Researchers found that male elephant seals respond faster and change posture when hearing recorded calls of their old rivals. The seals also showed less aggressive behavior towards subordinate rivals. This suggests that the seals can remember individual voices even after a year.
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are studying Alston's singing mice to better comprehend the evolutionary origins of vocal communication. The research may also hold clues for understanding strokes, autism, and other speech-related disorders. The study found that singing mice use a common brain region for both singing and ult...
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
Researchers analyzed over 2,000 hours of underwater recordings to detect subtle shifts in red hind spawning behavior and population dynamics. The study found a notable shift in the balance of mating calls over the 12-year period, with calls linked to competition becoming dominant.
Beaked whales are recorded in the Foz do Amazonas Basin using passive acoustic monitoring, demonstrating their first documentation in Brazilian waters. The study contributes to understanding cetacean biodiversity and showcases the effectiveness of acoustic monitoring for categorizing elusive sea creatures.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney discovered that leopard seal songs share structural similarities with human nursery rhymes, featuring predictable patterns and low entropy. The study found that male seals spend up to 13 hours a day singing in two-minute cycles, with each individual creating a unique sonic signature.
Researchers found significant bird song decline only where more than 99% solar obscuration occurred. The study used a novel neural network approach and controlled for human presence, revealing varied responses among different bird species.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers discovered that as birds age, their song gene networks change dramatically, with hub genes driving activity of other genes. This finding could lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatments for Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers analyzed over 100,000 audio recordings from around the world to understand the factors that contribute to the diversity of bird sounds. The study found that larger birds tend to call at lower frequencies, which can indicate hunting pressure in landscapes.
Researchers are using deep learning to help protect chimpanzees in the Greater Mahale Ecosystem, Tanzania. A new acoustic detector has been developed to identify chimpanzee sounds and monitor population density more efficiently, allowing for better conservation strategies.
An international team of researchers has discovered seven new species of tree frogs in Madagascar, characterized by their high-pitched whistling calls. The unique vocalizations are believed to serve as self-promotional advertisement calls to convey information about the male frog's suitability as a mate.
Researchers found that geckos utilize the saccule, a part of their inner ear traditionally linked to balance, to detect low-frequency vibrations. This 'sixth sense' plays a complementary role in the geckos' normal hearing and sensory perception.
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
Researchers found that enhancing soundscapes with diverse bird sounds in vineyards improved tourists' experiences, making them feel freer from work and more relaxed. By conserving biodiversity, outdoor businesses can create a positive impact on customers' mental and physical health.
A University of Maryland study reveals how the brain adapts to different listening situations, with the orbitofrontal cortex playing a central role. The findings may have implications for human health and well-being, particularly in conditions such as autism, dyslexia, or schizophrenia.
Scientists studying the rifleman bird found that its vocal signatures are similar when birds live near each other, suggesting they may learn their sounds. This challenges the traditional view of birds as either vocal learners or non-learners, and raises the possibility that many bird species possess rudimentary learning abilities.
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
Researchers analyzed the calls of two male emperor penguins, E-79 and E-81, and discovered a unique combination of masculine and feminine characteristics. This finding could lead to new methods for studying penguin behavior and assessing their reproductive state, which is crucial for conservation efforts.
A team of researchers from the University of Buenos Aires has developed a method to translate the vocal muscle activity of birds during sleep into synthetic songs. This breakthrough uses electromyography data and dynamical systems models to recreate the sounds of dreaming birds, providing a new window into the subconscious mind of avians.
Research reveals that the midbrain of midshipman fish initiates and patterns sounds used in vocal communication. The findings suggest a functional comparable periaqueductal gray node between fish and mammals, which can influence acoustic structure of social context-specific vocal signals.
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
Researchers found that honeyguides in Tanzania and Mozambique discriminate among human calls, responding more readily to local than foreign calls. This complex communication system benefits both species by increasing their chances of accessing calorie-dense honey and beeswax.
