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Acoustic environment may explain why some bird songs outlast others

A new study suggests that environmental factors can influence which bird songs are passed down through generations. Common song types, with higher frequencies and broader frequency bandwidths, traveled more effectively through the environment than rare songs. This makes it easier for young birds to hear and learn these songs, potential...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalBioacoustics·TypeObservational study·DateJun 10, 2026

POSTECH unveils world’s first dynamic shape-morphing OLED panel with built-in speaker — all while maintaining ultra-thin flexibility

The POSTECH research team developed a smartphone-type OLED panel that can transform its shape while functioning as a speaker, maintaining ultra-thin flexibility. The panel uses electrically driven piezoelectric polymer actuators to achieve complex forms without mechanical hinges or motors.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·Journalnpj Flexible Electronics·DateMar 25, 2025

A stiff material that stops vibrations and noise

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a material that combines stiffness and damping properties, making it suitable for various applications. The new composite material features layers of stiff materials connected by ultra-thin rubber-like layers, resulting in excellent vibration-damping performance.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalComposites Part B Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2024

New imaging technique measures elasticity of multiple eye components simultaneously

A new imaging technique, multifocal acoustic radiation force-based reverberant optical coherence elastography (RevOCE), has been developed to measure the elasticity of multiple eye components simultaneously. This approach offers high resolution measurements of the stiffness of eye structures and could revolutionize how we study ocular ...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateSep 12, 2023

New research tunes theory of sound levitation

Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney have extended the theory of acoustic levitation to account for asymmetrical particles, which is more applicable to real-world experience. This new understanding enables precise control and sorting of tiny objects using ultrasonic waves.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 18, 2022

Navigating the shallows

A team of researchers from the University of Tsukuba has developed a new approach for accurate underwater acoustic positioning in multipath environments. By using a database of signals and selectively removing reflected waves, they achieve centimeter-scale accuracy in object location, even in shallow waters.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJapanese Journal of Applied Physics·DateMay 26, 2022

The Rule of Two helps make spaces sound better

The Rule of Two method uses multiple measurements to collect reliable data, overcoming the limitations of single sine sweep techniques. This new approach will make it easier and faster to design rooms with optimal acoustic combinations, leading to better sound quality in various spaces.

SourceAalto University·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateMar 30, 2022

Seeing below the surface of bimetallic nanoparticles

Researchers from Osaka University report a new technique for tracking the synthesis of core–shell bimetallic nanoparticles in real time, allowing for fine-tuning of nanomaterial preparation. The technique uses a piezoelectric resonator to monitor particle shape changes and track interdiffusion of metals.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysical Review B·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2022

Not silent yet; the shifting sounds of spring

A new study reveals that spring soundscape acoustic diversity and intensity are declining due to changes in bird communities. The research suggests that reductions in natural soundscapes may be the primary mechanism through which population declines impact humans.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 2, 2021

The emerging science of human screams

Researchers found that human screams occupy a reserved chunk of the auditory spectrum and activate a range of acoustic information. Screams have a property called roughness, which refers to how fast a sound changes in loudness, making them more terrifying.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 16, 2015

Uncovering liquid foam's bubbly acoustics

Researchers discovered liquid foams have low effective sound velocities, ranging from 20 to 60 meters per second, lower than its constituents. The type of foaming solution influences acoustic properties, with shaving foam showing a higher effective sound velocity.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateOct 17, 2013