The NASA National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) climate/weather satellite is successfully completing flight environmental testing. The five-instrument suite will provide continuity of climate observations and enhance weather forecasting capabilities.
Researchers have developed a device that uses sound waves to detect bacteria in water, potentially speeding up the process by 15% compared to existing methods. The device broadcasts ultrasound waves into the liquid, exerting pressure on bacteria that pushes them into a collection pocket for identification.
Researchers at NC State aim to create a portable device using sound waves to identify landmines, roadside bombs, and suicide bombers. The project seeks to advance understanding of how sound interacts with the environment, which could have significant humanitarian applications.
A team of researchers has developed a simulation to better understand the impact of sound on marine mammals like whales and dolphins. The simulation uses advanced computing and X-ray CT scanners to create a 3D virtual environment, allowing scientists to study the effects of sound on these organisms.
Research reveals that North American right whales adjust their calls in response to increased ocean noise levels, maintaining signal-to-noise ratio while incurring costs. This adaptation is crucial for successful communication in a noisy ocean, but its long-term effects on whale behavior and population health remain uncertain.
Jessica Zhang, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University, has received a Young Investigator Award for her research on developing novel algorithms to improve ship design and analysis. The award provides $510,000 in funding over three years to support her research goals.
A new undersea optical communication system enables real-time video transfer and self-powered ROVs without a physical connection, reducing costs and simplifying operations. This technology complements acoustic systems, offering faster data rates of up to 20 megabits per second.
Plant leaves can be studied using ultrasound in a quick and simple way, revealing properties such as thickness, density, and water content. This method allows for non-contact analysis of leaves, which is useful for diagnosing agricultural and natural systems.
Researchers use new acoustic sensors to monitor endangered North Atlantic right whales and reduce ship strikes, a leading cause of their deaths. The tools improve monitoring capabilities and enhance management efforts to protect these whales.
Human carbon dioxide emissions impact ocean acoustics by increasing transparency to low-frequency sound, potentially affecting marine mammals' communication. The pH of surface seawater will drop by 0.6 units by 2100, leading to a 70% decrease in sound absorption.
This pioneering research projects recreate authentic sounds of the past using acoustics, enhancing our understanding of heritage and its impact on daily life. By studying past events through sound, researchers improve acoustic preservation of old buildings and design new ones to mitigate noise pollution.
Researchers aim to control electromagnetic forces that can destroy future particle accelerators. They propose two approaches: heavy damping and light damping with detuning, to mitigate the effects of extreme wake fields. Detuning is compared to acoustics, where ringing bells at different frequencies reduces overall sound amplitude.
Four Penn State researchers, Sean Hallgren, Adam Smith, Michael Hickner, and Susan Parks, will receive the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. They were recognized for their outstanding work in quantum computation, cryptography, polymer chemistry, and bioacoustics.
A new study finds that Richard Wagner used the acoustics of the soprano voice to create music drama with improved intelligibility and ease of production. Wagner's operas often featured vowels sung with an open mouth, which were matched to high notes in a way that enhanced both performer and listener experience.
Acoustics expert and Springer editor Thomas Rossing received the prestigious Gold Medal from the Acoustical Society of America. His research focuses on musical acoustics, psychoacoustics, and physics education, with over 350 publications in these fields.
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.
Scientists at the University of East Anglia have created lip-reading computers that can accurately identify different languages spoken by individuals. The technology uses statistical modelling of lip motions and was tested on a group of bilingual and trilingual speakers, achieving high accuracy rates across multiple languages.
Researchers are implementing a wireless monitoring system for analyzing the safety of older bridges, utilizing wind and structural vibrations as its sources of power. The project aims to provide real-time data on bridge health, enabling proactive repairs and extending bridge lifespan.
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.
Tokuo Yamamoto, a University of Miami marine acoustics expert, won the 2008 Alan Berman Research Publication Award for his work on velocity dispersion and attenuation in New Jersey Shelf sediments. The award recognizes his research on high frequency acoustic waves interacting with silty-sand marine sediments.
