary relief from high-pitched ringing tones. The treatment, which is only effective while applied, suggests customized stimulation and balanced stimulation as key to suppressing tinnitus.