Researchers developed a layered glass material allowing for acoustic propagation without air ventilation. The decorated window comprises ordinary glass, resulting in an inexpensive and optically transparent material.
A study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus challenges a decades-old hypothesis on adaptation in the inner ear's sensory cells. The researchers found that adaptation does not involve a mechanical change in the hair bundle, contrary to existing models.
Carnegie Mellon researchers create large dataset capturing interaction between sound, action, and vision to improve robotic perception. The study found that sounds can help robots differentiate between objects and predict physical properties of new objects.
Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science found that audible sound can control chemical reactions in solution by supplying energy sources into the air-liquid interface. The study created aesthetically pleasing patterns on the surface and bulk of the solution, exhibiting life-like behavior in synthetic molecules.
The SoundWear device uses sound augmentation to expand children's play experience, triggering imagination and distinct play behaviors. It also helps children gain a sense of achievement and ownership towards sound.
A new Ohio State University study found that people can't completely ignore how someone looks or sounds, even when told to do so. This has implications for racial stereotyping, as participants were more careful to avoid showing bias when evaluating accents, but not when judging physical attractiveness.
Scientists have developed a wireless, optical cochlear implant that uses LED lights to restore hearing in deaf rats and gerbils. The device generates more selective signals than prior designs, offering improvements over current electrode-based implants.
Researchers have demonstrated strong topological order for sound stemming from time modulations, allowing robust propagation along boundaries of topological metamaterials. This advancement enables cheaper, lighter devices with reduced battery power consumption, suitable for harsh environments.
A Cornell-led study reveals that sound combinations elicit emotionally intense responses, linking them to meaning. The research suggests that early humans may have used emotion to associate words with meanings, paving the way for language development.
Bats must find a compromise between energy consumption and efficient echolocation, as louder calls increase energy expenditure. High-intensity echolocation calls are costly and require significant additional muscle activity, particularly above 130 dB.
A new device reduces perceived loudness of urban noises by up to half through sound wave cancellation. The device, consisting of 24 speakers and a sensor, is tested in a replica room with various noise sources, demonstrating up to a 10 decibel reduction.
A study found that animals who try to sound 'bigger' are often skilled sound learners. Researchers analyzed the sounds and body size of 164 mammals and discovered that those who fake their size are frequently good at learning new sounds. This discovery may provide insight into human speech evolution.
Thermophones enable creation of fully controlled arrays from thin metal films attached to wires, paving the way for new sound technologies including home cinema systems. Researchers demonstrate improved sound control and richer sound fields compared to traditional arrays.
Scientists studied sunspots and their movement, discovering a giant cell in each hemisphere with plasma moving towards the equator at 15 km/h. The meridional flow explains why sunspots emerge closer to the equator as solar cycles progress.
A new prototype designed by Iván Herrero reduces sound pressure levels by an average of 20 decibels using Helmholtz resonators. The system increases the safety of launching space rockets by mitigating the impact of intense sounds on structures onboard.
Researchers create microfluidic lab-on-a-chip that uses sound waves to manipulate and transport droplets, overcoming surface absorption issue. The device enables on-site diagnostics or laboratory research with minimal energy and complex setup.
Jan Kubanek's new procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to alter brain state, treating mental disorders and neurological conditions. The non-invasive treatment shows promise in targeting individual neural circuits for personalized therapy.
A novel neural circuit has been discovered in rats that responds to the sound of silence, triggering defense responses. The study found that a specific combination of brain regions, including those involved in sound processing and emotional responses, are necessary for rats to freeze in response to silent danger.
Researchers propose a scheme to realize selective directional coupling of near-field longitudinal waves based on inherent geometric properties and symmetry analysis. The work enables the creation of Janus and Huygens sources, which selectively couple with one side or two sides of the near-field pattern, respectively.
Scientists use sound and light to store and transfer information on microchips, extending the lifetime of phonons from nanoseconds to 40 nanoseconds. This breakthrough opens possibilities for optical signal processing, fine filtering, high-precision sensing, and telecommunications.
Researchers at KAUST developed a cost-effective approach to detect red palm weevil infestation using laser pulses and optical fibers. The system can identify larvae as young as 12 days old and provide noninvasive, 24/7 monitoring of large-scale farms.
