Researchers will investigate topological acoustics to improve computing speeds, reduce power usage in smartphones, and enhance sensing capabilities. The new center aims to harness the full power of acoustic waves to reveal extraordinary properties of sound.
Skateboarders possess a unique sensory knowledge of cities, which can help mediate conflicts between those who enjoy and those who dislike the sport's sounds. By paying attention to sound, individuals can gain 'sonic' agency over spaces in the city.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a gene switch that uses sound waves to trigger insulin release in designer cells. The system works by embedding an ion channel protein from the bacterium E. coli into human cells, which opens in response to sound, causing insulin vesicles to fuse and release insulin.
WVU linguists analyze speech recordings to determine how intensity and duration shape pronunciation in American English and Spanish. The two-year study aims to redefine sound patterns across languages.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have shown that sound waves can tunnel through vacuum gaps in certain situations, particularly with piezoelectric materials. The phenomenon has potential applications in microelectromechanical components and heat control.
A Northwestern University-led team developed the first 3D simulations of energy rippling from a massive star's core to its outer surface. The researchers determined how much stars should innately twinkle and converted these waves into sound waves, allowing listeners to hear both what the insides of stars and their twinkling sound like.
Acoustics researchers have decomposed sound into its three basic components, whistles, clicks, and hisses, using ideas from auditory perception, fuzzy logic, and perfect reconstruction. The new method emerges as the winning way to decompose most sounds in a listening test.
A team of philosophers and psychologists found that people can literally hear moments of silence, producing the same auditory illusions as sounds. The study suggests that our brains treat silences similarly to sounds, blurring the line between hearing and absence.
Researchers propose a system that plays brief, targeted sounds to alert individuals near digital signage, while only making the sound audible to those actively viewing it. The system improved participants' attention to signage and reduced distractions.
A study by Pierre Hakizimana at Linköping University found that the DC signal in the cochlea can provide an indication of ear health status, allowing the brain to decode faint sounds. The discovery may contribute to new research on diagnosing noise-induced hearing loss and has implications for preventing permanent damage from loud sounds.
Physicists at the University of Konstanz solve a physics mystery by reworking a discarded model, which explains glass's unique sound wave behavior and its implications for thermal properties.
A recent study by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience found that dopamine release is sustained during operant conditioning, a task requiring motivation to earn rewards. This suggests a possible connection between dopamine signaling and motivation, bridging the gap between two schools of thought on the neurotransmitter's function.
EPFL scientists develop a novel concept, called the active 'plasmacoustic metalayer', which can be controlled to cancel out noise. The device is more compact than conventional solutions, absorbing 100% of incoming sound intensity and offering tunable acoustic reflection over a broad bandwidth.
A machine learning model helps explain how brains recognize the meaning of communication sounds, such as animal calls or spoken words. The study models sound-processing networks in social animals' brains and demonstrates their ability to distinguish between different sound categories.
Researchers at the University of Bristol collected 840 hours of underwater sound recordings from five ponds in England, revealing clear daily acoustic activity cycles. The study provides insights into the health of freshwater ecosystems and the potential for assessing species presence without disturbing the environment.
A new study reveals that our perception of difficulty in shouting upwind is incorrect. It's not the wind itself that makes it hard, but rather our inability to hear ourselves due to the convective attenuation effect. The study found that sound carries better within the first 100 meters upwind, making it easier for others to hear us.
Researchers found that anatomical variations in a speaker's vocal tract affect speech production, with factors such as horizontal and vertical length, head inclination, and hard palate shape influencing vowel frequencies. The study suggests that understanding anatomy is crucial for producing speech.
Human activities are causing rapid changes to the ocean soundscape, harming invertebrates through cellular and ecosystem-level impacts. The study highlights the sensitivity of various invertebrates to underwater sound and emphasizes the need for urgent research and mitigation strategies.
A new method for estimating sound direction using monaural cues has been proposed by researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. The approach uses modulation in the frequency spectrum of the received signal to detect the signal direction, achieving accurate estimates even with human monaural hearing.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new ultrasound method to measure tissue tension, which can indicate abnormal tissue, scarring, and cancer. This breakthrough technique uses sound waves to detect forces within soft tissue, enabling earlier disease diagnosis and potentially improving healthcare outcomes.
