The Seattle Space Needle renovation incorporated acoustic designs to limit sound transmission, enhancing visitor experience. Acoustic materials and effective reverberant sound control were selected for the observation levels and restaurant.
Ocean predators survive on small, scattered areas of food rather than average concentrations found in the water. Acoustic tools reveal dynamic layered maps of ocean life by interpreting echoes from sound pulses, providing insights into how animals adapt to find and exploit resources.
People with mild dementia struggle to understand speech in both quiet and acoustically challenging situations. Effective communication strategies include speaking clearly and slowly, reducing background noise, and providing contextual information.
Masks designed for singers block aerosols, diluting virus-causing particles, while affecting high frequencies. Singer's masks reduced high-frequency power by less than two times, improving enunciation.
A study found that adults with sensory impairment experienced a decline in emotional well-being during the pandemic due to lack of social interactions. Researchers hope to develop hybrid solutions for remote access and clear communication.
Bats build prediction models of prey movement by analyzing echoes of their own vocalizations. This acoustic information facilitates navigation and foraging in total darkness. By integrating representations of prey echoes, bats can determine distance, size, shape, and density, as well as identify what they are tracking.
A new theory suggests that stuttering is caused by anomalies in the brain's initiation circuit, which chooses a word to speak. This circuit is separate from the muscle-coordinating circuit, and its impairment leads to stuttering. Researchers believe this could lead to targeted treatments for stuttering with fewer side effects.
Converting empty offices into podcast studios poses unique acoustic challenges. Experts recommend optimizing space for better sound quality, using minimal absorptive treatments and selecting suitable microphones. Aesthetically pleasing room finishes are also crucial for visually appealing recording spaces.
A study by Penn State University and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that electric vehicle sounds can improve pedestrian safety, but with some cases of false negatives at close ranges. Adding sound to electric vehicles increases detection distances beyond minimum safe detection ranges.
Researchers have developed microbubbles that can acoustically detect blood oxygen levels, showing a strong correlation between oxygen concentration and acoustic bubble response. This innovation has the potential to benefit medicine and imaging by evaluating oxygen-deprived regions of tumors and in the brain.
A new filtration system using acoustic waves successfully separates microplastics from polluted water, with a cleaning rate of 150 liters per hour. The device's efficiency varies with acoustic frequency and density of the water, but shows promise for improving marine life safety.
The current research highlights the risk of noise-induced hearing loss among children and young adults due to prolonged exposure to high volumes from personal audio systems. The need for public health hearing conservation policies and education on safe volume levels is emphasized by experts.
The study reveals COVID-19 can cause inflammation in the auditory and vestibular pathways, worsening existing conditions like tinnitus. Pandemic-related stress and anxiety also increase the severity of tinnitus symptoms in individuals already affected.
A study by Braxton Boren suggests that prolonged pandemic lockdowns and noise in multiunit housing contribute to increased social tension and isolation. Incorporating virtual reality and spatial audio may help mitigate these effects, improving overall well-being.
Researchers discover moths have evolved acoustic metamaterials on their wings to absorb ultrasound, outsmarting bats. This adaptation decreases echo return and enhances insect survival, with scales tuned to different frequencies forming a broadband absorption array.
Researchers develop Composite Urban Quietness Index to measure sound diversity of quietness, aiming to provide a new understanding of comfortable quiet. The study reveals that high-intensity sound and silent acoustic environments can cause stress, highlighting the need for quantifiable characteristics of quietness.
A personalized soundscape using AcustiCare can help individuals with dementia by providing clues about time of day and place. The system refines the sounds to reinforce time and space, improving sleep quality, reducing agitation and distress, and decreasing stress on caregivers.
Research by Colette Feehan suggests that voice actors' unique vocalizations can help speech pathologists better understand the muscles involved in creating words and sounds. This knowledge could lead to alternative pronunciations for individuals with speech difficulties, such as those with lost muscle tone due to a stroke or cancer.
A survey found that residents in noisy environments were more satisfied with their housing after pandemic restrictions began. Stress and anxiety increased with noise annoyance levels during the pandemic. Future designs may prioritize indoor noise considerations.
Researchers have developed a deep-learning model that can track changes in speech coordination features to detect depression. The app aims to provide early intervention before severe depression sets in, potentially saving lives.
Educators who transitioned to remote teaching during the pandemic will retain online collaboration tools in the return to classroom instruction to increase student engagement and equity. Developing an online classroom culture is crucial for creating an environment where students feel valued and trust instructors.
Researchers have developed a system using an array of microphones and advanced processing techniques that can detect impulsive sounds such as screams on UAVs. The technology has the potential to save lives by helping emergency crews locate survivors in disaster scenarios.
Recent studies challenge the long-held assumption that variability in children's speech is solely due to developmental delays. Instead, factors such as socioeconomic status, dialects, and exposure to languages play a significant role. Experts argue that caregivers can aid in this process through conversations about different words and ...