Researchers developed an AI algorithm using Probabilistic Generative Modelling to classify underwater environments from simulated sonar measurements. The technique achieved an average accuracy of 93% and has potential applications for climate change monitoring and sustainability of human activities in fragile environments.
Researchers have developed a method using phononic crystals to generate tunable, time-variant sound fields that can trap and transport particles and cells in microchannels. This technology has potential applications in display technology, biomedical sensors, and diagnostic tools.
A new Australian study uses sound waves to probe the unique properties of an ultracold quantum gas, a model system for certain superconductors and nuclear matter. The research reveals strong variations in sound wave behavior as a function of temperature.
Researchers created a new acoustic smart material inspired by shark skin that can mimic three key electronic devices: a switch, logic gate, and diode. The material changes its properties in response to magnetic stimuli, allowing for on-demand transmission and switching.
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have developed a method to cool microparticles using sound waves, enabling quantum experiments without photons. This innovative approach also provides a path to probe and manipulate exotic dynamics of acoustic and magnetic waves in small particles.
Researchers analyzed recorded bird songs and found a relationship between sound frequency and body size, suggesting a biomechanics-based method for predicting bird sizes. The study also confirmed the correlation using museum specimens.
A study by University of Alberta scientists found that sound and visual effects on slot machines make them more attractive and winning more memorable. The researchers discovered that people prefer to play on virtual slot machines with casino-related cues, regardless of the machine's risk level.
Researchers analyzed the acoustics of a bursting soap bubble to decipher the origin of the popping sound, finding that forces exerted by the liquid film create the pop. This study demonstrates how sound signatures can be harnessed to measure forces during violent events.
Researchers discovered that bush-crickets' ear canals work similarly to mammals' ears, amplifying sound and modulating pressure. This breakthrough could lead to the development of better acoustic sensors for human use, enhancing directional hearing and monitoring applications.
Researchers developed an algorithm that uses first-order echoes from microphones to reconstruct a room's shape. The method is a theoretical problem but has potential applications in various fields, such as vehicle navigation and sound localization.
A team of biologists identified a receptor that, when blocked, can prevent common types of hearing loss. They found that a drug called IEM-1460 selectively blocks the receptor and prevents hearing damage in mice exposed to noise.
A study by RMIT University found that melodic alarms can improve alertness levels, while harsh alarm tones are linked to increased morning grogginess. The research suggests that the sound used to wake up could have important implications for people who need to perform at their peak soon after waking.
Researchers analyzed genes expressed in bat cochleae to understand the origin and evolution of high-frequency hearing. They identified 34 genes involved in hearing or auditory perception with evidence for positive selection in echolocating species.
Researchers discovered that the inferior colliculus in mice integrates sound and movement information, allowing for rapid and accurate responses to external sounds. This integration helps prevent movement-related sounds from interfering with hearing, promoting survival.
Researchers used CT scans and 3D printing to recreate the vocal tract of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy, producing a single sound that falls between 'bed' and 'bad'. The achievement has implications for understanding past voices and presentation in the present.
Researchers used a non-targeted approach to identify 64 previously unknown chemicals in Puget Sound, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals. The team found eight concerning chemicals at potentially hazardous concentrations that require further investigation.
Researchers found that brain activity in healthy adults synchronized with sound waves produced by a silent woman speaking, indicating the brain can process auditory information from visual cues. This ability arises from visual cortex activity synchronizing with lip movement and signal transmission to other areas for sound synthesis.
Researchers have developed a noncontact laser ultrasound technique that generates and detects sound waves on the skin surface using eye- and skin-safe lasers. This method produces images with centimeter depths, comparable to clinical ultrasound, and shows sensitivity to tissue features currently detected by conventional ultrasound.
Researchers found that chimpanzees exhibit rhythmic swaying and hand-clapping when exposed to musical sounds. The study suggests a foundation for dancing in our common ancestor with humans.
A team of Brown University researchers used a brain-computer interface to reconstruct English words from neural signals recorded in the brains of nonhuman primates. The study showed that neural data produced high-fidelity reconstructions that were clear to a human listener, using multielectrode arrays for the first time.