Researchers analyzed 13,000 hours of audio data from Okinawan forests before, during, and after typhoons, finding that ecosystems responded differently than expected. The study suggests that developed sites were more resilient to extreme weather than anticipated, but climate change may push these ecosystems to their limits.
A recent study found that flocks of birds in North America, Europe, and Asia responded equally strongly to the alarm call of an unfamiliar dusky-throated antshrike. This suggests that sentinel calls may contain a universal signal that allows birds to recognize them across different species and continents.
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
A new proof-of-concept study demonstrates the use of distributed fiber optic sensing to detect and analyze the sound of periodical cicadas. The technology shows promise for charting the populations of these famously ephemeral bugs, with potential applications in monitoring insect abundance across seasons and years.
A new deep learning AI tool called ECOGEN has been developed to generate lifelike bird sounds, enhancing the samples of underrepresented species. This allows for improved bird song classification accuracy and contributes to the conservation of endangered bird species.
A recent study found that animals in the Greater Kruger National Park react with alarm to hearing human voices, fleeing waterholes and abandoning their habitat. The researchers used custom sound systems to compare the fear response of mammals to humans versus lions.
Researchers discovered that monk parakeets possess a unique tone of voice, known as a voice print, similar to humans. This finding raises the possibility that other vocally flexible species may also have a voice print.
Researchers recorded and identified mating and feeding sounds of 21 ocean species, including those influenced by the moon. The study's findings will contribute to the development of the Global Library of Underwater Biological Sounds (GLUBS), an open-access online platform for monitoring changes in marine environments.
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
Researchers developed an AI tool called SILIC to identify 169 species, including 137 birds, from bird sounds in Yushan National Park. The dataset provides detailed acoustic activity patterns of wildlife across short and long temporal scales.
A Florida Atlantic University study found that urban noise exposure during development affects the color of songbirds' beaks, which influence social interactions and mate choice. Males developed less bright beak coloration, while females developed brighter orange coloration than untreated birds.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen found that individuals with high empathy scores can accurately detect emotional sounds in animals, including arousal and valence. The study involved 1024 participants from 48 countries and showed a significant correlation between empathy for humans and understanding animal sounds.
Research found that sounds can influence how we perceive objects visually, making related sounds prioritize certain features. This effect was observed in three experiments, showing that audio input influences object-morph selection speed and accuracy when played during visual discrimination phase.
Great gray owls have a broad disc-like face that acts as radar to find food, while their facial features help correct for sonic distortions caused by snow. The owls' ability to hover above prey allows them to pinpoint location and avoid acoustic mirages created by the snow.
GoPro HERO13 Black
GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
A new study reveals that bats use the same technique as human death metal singers and throat singing members to produce sounds. Bats can span 7 octaves with their vocal range, surpassing most mammals. The research team filmed what happens in a bat's larynx when producing sound, showing heavy vocal folds vibrating at low frequencies.
Researchers used a random forest model to analyze hyena whoops and found that individual signatures are distinct enough for identification. Repeating calls can improve identification accuracy, peaking at seven repetitions.
A new study reveals that red-eyed treefrogs use bimodal acoustic calls, combining sound with plant-generated vibrations to convey messages. Female frogs prefer calls with both sound and vibration, while male frogs become more aggressive when feeling the vibrations of rival calls.
A study found that male Rock Hyraxes with stable isochronous rhythms in their courtship songs have higher reproductive success and more surviving offspring. Genetic analysis revealed that song rhythms are related to individual quality and potentially indicate health and suitability as mates.
A new tool called DeepSqueak uses deep learning to identify marine mammal calls with high accuracy, even in noisy environments. The tool was originally developed for rodent ultrasound signals but has been adapted to detect sounds at other frequencies, including humpback whales and delphinids.
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
A study found that domesticated pigs and horses, as well as Asian wild horses, can tell the difference between positively and negatively charged sounds. The animals reacted stronger to negatively charged voices and showed mirroring of emotions.