The Virginia Tech-CIMSS-PAC team develops a suite of new technologies to monitor bridge structural integrity. The proposed 'Bridge Prognostic System' uses piezoelectric materials and acoustic emission sensing to detect cracks, providing real-time data for decision-making.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, simulating extreme hot and cold conditions of space. The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide detailed maps of the lunar surface and increase understanding of its topography and natural resources.
Researchers discovered that spinner dolphins engage in a choreographed 'dance' to enclose prey, before darting in organized pairs to feed. The study's findings expand knowledge of spinner dolphin behavior and open new avenues for scientific inquiry into underwater ecosystems.
Daan Huybrechs, a postdoctoral fellow at Belgium's Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, will receive the Richard C. DiPrima Prize for his dissertation on multiscale and hybrid methods for solving oscillatory integral equations. The prize recognizes his outstanding research in applied mathematics and computational science.
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 discuss how noise affects marine mammals, including beaked whales and killer whales, as well as the impact of urbanization on bird communication. The study highlights various mechanisms animals use to compensate for elevated noise and explores the effects of sonar and other human sounds on marine and land animals.
The Acoustics '08 conference in Paris features a range of topics, including a clinical assessment of blood vessel ultrasound and its potential to detect vulnerable plaques. The conference also explores the acoustic properties of Stradivarius violins and their modifications for modern playing styles. Additionally, there will be presenta...
Researchers found that bats emit exceptionally loud sounds of up to 140 dB SPL to detect small insects in air using echolocation. The study's results showed that the high frequencies emitted by the bats serve as a countermeasure to attenuation, allowing them to effectively hunt despite the limitations of ultrasonic frequencies.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have digitally reproduced music in a file nearly 1,000 times smaller than a regular MP3 file. They created a virtual clarinet player and recorded a 20-second clarinet solo encoded in less than a single kilobyte.
Researchers are developing a global monitoring network for ocean noise to protect endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale. The project uses 3-D buoys to record sounds from whales, fish, ships, and other sources in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
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.
Brian Borowski, a graduate student at Stevens Institute of Technology, won second prize for his paper on passive acoustic threat detection distances in estuarine environments. His research was conducted in cooperation with the Maritime Security Laboratory and reviewed measurements of acoustical parameters to define detection distances.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect metastasizing melanoma cells in the blood using photoacoustic detection, which can identify as few as 10 cancer cells. The technique uses laser techniques and ultrasound methods to emit noise from cancer cells, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment.
Engineers are developing a new technique that accurately measures how sound behaves in indoor environments, enabling the design of acoustic spaces based on realistic information. This could lead to improved hearing aids and better listening experiences for millions of people.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a device that generates coherent ultrasonic waves, allowing them to study laser dynamics and measure material properties. The 'uaser' has potential applications in modeling and studying laser behavior, as well as sensing changes in materials.
Researchers found that birds control overtones by changing the shape of their upper esophagus and larynx. This technique allows for more tonal purity in song production, mirroring a human vocal tract used for speech.
Researchers used information theory to analyze humpback whale songs and found a hierarchical structure with multiple layers of repetition. This study offers a new approach to studying animal communication and may inform research in evolutionary biology.
Dr. Worcester is recognized for his pioneering work on acoustical oceanography and tomographic inverse methods, as well as his tireless efforts to develop responsible permitting structures for scientific sound use. He is the eighth recipient of the Munk Award, a testament to his groundbreaking research and leadership in the field.
Dr. Peter Worcester is being recognized for his contributions to acoustical oceanography, tomographic inverse methods, and leadership in the US ocean acoustics community. He has led numerous experimental programs to develop and use tomography, including notable experiments north of Hawaii and in the Greenland Sea.
Scientists develop a new sonar method to detect squid egg clusters, allowing for efficient mapping and estimation of squid populations. This technique has immediate potential to provide resource managers with sound scientific information to sustain the fishery and protect the species' genetic diversity.
