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.
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 are using unique whale vocalizations to track the seasonal movements of North Atlantic killer whales, gaining insights into their behavior and ecology. By characterizing individual pods' calls, scientists can better understand their migration patterns and identify potential factors driving changes in their populations.
Researchers developed two spectral-based techniques to evaluate cervical tissue changes before labor, improving diagnostic capabilities. The study identified one technique as more effective in detecting these changes.
Researchers aim to overcome obstacles in brain tumor treatment by using focused ultrasound and temperature-sensitive nanoparticles. These strategies can provide unique opportunities to improve the delivery of nanoparticles into brain tumors.
The new ISO TS 12913 standard provides a framework for identifying optimal dining spaces, including binaural sound recording for immersive evaluation. Restaurants present a challenge due to varying noise levels, but the guidelines address this with psychoacoustics and diner feedback.
Researchers from George Washington University have successfully used ultrasound therapy to increase insulin levels in mice, providing a potential alternative to current treatments. The study found significant increases in blood insulin levels after exposure to ultrasonic pulses, but did not see the corresponding drop in glucose levels.
A new CDC study cautions that sports whistles used by referees, coaches, and others are a risk factor for hearing loss. The study measured the acoustic signature of 13 whistle brands, finding sound levels between 100-120 decibels, which can exceed safe daily exposure within just a few seconds.
Human screams exhibit a wide range of acoustic factors, including high pitch and roughness, which can vary in emotional context. The study's findings suggest that humans may use different-sounding screams in various situations, warranting further investigation into their interpretation.
Researchers from Texas A&M University have developed a biomimetic whistle that uses bat's natural echolocation to deter bats from flying into wind turbine blades. The device, mounted on turbine blades, produces an ultrasonic sound detectable by bats at distances of up to 100 meters.
Researchers tested natural and synthetic acoustic stimuli to determine their effectiveness in deterring bald eagles from flying into wind turbines. The study found that eagles were more responsive to natural calls than synthetic sounds, particularly a 'crow mobbing' signal.
Researchers found a surprising similarity between Nigerian drum sounds and the tapping of ripe watermelons. The team used pitch-pattern analysis to measure internal ripeness and quality, achieving an 60% level of efficiency. This innovative method utilizes traditional music elements to aid in everyday decision-making.
Researchers found toddlers actively initiate conversations with their parents, choosing topics and driving the conversation. The study used automatic speech recognition technology to analyze over 1,400 hours of recordings from 17 toddlers and their parents.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found a wide difference in language exposure among fetuses, ranging from five hours to two hours and 45 minutes. This study aims to inform best practices for NICU care and understand the impact on early brain development.
Acoustic researcher Dan Costley presents on WWI's sound ranging method, which pinpointed enemy gun locations to within 10 meters. The technique used innovative solutions like the Tucker microphone and 'harp' galvanometer, credited to Bragg's scientific leadership.
A new study by Ohio State University and Purdue University found that young children are better teachers when it comes to learning new words. The research suggests that toddlers learn more effectively from other children, rather than adults or family members.
Acoustic vehicle alerting systems may improve safety but also increase noise pollution, posing a risk to pedestrians with limited vision. Experts are studying how to design effective alerts while minimizing distractions.
Researchers found that quiet time in NICUs was related to improved infant health, with healthier heart rates during quiet hours. The study recommends using quiet time protocols to help NICU patients and implementing architectural noise reduction strategies.
A French researcher has developed a proof of concept for a smartphone-based shooter location system that uses acoustic analysis to track the origin of gunfire. The system, deployed in TCAPS hearing protection devices, analyzes the supersonic shock wave and muzzle wave generated by bullets to determine the shooter's direction.
A team of researchers used real-time MRI to study how beatboxers produce percussion sounds, finding that they can create unique sounds not seen in any language. The study used video signal processing to demystify the mechanics of artistic style and characterized different beatboxing styles.
Researchers analyzed laughter clips from 44 infants to children aged 3-18 months and found that youngest babies laughed on both inhalation and exhalation, similar to chimpanzees. Older babies primarily laughed on the exhale, as seen in older children and adults.
Researchers found that moth fur provides acoustic stealth by reducing echoes of body parts from bat calls. The thorax fur acts as a lightweight porous sound absorber, offering a significant survival advantage against bats.
Scientists study bat and dolphin sonar systems to improve man-made active sensing technologies. Bat species use frequency-modulating calls to overcome acoustic interference, whereas dolphins rely on short clicks with minimal overlap.
Researchers found that preschool children (2-5 years old) can recognize sounds heard during naps, even when they're asleep. The study uses EEG and tested individual children in a quiet room, playing nonsense words to assess their auditory processing.
The Orcasound project has developed a web application that enables citizen scientists to listen to livestreaming audio from hydrophones, complementing computer algorithms in analyzing data. The app aims to bring synergy between human listeners and sophisticated algorithms, saving audio data to online cloud storage for later analysis.
A study by Angela Cooper and colleagues found that adults have difficulty distinguishing between children's voices, with only about 40% correct identification rate. The researchers used a space alien interactive game to elicit recordings from 2-year-olds and their mothers, which led to the development of new training methods for improv...
A study by University of Texas at Austin researchers found that listeners who heard sentences spoken in a clear style did better on memory recall tasks than those who heard them spoken in a conversational manner. The researchers suggest that clearly produced speech may be an efficient way to convey information and improve retention.
