A systematic acoustic study is proposed by David Lubman to investigate the potential relationship between the location of Paleolithic cave paintings and points of reverberation in caves. The study aims to determine whether there is a correlation between the placement of paintings and areas with good acoustics.
Researchers investigated how runners adapt their running patterns to cope with shock-induced vibrations. Preliminary results suggest that the human body adjusts to stabilize energetics and protect the upper body, regardless of speed. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and develop strategies to prevent running injuries.
Researchers have developed new noninvasive ultrasound techniques to image the brain and liver, overcoming limitations caused by bones in these areas. The DORT method uses a multi-element array to focus ultrasound waves through bones, while a lens-based transcranial focusing device has been patented for transskull imaging.
Researchers are using head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) to personalize audio in mixed and virtual reality. By capturing a person's unique acoustic fingerprint, the technology can create an immersive sound environment that simulates spatial hearing.
Karin Heineman, a seasoned science communicator, emphasizes the importance of capturing underlying stories and emotions in scientific discoveries. She shares her expertise on how to effectively convey complex ideas through video, highlighting its potential to impact audiences beyond the lab.
Researchers developed a sound-insulating curtain system that can reduce outside noise levels by up to 26 decibels. The system uses multiple layers of fabrics with different acoustical impedances attached to aluminum tracks, creating variable zones for private conversations or meetings.
Researchers introduce a new pedestrian-friendly car-horn sound that immediately alerts pedestrians of danger while reducing unpleasantness. The study, led by Myungjin Bae, uses the Mean Option Score (MOS) to evaluate candidate horn sounds, ranking them on a scale from bad to excellent.
Researchers developed a novel acoustics project that combines computer models and live concert recordings to produce immersive spatial audio and virtual reality experiences. The project aims to improve virtual reality and explore the effects of ear shape on 3D sound perception.
Researchers have developed a new approach to remedy the problem of hard-to-reach organs, such as the liver, by analyzing the natural shear waves produced biologically. Passive elastography uses this technology to measure tissue elasticity and diagnose cancer at an early stage.
Researchers have identified that visually impaired people use the timbre, in addition to pitch and loudness, of echoes to navigate their surroundings. This skill is similar to animal echolocation but differs in how humans use sound to locate objects.
Researchers use tiny bubbles and ultrasound to safely open the blood-brain barrier, a heavily guarded system that prevents drug delivery. This breakthrough approach aims to advance next-generation brain therapies without surgery.
UCLA researchers Patricia Keating and Jody Kreiman analyzed recordings from 50 women to identify acoustic parameters distinguishing their voices. The study aims to understand which characteristics make a speaker's voice recognizable and how much change is perceptible to listeners.
A recent study published by the Acoustical Society of America found that listening to meaningful sounds, such as music or conversation, can decrease performance on cognitive tasks. In contrast, meaningless noises have a less significant impact on cognitive performance and subjective annoyance.
A team of researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and acoustic analysis to study how children's brains respond to emotional speech cues. They found that lower frequency characteristics in voice spectra may play a significant role in understanding brain activity and differentiating emotional processing.
Researchers developed a system using acoustic beamforming to detect and locate Mojave Ground Squirrels on Edwards Air Force Base. The technology, inspired by WWI-era sound detection, is unobtrusive and can pinpoint animal locations over a large area. This innovation aims to support conservation efforts in harsh environments.
Researchers have developed a new passive acoustic monitoring method using autonomous underwater vehicles, gliders, and floats to capture sounds of marine life. The method, which was tested in the US Pacific, has the potential to provide more accurate data on marine mammal density and abundance.
A study by Eriko Aiba found that professional musicians' brains process musical information differently, depending on their prioritization strategy. Some prioritize sight and others rely on auditory memory to learn music, leading to the development of efficient learning methods tailored to individual brain strategies.
Researchers at the University of Hawaii are using acoustics to understand and track the movement of the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. By analyzing the beetle's chirp signatures, they hope to develop a new method for tracking and mitigating its impact on Hawaii's palm trees.
Researchers use acoustic emissions techniques to explore corn stalk growth and breakage, discovering that plant growth involves millions of tiny breakage events. This finding may lead to improved crop yields by strengthening plant structures.
A study by Canadian researcher Emily Blamire found that female listeners rank male voices as more attractive when the 's' sound is shorter, while male listeners do not. The study suggests that men and women use different criteria when judging vocal attractiveness.
Mexican free-tailed bats have specialized facial muscles that aid their ability to manipulate the acoustic projection pattern of their sonar pulse emissions. The unique muscles enable the bats to adjust the shape of their mouth cavity, creating a wide-angle beam or a narrow beam with varying degrees of aperture.
Researchers aim to develop optimum alarm systems by analyzing alarm errors and predicting their occurrence. The new models will prioritize alarms that reflect urgent situations while balancing staff alertness with patient recovery concerns.
Researchers discovered a connection between pulmonary function and vocal fatigue complaints among female teachers, highlighting the importance of respiratory health for voice health. The study used spirometry measures to assess lung function and found that reduced pulmonary function was associated with increased vocal fatigue symptoms.
Scientists studying climate change's impact on underwater sound propagation and sonar transmission. Warmer oceans increase sound speed, making detection of submarines more challenging.
University of Utah researchers explore gender perception via speech, finding that adopting a clear speaking style can increase perceived femininity. However, the effect is small and variable, with male talkers showing larger changes in femininity ratings.
