Professor Alain Goriely explains that whip cracking is caused by a sonic boom generated by the loop in the whip, which travels at one speed but parts of it travel twice as fast. The tip's motion is also analyzed to reveal why it wasn't heard when hitting the speed of sound
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have made a breakthrough discovery in understanding how we hear, revealing that tiny 'hair cells' release a barrage of chemical packets to an adjacent nerve when sound is detected. This finding could improve the design and programming of hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Ohio State University engineers designed a generic pipe adapter to diagnose and eliminate whistle noise in vehicle engines. The adapter reduces sound levels by up to 30 decibels, saving automakers time and money.
Researchers created a new database of acoustic measurements to help engineers build customized sound systems. The database aims to improve human-computer interaction by enabling spatial sound with accurate location and depth perception.
UC Davis researchers have captured the critical information needed to reproduce actual sounds as each listener perceives them. By analyzing changes in sound waves as they bounce off surfaces and ears, the team has developed personalized software and hardware for spatially accurate sound reproduction.
The tobacco industry, led by Philip Morris, employed a sophisticated public relations campaign to shape scientific standards and prevent increased smoking restrictions. The 'sound science' movement was used to promote arbitrary thresholds for identifying health risk from secondhand smoke, ignoring comprehensive assessments of risk.
Researchers are collecting data on the behavior of Puget Sound's orca whales using novel tools such as a small radio-controlled catamaran and a fish finder. The study suggests that the whales are declining due to a drop in salmon runs and increasing contamination from PCBs.
Researchers found that patients with either a third heart sound or elevated jugular venous pressure were more likely to have progressive heart failure and subsequent hospital visits due to heart failure. The study highlights the importance of physical examinations in predicting outcomes for heart failure patients.
Scientists from PNNL are conducting a multi-organization study to gather first-of-its-kind air chemistry data essential to effectively address regional air quality problems such as ozone and microscopic atmospheric particles. The study aims to capture the distribution, transport, and formation of these pollutants in the atmosphere.
Nagyvary's work has concentrated on a chemical approach to the unique Stradivarius sound, focusing on wood quality, filler, and varnish. He believes chemicals are the prominent reason why a Stradivarius has such a distinct sound, with spectroscopic tests confirming his results.
Researchers aim to understand how sonar affects marine creatures by creating a sea sound simulator. The ESME project will analyze data from various organizations and develop mathematical models to predict environmental effects of different sonar types.
Marine scientists at UNC-CH and Duke University have launched a ferry-based water quality monitoring system in the Neuse River, generating valuable data for analysis. The system, called FerryMon, aims to evaluate and model how Pamlico Sound's ecosystem responds to human and natural impacts.
Researchers recorded tigers' growls and roars to analyze infrasound frequencies. The study suggests that infrasound may be the missing link in tiger communication and could have paralyzing effects on humans.
The NY & CT Sea Grant programs are awarding $3.5 million in federal and state funds to researchers studying the causes of mortality and shell disease syndrome in Long Island Sound lobsters. The project aims to provide evidence for potential causes of the 1999-2000 lobster mortalities.
Researchers found that paying attention to a sudden sound improves ability to see visual stimuli, suggesting a stronger linkage between sight and hearing. The study provides insights into normal brain activities and may lead to better understanding of attention deficit disorder and schizophrenia.
Archaeologists may use sound waves to survey potential building sites for significant cultural artifacts. The high-resolution acoustic system can detect and image small buried objects, improving on current ground-penetrating radar methods that struggle with wet soils or non-metallic objects.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have produced the first direct three-dimensional image of a volcanic system using sound waves. The team used a two-mile long array of hydrophones to record sound signals reflected from a magma chamber beneath the East Pacific Rise, revealing a large and complex magma chamber system.
Researchers at University of Illinois find that brain cells respond differently to rapid sound pulses compared to slow ones. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the hearing system and could lead to more efficient building blocks for better hearing aids.
Engineers at Ohio State University have developed a method of computer analysis that extracts valuable information from the pitches of sound coming from a car, revealing insights into engine performance and driver technique. The same technique could be applied to other complicated machinery, such as power plant turbines.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill marine scientist has warned of potentially devastating effects of Hurricane Floyd on the nation's largest lagoonal estuary, Pamlico Sound. The storm could lead to catastrophic flooding, runoff, and low oxygen conditions, harming commercial and recreational fisheries.