A new study by Benoit Tallon and colleagues found that schools of fish scatter sound waves, which affects the evaluation of fish biomass in aquaculture. The research uses mesoscopic physics to estimate the biomass of wild fish schools in their natural environment.
Scientists investigate how architectural aspects of workplace design change the way sound, including music and conversation, affect workers. Researchers found that 50 dBA of conversation or music coming from behind bothered individuals less than 60 dBA of similar noise coming from the side.
Researchers created a functioning 3D-printed ukulele and compared its sound quality to a standard wooden instrument using acoustics. They found that the 3D-printed ukulele produced lower A-weighted sound pressure and exhibited different timbre and frequency characteristics.
Acoustical Society of America researchers present a new approach to deploying human-scale immersive virtual environments, combining wave field synthesis with modular design for scalable configurations. The system enables rapid assembly, calibration, and deployment in various settings, such as schools, offices, or research institutes.
Researchers created a system to convert light waves into sound waves by correlating bright lines within atomic spectra to audible tones. This allows for the creation of individual atom notes and even entire songs, enabling listeners to experience an 'atomic world' through sound.
Researchers analyzed nearly 1 million audio recordings from national parks, discovering a small increase in bird sound detection when aircraft noise is detected. The odds of hearing a bird sound rise by 2%, with effects lasting up to three hours and being more pronounced for birds previously exposed to similar sounds.
The Acoustical Society of America and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health launched a campaign to improve Wikipedia content on sound, acoustics, and hearing topics. The Wiki4YearOfSound2020 platform provides guidance and invites users to edit Wikipedia articles and donate images.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed an effective method to use underwater robotic gliders to measure sound levels over broad areas of the sea. The gliders can conduct repeated surveys of a region, providing real-time measurements of changing noise levels and helping scientists track ocean sound pollution.
Researchers from the University of Basel found that adding white noise to a quiet environment improves the brain's ability to distinguish subtle tone differences. This is achieved through reduced neuronal activity in the auditory cortex, allowing for more precise sound perception and potentially improving cochlear implant results.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that mosquitoes use sound to communicate during mating, which could lead to quieter drones. The study also found that targeting the specific frequency of the sound can disrupt breeding and population growth.
Researchers found that early exposure to sounds can restore molecular, cellular, and functional properties in the auditory cortex of mice with Fragile X Syndrome. This discovery suggests that facilitating exposure to sounds during early development could be a novel approach to treat hypersensitivity associated with FXS.
Researchers at UC3M have developed a new type of acoustic insulation that can focus sound energy in corners, potentially leading to breakthroughs in filtering and conducting applications. The innovation uses topological materials to concentrate sound waves, enabling efficient energy harvesting and conversion.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have designed microscale rockets that use sound waves to propel themselves through cellular landscapes. The tiny vessels are controlled using magnetic fields and can move particles and cells with high precision.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks study tested 297 subsistence-caught fish from Kotzebue Sound and found average mercury levels safe for unrestricted consumption. Only four individual fish exceeded the
In a study published in eLife, researchers found that outer hair cells adjust the sensitivity of neighboring inner hair cells to sound levels rather than amplifying them. This discovery could lead to better interventions to protect hearing and develop new ways to prevent hearing loss.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory used X-rays to observe spatial changes in a silicon carbide crystal when exposed to sound waves. The study demonstrates the potential of acoustic interactions to change materials at the atomic level, paving the way for novel techniques in quantum information technologies.
Researchers from UNIGE found that harsh sounds between 40-80 Hz stimulate the brain's aversion networks, activating salience and pain centers. This explains why humans are drawn to these frequencies, which are also used in alarm systems.
Scientists create a physical model of porpoise echolocation using hybrid metamaterials, which improves detection accuracy and suppresses environment noise. This breakthrough bridges the gap between biosonar and artificial systems, paving the way for bioinspired technology in underwater sensing and nondestructive testing.
Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have developed a new concept that combines light and sound waves in standard silicon chips, achieving delays of tens of nano-seconds without introducing additional materials. This breakthrough enables the selective processing of sound waves, which is difficult for electronics and optics alone.