Researchers at Kennesaw State University investigated how various types of face coverings affect students' understanding of their teachers. They found that some masks performed well acoustically, but not as effectively against virus transmission.
The Acoustical Society of America will host virtual press conferences during the 180th Meeting, focusing on research in acoustics. Topics include teaching methods during the pandemic, the acoustic properties of moth wings, and the impact of headphones on younger generations' audio health.
The Acoustical Society of America will host its 180th meeting online June 8-10, offering new features to ensure an exciting experience for attendees. The meeting will include prerecorded talks, live discussion sessions, panel discussions, and lightning round sessions.
Researchers used headphones to change sound of footsteps in real-time, finding participants walked faster with high-pitched sounds. Exposure to lemon-scented essential oils combined with high-pitched sounds made participants feel lighter than those exposed to vanilla scents.
Researchers at Skidmore College are developing a unique musical scale for each element based on its spectral signature, allowing students to visualize atomic structures through sound. The project has led to collaborations with Carnegie Hall and London-based DJs, creating soundscapes from celestial data.
Scientists investigate how moisture in sand affects sound travel across beaches, shedding light on factors influencing long-range sound propagation. The findings will help develop numerical models describing how sound travels through coastal areas, accounting for various environmental factors.
A study of 31 older adults found that acceptable noise levels in restaurants vary, with even those considered 'age-friendly' being too loud. The researchers suggest that restaurants can create more comfortable environments for customers, leading to increased patronage and revenue.
Researchers developed a method using ultrasound imaging to score lung health, indicating patient outcomes. The tool predicted worsening COVID-19 cases with high accuracy, allowing physicians to prepare better care.
Researchers found that face masks obstruct facial cues, a crucial aspect of effective communication. The loss of visual information significantly impacts native and non-native speakers' ability to understand each other.
Researchers found that listeners can accurately identify regional dialects and racial backgrounds from audio clips of English speakers. The study used 144 unique audio clips to categorize speakers into Midland, New York City, Southern U.S., Asian American, Black/African American, or white groups.
Researchers explored the impact of eye position on speech intelligibility within a cocktail party setting. They found that performance was best when eye fixation was on target and suffered when off target.
Researchers have developed a noninvasive method to measure the stiffness of tissues within the brain's gray and white matter, which can reveal clues about traumatic brain injuries. The new technique, known as waveguide elastography, merges acoustic imaging methods and algorithms to provide diagnostic insights.
Researchers found that listeners in Gainesville perceived increased accentedness with a South Asian face, whereas Montreal listeners did not exhibit the same effect. Exposure to linguistic diversity may impact accentedness judgments.
Researchers found that surgical and N95 masks can minimize negative effects on speech intelligibility, making them ideal options for instructors. By wearing these types of masks, educators can help students understand speech more effectively while ensuring their own safety.
A team of researchers from the University of Sussex created a sound projector that can deliver spatial sound at a distance by forming a beam of audible sound. The system uses a portable speaker, metamaterial lenses, and tracking hardware to track users and send sound directly to them.
A new system called GLINDA allows researchers to capture the unique sound signature of a tornado, improving understanding of its behavior and potential impact on false alarm rates. By measuring infrasound at close range, scientists can gain valuable insights into tornado production and reduce the number of deaths caused by these deadly...
A digital stethoscope with artificial intelligence can accurately detect irregular lung sounds, making it easier to diagnose COVID-19 and other respiratory conditions. The device features noise suppression technology, allowing for clear body sounds without the need for training.
Researchers developed a detector that mimics a mosquito's antenna to identify species and sex based on sound patterns. The bioinspired device uses machine learning and speech recognition tools to differentiate between species and sex, offering a potential tool for disease-carrying mosquito identification and selective pesticide use.
Researchers have created smart road signs that use built-in Doppler radar, video, and acoustic radar devices to monitor traffic and conditions. The signs display dynamically updated recommended speeds and alert drivers in real time to hazards ahead.
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.
A floating array of sensors in the Pacific Ocean will provide a comprehensive view of Earth's interior, offering insights into buoyancy, viscosity, density, and temperature of the deep mantel plume. The array will help scientists understand the plate-tectonic cycle that gives us energy and reveals the potential barriers for material fl...
Researchers have discovered a new seismic phenomenon originating at the ocean floor due to powerful storms. Stormquakes, characterized by magnitude 3.5 quakes, are caused by storm-induced pressure zones on the seafloor. The track of the storm and depth of the ocean play key roles in determining whether a stormquake occurs.
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.
A researcher analyzed the frequency and acoustics of belching while speaking in 'Rick and Morty' to uncover latent linguistic meaning. The study found that burps tend to rumble at a low 300 hertz, jitter 4% more than normal speech, and shimmer 15% more.
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.
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 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.