Physicists at Northwestern University have demonstrated that superfluid helium-3 can conduct sound waves transversely, a property previously observed in solids. This discovery provides conclusive proof of the existence of transverse sound waves in liquid helium-3 and opens up new possibilities for studying its internal structure.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have designed 'Quiet Curtains' that combine audio privacy and aesthetics to reduce nocturnal noise in nursing homes. The high-tech drapes can block unwanted decibels by up to 12 dB, providing a significant improvement in patients' rest and quality of life.
Scientists at the University of Michigan used spatial illusion to study how the brain processes sound. By analyzing neural activity in cats and humans, researchers found that the auditory systems use similar spectral characteristics to determine sound locations.
Scientists have discovered the gene responsible for triggering embryonic cells in the inner ear to develop into sound- and motion-sensing hair cells. The Math1 gene signals precursor cells in the inner ear to become hair cells, which cover inner ear surfaces like wheat in a Kansas field.
Researchers found a functional abnormality in the brain's sound processing region in adults with dyslexia, contributing to difficulties in early speech and language learning. This deficit affects the ability to process rapidly successive sounds, leading to weaknesses in reading skills.
USGS scientists Mike Fisher and Art Frankel will discuss the potential effects of major quakes in Seattle using data from last year's SHIPS project. Scientists from other organizations will also describe the probabilities for a large earthquake in the Puget Sound area.
At the 95th annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers, researchers will present papers on declassified satellite data revealing secret technological breakthroughs during the Cold War. Additionally, sound maps for visually-impaired individuals and fire risk mapping techniques using satellite images to predict forest fire...
A computer model developed by Jay Rubinstein suggests that increasing the signal pulses from external processors can produce more independent neuron activity, similar to natural acoustic stimulation. This breakthrough could lead to substantial improvements in all types of sound coding for people with cochlear implants.
Scientists have found that deformation can bypass the sound barrier in materials, leading to supersonic dislocations. These findings challenge conventional wisdom and open up new avenues for understanding high-speed deformation in engineering materials.
By increasing sound processing speed in adult rats, researchers gained insight into brain mechanisms linked to language impairments and dyslexia. The study demonstrates the brain's 'plasticity' and suggests that neurons can be altered to improve efficiency in processing sounds.
Researchers are developing a magnetic hearing aid that uses an electromagnetic coil to stimulate the inner ear via the round window, potentially enhancing speech and reducing background noise. The device could reduce or eliminate acoustic feedback, a common issue with conventional hearing aids.
The Naval Medical Center in San Diego has successfully tested a technique that restores hearing loss if administered within hours of exposure to loud noise, and can also 'inoculate' users against hearing loss. The technique uses micro-devices to deliver antioxidant pharmaceuticals that protect hypersensitive hair cells.
Purdue University researchers are constructing a Mach 6 wind tunnel to study supersonic airflow and its effects on aircraft. The new facility will conduct experiments in airstreams traveling at six times the speed of sound, producing a quiet-flow Reynolds number of 13 million.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a fast, low-cost inspection system that uses ultrasonic sound waves to detect damaged tires. The system can evaluate and characterize damage within the tire, determining its remaining useful life and whether it's worth retreading.
The USGS is tracking the northward movement of the Red River floodwaters, taking measurements to improve forecasts for evacuations upstream. Crucial to understanding the impact on upstream communities will be how much water is contributed by the Pembina River.
A new study reveals that hospital noise significantly disrupts the sleep of elderly patients in critical care units. The research found a strong correlation between peak sound levels and sleep arousals, with many patients spending hours awake at night.
Infants as young as 8 months can recognize word patterns and distinguish them from non-word sequences based on statistical recurrence. This ability allows them to quickly learn language, contradicting the long-held assumption that language acquisition relies heavily on innate abilities.
A Cornell University study reveals that insects, including crickets, possess categorical perception - the ability to distinguish between 'friend' and 'foe' sounds. Researchers used a test originally developed for human infants to demonstrate this ability in crickets, finding a dividing line at 16kHz.
Tiny laboratory tornadoes may hold clues to detecting tornadoes earlier, a potential breakthrough in warning systems. Researchers have discovered an inverse relationship between vortex size and sound wave frequency.
The new technology uses parallel computing to analyze reflected sound waves, creating three-dimensional images quickly enough for clinicians to view a whole human heart as it beats. The system also enables doctors to electronically dissect and display selected slices of medical interest on a computer screen.