Researchers found that greater mouse-eared bats imitate the buzzing sound of a stinging insect to avoid predatory owls. The study, published in Current Biology, provides evidence of interspecific mimicry between mammals and insects.
A Dartmouth study using advanced recording technology reveals that females prefer lower frequency songs with low variance, while males time their songs to follow neighbors. The research shows how chorus composition and individual songs impact mating in wood frogs.
Researchers created FishSounds.net, an interactive library of fish sounds, to help identify and track fish species. The database can aid in environmental monitoring, fisheries management, and conservation efforts.
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.
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 recent study found that most vocal learners, such as dolphins and whales, sound higher than expected based on their body size, not lower. This challenges the idea that faking body size is linked to vocal learning and suggests a different evolutionary scenario for vocal communication in mammals.
Researchers studied harbour seal pups' vocal responses to sea noise, finding they lowered their tone to adapt. The study reveals young seals have advanced control over their vocalizations at an early age.
Studies have shown that melodies in animal vocalizations share similarities with human languages, suggesting a parallel evolution. This led researchers to investigate how animals perceive melodic patterns, finding potential candidates in universal structures across languages.
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
Scientists from the University of Warwick found that orangutan call signals, similar to precursors to human language, can travel far without losing meaning. This contradicts current mathematical models predicting sound degradation with distance, suggesting a new approach to understanding language evolution.
By reading electrical signals in a bird's brain, researchers can predict specific syllables and when they will be sung. This breakthrough technology has the potential to develop vocal prostheses for humans with speech disorders.
Researchers found that Asian elephants produce high-pitched squeaks through lip vibration, contradicting previous assumptions that the sound comes from the trunk. The technique is unique in the animal kingdom and may be learned, suggesting flexibility in sound production.
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.
A recent study by California Polytechnic State University found that exposure to recorded birdsong can significantly improve humans' sense of well-being, especially in protected areas. The researchers discovered that even short periods of time spent listening to birdsong can have a positive impact on mental health.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.
Researchers found that zebra finches can distinguish between 16-56 different birds based on their unique sounds, a feat previously thought possible only for humans. The birds' ability to recognize each other's vocalizations suggests sophisticated social communication and complex mapping skills.
Researchers developed SoundWatch, a smartwatch app for deaf, Deaf, and hard-of-hearing people to receive sound alerts from various sources. The app uses machine learning to identify and classify common home-related sounds, enhancing users' experiences and connection to the world.
Researchers discovered that Fork-tailed Flycatchers produce unique sounds by fluttering their feathers, which differ between subspecies with varying migration patterns. The distinct 'dialects' may contribute to the species splitting into separate entities.
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
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.
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 tracing acoustic communication across land-living vertebrates reveals that the ability to vocalize dates back to 350 million years ago. The researchers found that this trait is associated with a nocturnal lifestyle, which provides an advantage for sound-based communication.
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.
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.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and a Brazilian institute recorded the loudest bird calls ever documented by dove-sized male white bellbirds. The calls have sound pressure levels about three times that of screaming pihas, another Amazon species.
Researchers at the University of Zurich and others identified two perceptually distinct sounds in chestnut-crowned babbler calls that are shared across different arrangements. The findings suggest that these elements are meaningless and may be an early step in the emergence of human language.
Researchers found that the syrinx's position at the end of the airway enhances vocal efficiency, allowing birds to communicate more effectively. This unique feature enables birds to amplify their sounds using their long necks as resonators, giving them an advantage in attracting mates and warning off predators.
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Researchers found alligators build neural maps of sound like birds do, indicating a common ancestor with dinosaurs shared this hearing strategy. The study suggests that the strategy may be more related to common ancestry than physical features such as skull size.
A comparative animal study published in JNeurosci found that alligators encode sound location like birds but differently than mammals. The reptile's brain constructs neural maps to chart sound location, a feature observed in close relatives of the alligator, but not in mammals.