The American Institute of Physics and Acoustical Society of America sponsor the 2006 Acoustics Writing Awards. The awards recognize outstanding popular works on acoustics by journalists or professionals. Entries must be published between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005.
Hospital noise levels have grown steadily over the past five decades, exceeding World Health Organization guidelines, with human speech frequency range contributing to communication difficulties. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found modest reductions by introducing hands-free personal communicators in patient areas.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a prototype sonic gas analyzer that automatically detects gas concentrations in air/gas mixtures by analyzing pitch changes. The system can track toxic or flammable gases and detect changes as low as 0.003 percent, making it suitable for monitoring hydrogen levels in microbial fuel cells.
Researchers have developed a novel solar antenna that combines antenna functions and solar cells on a single surface, reducing weight and increasing efficiency. The technology has the potential to power homes and send/receive signals, improving data gathering capabilities in remote regions.
Infants at medical risk, such as premature babies or those exposed to lead or drugs, exhibit distinct cry patterns that may indicate neurological problems. Cry analysis, supported by previous studies, can help identify undetected damage in high-risk infants.
A new sensor system combining flame photometer, ion mobility spectrometer and surface acoustic wave array detects chemical vapors with high accuracy. The PSU-developed CINET software reduces false alarms by correlating data from multiple detectors.
Two UW ocean-diving gliders, Seagliders, have set a new record by traveling across the Pacific Ocean. They were deployed in September and traveled over 1,860 miles in 191 days. The gliders' autonomous technology allows them to collect oceanographic measurements without propellers, setting a precedent for the longest range of any autono...
Scientists have discovered a subset of learning disabilities resulting from a dysfunction in the brainstem's encoding of basic sounds of speech. BioMAP, a simple neurophysiological test, can identify children with sound processing disorders and improve their speech discrimination skills through auditory training.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that orchestra musicians are not at risk of hearing loss in the pit, despite playing for long hours. However, individual practice and measures such as earplugs can still help protect their hearing.
Researchers use underwater microphones to track whales' songs and calls in the North Atlantic, finding evidence of long-distance communication over thousands of miles. The findings suggest whales have acoustic memories analogous to visual memories, guiding their movements and distribution.
A new system uses fuzzy logic to automatically detect room acoustics and speaker placement, providing each listener with their own personalized
A new method of recording sound uses multiple microphones spaced around a head-sized ball to capture cues for direction, distance and movement. The system reproduces what the listener would hear in reality, including ambient sounds and echoes in different spaces.
Researchers aim to develop AI system that can assess acoustic qualities of spaces using music played in the room. The project has £70,000 funding and could provide solutions for architects and the construction industry.
Penn State's new thermoacoustic chiller uses helium gas to keep ice cream in delicious condition without damaging the atmosphere. The technology has potential for widespread use in applications where chemical refrigeration is difficult or banned due to global warming.
Time-reversal acoustics (TRA) systems hold promise for precise medical imaging, diagnostic techniques, and incision-free surgical methods. TRA's ability to focus sound waves accurately in dense environments makes it an attractive solution for imaging the human body or targeting tumors non-surgically.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a new mine-detection method that uses time reversal to locate buried objects in the ocean floor without complex modeling or arrays of sonar transmitters. The method simplifies equipment and analysis, making it more feasible for naval mine detection.
The Acoustical Society of America sponsors two annual awards for outstanding popular works on acoustics. Entries must be published or broadcast between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003, and meet criteria for accessibility, relevance, accuracy, and quality. The winners will receive a $1000 prize and an award certificate.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new muffler design that utilizes glass fiber, reducing auto noise by up to 40 decibels and improving engine performance. The design can be lighter, less prone to corrosion, and help engines work more efficiently.
A team of Tufts researchers analyzed 10 trumpets, including five cryogenically treated ones, and found no improvement in sound quality. The study suggests that differences from player to player and instrument overshadow any changes caused by freezing the trumpet.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a solution to stop noisy brakes once and for all. The new system uses a simple piezoceramic actuator to apply bursts of a 'dithering' frequency, suppressing vibrations that cause squeal.