Scientists have discovered that different piranha species can be identified by the pattern of their barks, which could lead to more efficient conservation efforts. The study's findings suggest that passive acoustic monitoring may be a useful tool for studying piranha behavior in the wild.
Using machine learning algorithms, researchers analyzed high-fidelity acoustic measurements from basketball games to identify patterns in the raw data that indicate what the crowd was doing. The study revealed six clusters corresponding to different emotions and actions, allowing for the early detection of unruly or violent behavior.
Reducing shipping vessel speed by 10 knots may help alleviate the negative impact of noise pollution on Arctic cod, according to a study. The study found that slowing down cruise ships resulted in more substantial reductions in acoustic masking effects compared to container vessels.
Acoustic cloaking technology has been developed by researchers at Penn State University, which uses metamaterials to bend sound waves around an object, making it appear invisible to underwater instruments. The team successfully tested their design using a 3-foot-tall pyramid structure in an underwater research tank.
Exposure to ultrasonic sound waves may cause adverse health effects such as nausea, dizziness, and ringing ears. A growing body of evidence suggests that public safety guidelines are based on inadequate data from studies performed decades ago.
Researchers use virtual reality to study sound perception in immersive settings, revealing variability in brain processing of spatial cues. The technology holds promise for developing more accurate diagnoses of auditory disorders and enhanced audio experiences in video games.
New research reveals that infants have a strong preference for vocal sounds from their peers, even before they can babble. This discovery sheds light on how infants develop their understanding of spoken language, suggesting that access to infant speech plays a significant role in shaping their speech development.
Researchers are working on a new technique to synchronize cochlear implant signals, which will help people with implants to hear sounds more realistically. The goal is to make this method work outside the lab, but it remains a challenge from an engineering point of view.
A new study by Jody E. Kreiman investigates how people perceive voice quality and defines a 'normal' voice. The results show that listeners are consistent in their judgments of abnormal voices but disagree on what constitutes a 'normal' voice, highlighting the complexity of voice perception.
Researchers have discovered that tornado-producing storms emit infrasound waves that can be detected hundreds of miles away. By analyzing these waves, meteorologists may gain valuable insights into the formation processes and life cycle of tornadoes, enabling early warning systems and potentially saving lives.
Researchers found that chimpanzee vocalizations do not resemble human language as expected, with inconsistent acoustic features and no consistent match between call types and food quality. This suggests that key events in language evolution occurred after the divergence of the chimpanzee and hominin lineages.
Researchers found that humans generate significant underwater noise when swimming, kayaking, or scuba diving, affecting marine life. Different activities produce distinct sounds, with some being loud enough for animals to detect.
Researchers have developed a local acoustic treatment using high-back chairs and retroreflective ceilings to reduce speech distraction in open-plan offices. This novel application uses sound reflections to enhance speech communication at short distances, reducing ambient noise disturbance.
A study by Lawrence University researchers found that musicians and nonmusicians performed similarly on transcribing vocoded sentences, suggesting no significant advantage of musical experience in interpreting degraded speech. However, the research suggests potential applications for understanding normal speech in noisy environments, w...
Researchers Anthony Nash and Lauren von Blohn investigated the acoustic properties of exploding eggs in a microwave oven. They discovered that the yolk's temperature is consistently higher than the surrounding water bath, leading to superheated pockets that cause a chain reaction resulting in an explosion-like phenomenon.
Noise in hospitals is a significant problem, with alarms sounding an average of 133 times per day, leading to patient stress, impaired communication, and reduced healing. To address this issue, hospitals are developing noise control programs using engineering and administrative interventions.
Researchers at Auburn University discovered that both children and adults rely more on their right ear for processing information in noisy environments. The study found that when cognitive demand increases, the right-ear advantage persists in mature auditory systems.
The clarinet's unique sound in early New Orleans jazz is attributed to its size, shape, reed, and mouthpiece. Michael G. White's research aims to refine this tone on the Boehm system clarinet, exploring factors such as internal bore shape, fingerings, and player embouchure.
Researchers have found that vocal disorders in politicians can change how listeners perceive their leadership qualities, with a preference for post-disorder voices. The study also suggests that age-related traits may be associated with perceived charisma.
Researchers found that simulated anthropogenic noise exposure physiologically impacted blue crabs and lobsters, causing increased stress responses. The study also revealed behavioral impacts, including aggressive behaviors and reduced feeding, highlighting the need for environmental permitting in coastal areas.
The European Union is requiring hybrid and pure electric vehicles to be equipped with acoustic vehicle alerting systems, which could lead to increased noise pollution. René Weinandy, head of Noise Abatement in Transport for the German Environment Agency, expressed concerns about the potential harm of these systems.
Researchers investigated the sounds made by champagne bubbles to determine if they could infer bubble size and ultimately assess wine quality. By analyzing acoustic properties, they found that bubble size distribution can be obtained from simple measurements, potentially aiding in quality assurance testing of sparkling wines.
Scientists studying submarine volcanoes have discovered distinct sound patterns emanating from two underwater eruptions, Ahyi and Bogoslof. These sounds can be detected by seismometers and hydrophone arrays, providing valuable insights into the monitoring of these volcanic events.