Researchers discovered a novel sound production system in toothed whales, using their nasal passages to generate complex vocalizations. This unique mechanism allows toothed whales to use different vocal registers for echolocation and social communication, similar to humans and birds.
Researchers at Reichman University have developed a new sound navigation technology that activates visual navigation areas in the brain, challenging conventional beliefs about sensory processing. This breakthrough has significant implications for cognitive training and potentially detecting Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found a fivefold increase in nearby language exposure per day for fetuses relative to preterm infants, highlighting the need to provide similar sound exposures to premature babies. The study also revealed differences in silence and noise levels, with premature infants often exposed to prolonged periods of silence.
A new study by McMaster University researchers found that redesigned medical alarms with musical tones can improve speech recognition and reduce annoyance. The study suggests that changing the sounds of medical devices can make alarms less disruptive, allowing for better staff communication and reducing recovery times.
A University of Queensland study found that snakes can hear airborne sound and react to it, contrary to popular belief. The research used soundproof rooms and observed reactions from captive-bred snakes, revealing differences in responses based on genus and evolutionary pressures.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute and Heidelberg University have developed a technology to assemble matter in 3D using sound waves. They successfully printed microparticles, gel beads, and biological cells into three-dimensional shapes, paving the way for novel 3D cell culture techniques.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new technique called histotripsy, which uses sound waves to break apart tumors and trigger an immune response in mice. This approach has shown promising results in preventing tumor growth and recurrence, and could potentially offer a new treatment option for patients with cancer.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers suggests that the brain's ability to focus on individual sounds amidst ambient noise declines with age, leading to a 'fuzzy' sound stage. The team trained old mice to filter out background sound, showing promise for treating age-related hearing loss.
The Perseverance rover's microphone recorded a Martian dust devil, providing insight into the planet's atmosphere and weather. The discovery helps scientists understand the effects of wind on solar panels, potentially extending the lifespan of future Mars missions.
A modelling study published in Scientific Reports found that diplodocid tails were unlikely to create a supersonic boom due to their slow movement speed. The authors simulated tail movements using a model and found that adding hypothetical structures to the end of the tail did not allow it to reach the speed of sound without breaking.
Researchers aim to provide the highest quality of care possible by understanding the sound environment of child care centers. A 48-hour monitoring period and staff evaluations helped identify factors influencing child and provider experiences.
Researchers have developed a text-to-audio model that can generate coherent and relevant music and sound from text, opening up new avenues for creative application and exploration. The model employed data compression methods to improve output quality and reduce training time.
Acoustic engineers use techniques like impulse responses to reproduce dialogue and other sounds in film. This process creates a believable audio experience for viewers, drawing them into the story. By carefully balancing dialogue, effects, and music, sound mixers achieve cinematic magic.
NASA will conduct a series of flights over various communities to test its Quesst Mission Supersonic STEM Toolkit and measure sound levels. The mission hopes to inform an overland supersonic sound standard, potentially cutting flight times in half.
University of Minnesota researchers have developed a contactless manipulation method using ultrasound waves, which can move larger objects without physical contact. This technique uses metamaterial physics to steer objects in desired directions, enabling control through sound reflection.
Blackbird Studio C's ambient-anechoic portmanteau, ambichoic, reduces sound reflections, creating a balanced and immersive space for musicians and engineers. The studio's unique design utilizes primitive root diffusers to diffuse sound energy, resulting in a comfortable and engaging environment.
A team of researchers created 3D-printed violins using modern materials and techniques, producing a darker, more mellow sound. The project aims to make music education accessible through the printing of affordable instruments.
A new study reveals that bats use the same technique as human death metal singers and throat singing members to produce sounds. Bats can span 7 octaves with their vocal range, surpassing most mammals. The research team filmed what happens in a bat's larynx when producing sound, showing heavy vocal folds vibrating at low frequencies.
Researchers have successfully segregated oppositely helical supramolecular polymers in a solution using audible sound, inducing surface vibrations and advection currents. This approach allows for the spatiotemporal control of chiral supramolecular systems, enabling the segregation of multiple aggregates.
Researchers found that AirPods Pro performed similarly well as premium hearing aids in quiet environments and helped participants hear more clearly compared to no hearing aids. However, AirPods failed to improve hearing in noisy environments with sound coming from the front.