Researchers in Norway used ultrasound to enhance absorption of chemotherapeutic compounds Gemcitabine into pancreatic cells, increasing treatment cycles and median survival time from 7 months to 18 months. The technique, called sonoporation, showed promising results without increased toxicity or side effects.
Researchers at Penn State tracked the cause of a loud noise made by a type of golf club and found it was due to vibrations in the club head. The vibrations were strongest in the most sensitive range of human hearing, leading to an annoyingly loud sound that some players compared to a cookie tray hitting a car.
Scientists at the Australian National University have created a new algorithm that can accurately predict tsunamis by analyzing real-time ocean sensor data. The Time Reverse Imaging Method takes data from sensors to recreate what the tsunami looked like when it was born, allowing for better predictions of its trajectory.
Researchers develop model that suggests mucus plays crucial role in dolphin sonar click production. The model accurately reproduces two distinct parts of a dolphin click: an initial loud thump and extended ring.
Researchers are studying the lowest vocal register, called vocal fry, to better understand its emotional properties and how it affects listeners. The technique has become popular in pop and country music, with female singers' use of vocal fry rating them as more expressive.
A survey of nearly 500 large US cities reveals no standard approach to preserving peace and quiet. Decibel levels are used in 55% of ordinances, while nuisance standards prevail in 85%, often relying on subjective interpretation.
Megan S. Ballard receives the R. Bruce Lindsay Award from the Acoustical Society of America for her contributions to underwater acoustic propagation modeling and inversion techniques in acoustical oceanography. The award recognizes her research on sound field calculation in complex underwater environments.
Whitlow Au, a renowned expert in dolphin biosonar, receives the prestigious Gold Medal from the Acoustical Society of America. His research has focused on understanding why dolphin biosonar is superior to man-made sonar.
Susan Blaeser, Standards Manager of the Acoustical Society of America, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Citation for her outstanding service to the society. She has managed the ASA Standards Program and administered U.S. Technical Advisory Groups to international organizations.
Armen Sarvazyan has been awarded the Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Silver Medal by the Acoustical Society of America for his contributions to ultrasound imaging and its applications. He made significant findings on elasticity imaging technology and developed ultrasonic devices for biomolecular interactions.
Alan R. Palmer has received the William and Christine Hartmann Prize in Auditory Neuroscience from the Acoustical Society of America, recognizing his work on understanding the mechanisms behind sound perception and brain activity.
A group of undergraduate researchers experimentally investigated the Himalayan singing bowl and discovered how it produces 'chatter', a rapid knocking sound. The study found that the puja's motion excites the vibration of the bowl, causing a unique deflection shape.
Research finds that Hanoks' earthen walls, paper windows, and wooden floors create a resonance effect, amplifying sound clarity and reverberation time. The unique acoustics of these traditional Korean houses make them suitable for playing classic instruments like zithers.
Researchers developed a prototype device that can remotely monitor hive activity using vibrations from bee vocalizations, allowing for real-time tracking of changes in bee behavior. The device has been tested on two UK and French colonies, detecting daily rhythms and seasonal variations in bee activity.
Female black-capped chickadees produce acoustically distinct vocalizations from those of males, with birds able to tell apart the two sexes through different acoustic cues. The researchers found that females rely more on information in the second note of the song, while males focus on the first note.
A recent study reveals that the evolution of differences between human language's sound systems is partly linked to climatic or ecological conditions. The researchers found a correlation between ecological factors and the ratio of sonorant segments to obstruent segments in languages.
A new method using sound waves can detect cell stiffness changes that could signal disease, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. The technique uses low-frequency ultrasonic waves to levitate cells and high-frequency ultrasonic waves to measure their stiffness.
A device that hijacks the mating signals of Asian citrus psyllids may help provide an environmentally friendly system for preventing citrus greening, a devastating disease that has cost the Florida citrus industry billions of dollars. The researchers' vibration trap uses acoustic methods to lure male psyllids into traps, where they are...
A study conducted by a University of Nebraska student found that cheering crowd noise levels in college hockey stadiums have no strong correlation with goals scored. The study measured noise levels during four games and found the loudest sections to be around 95 decibels, which is equivalent to hearing a jackhammer from 50 feet away.
A team of researchers is using 'passive acoustic monitoring' to document the use of the Bering Strait by species previously excluded by sea ice. They are eavesdropping on marine mammals within the Arctic to monitor their presence year-round and study the impacts of climate change on the ecosystem.
Brian G. Ferguson has been awarded the Acoustical Society of America's Silver Medal in Signal Processing in Acoustics for his work on in-air and in-water acoustic classification, localization, and tracking. He is recognized for his research accomplishments in acoustics, which have defense and national security applications.
Allan D. Pierce, Professor Emeritus at Boston University, has been awarded the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Distinguished Service Citation for his outstanding service to the organization. Pierce received the citation in recognition of his 15-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief.
Paul D. Schomer, Owner and Principal of Schomer and Associates, has been recognized with the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Distinguished Service Citation for his excellent service as Standards Director and leadership in developing acoustics standards. He was awarded the citation at the 170th meeting of the ASA on November 4, 2015.
Professor John J. Ohala has been awarded the Acoustical Society of America's Silver Medal in Speech Communication for his contributions to understanding speech production and perception, as well as applying phonetic principles to study spoken language change over time.
Roy D. Patterson, a renowned auditory neuroscientist, has been awarded the Acoustical Society of America's Silver Medal in Psychological and Physiological Acoustics. He made significant contributions to understanding pitch and timbre perception, as well as computational modeling of auditory representations.