Researchers at MIT have developed a machine-learning model that captures how sounds propagate through spaces, allowing for accurate visual renderings of rooms. This technique has potential applications in virtual and augmented reality, as well as improving AI agents' understanding of their environment.
Researchers found that playing a sound associated with a positive daytime experience during sleep can reduce nightmare frequency and increase emotional positivity in dreams. The study's findings support the development of new therapies for treating nightmares, which affect up to 4% of adults.
Researchers have uncovered the neural mechanisms behind sound perception, finding that the brain predicts expected sounds and responds to unexpected ones. The study provides insights into how the healthy brain learns complex skills and may offer clues for understanding neural disorders like schizophrenia.
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney have extended the theory of acoustic levitation to account for asymmetrical particles, which is more applicable to real-world experience. This new understanding enables precise control and sorting of tiny objects using ultrasonic waves.
A new study by University of York researchers found that playing sound cues during sleep can be used to help people forget specific memories. The technique, which was previously used to boost memories, has been shown to induce selective forgetting in overlapping memories.
Conscious perception of sound generates specific neuronal assemblies in the brain, differing from spontaneous brain activity. Under anesthesia, similar assemblies are present but lack sound-specificity, highlighting the importance of cortical creativity in sensory processing.
MIT researchers create a low-power, sound-harvesting camera that captures color photos and transmits data wirelessly. The autonomous device can run for weeks without power, enabling scientists to explore remote oceans and monitor climate change impacts.
A study by researchers at Linköping University and the Oregon Health and Science University has discovered that many cells in the inner ear react simultaneously to low-frequency sound, making it easier to experience these sounds. This new understanding may lead to improved cochlear implants for people with severe hearing impairments.
A new study reveals that red-eyed treefrogs use bimodal acoustic calls, combining sound with plant-generated vibrations to convey messages. Female frogs prefer calls with both sound and vibration, while male frogs become more aggressive when feeling the vibrations of rival calls.
Researchers have enhanced technology to lift small particles using sound waves, achieving stable lifting of particles from surfaces. By fine-tuning control using an adaptive algorithm, they have improved the stability of their 'acoustic tweezers' technology, which could be deployed in space and other environments with minimal contact.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have found that combining sound with electrical body stimulation activates the brain's somatosensory cortex, increasing its potential to treat chronic pain. This non-invasive technique has been tested on animals and is planned for human clinical trials in the near future.
A study published in Molecular Therapy — Methods & Clinical Development shows that delivering the protein EPS8 via gene therapy can rescue malfunctioning inner ear hair cells that transduce sound. In mice affected by recessive deafness, EPS8 increases stereocilia length and restores hair cell function.
Researchers have created a biodegradable seaweed-derived film that effectively absorbs sounds in the range of human voices, traffic, and music. The agar-based composite films outperform traditional acoustic foams in terms of sound-absorbing qualities.
A unique study of brain activity found that sound during sleep prompts a robust response from the brain, except in one key area where alpha-beta waves are attenuated. The findings could help understand how information is processed by the brain in unconscious states.
Researchers found that despite a powerful brain response to sound during sleep, the level of alpha-beta waves associated with attention and expectation is significantly reduced. This means the brain can analyze auditory input but fails to focus on it, resulting in no conscious awareness.
A team of scientists discovered a neural mechanism by which sound reduces pain in mice, potentially informing more effective pain therapies. The study found that low-intensity white noise and pleasant music reduced pain sensitivity in mice, while unpleasant music had no effect.
Researchers discovered that low-signal-to-ambient noise ratio sounds cause analgesia by inhibiting inputs from the auditory cortex to specific somatosensory thalamus regions. This finding provides a model for investigating the mechanistic underpinnings of sound-induced pain relief.
The BirdNET app uses AI to automatically identify bird species by sound, allowing users to contribute data without expertise. Since its launch in 2018, over 2.2 million people have contributed data, successfully replicating known patterns of song dialects and mapping bird migration across continents.
A new camera system developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers can reconstruct sound vibrations with extraordinary accuracy, capturing isolated audio without inference or a microphone. The dual-shutter vibration-sensing system uses two cameras and a laser to detect high-speed, low-amplitude surface vibrations.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered that moth wing scales can absorb up to 87% of incoming sound energy, even when placed on an artificial surface. This finding has huge implications for building acoustics and travel industries, with potential applications for ultrathin sound absorbing panels.