Articles tagged with Acoustics
A study by Brynn Kimber and team reveals killer whales spending more time in the Arctic due to reduced sea ice, posing new threats to prey species. The warmer climate is altering the predators' hunting patterns, leading to increased risks for endangered bowhead whales.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 at the University of California, Davis and the University of Texas at Dallas found that listeners can reliably identify the gender of individual children as young as 5. They also discovered that identification of gender must take place jointly with the identification of age and likely physical size.
Researchers from Utah State University and KAUST found clear acoustic signatures of oil temperature in deep-frying sounds. The unique bubble patterns near the oil surface create distinct noises that vary with heat levels.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have demonstrated optical-wave signal amplification and cancellation using optically driven acoustic waves on a silicon chip. This achievement paves the way for new applications in signal processing, sensing, and nanostructures.
Researchers from Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University found that matching the locations of faces with speech sounds significantly improves understanding of speech, especially in noisy areas. Spatial alignment is more important when background noise is louder.
A study by University of British Columbia researchers reveals that southern resident killer whales have access to four to six times more Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea than northern residents. This challenges the common notion of a prey shortage for southern residents during summer feeding grounds.
Researchers used MEG to measure brain activity while participants listened to simultaneous math equations and sentences, finding separate networks for each. The parietal lobe processed math and the temporal lobe processed language, with activity tracking every word and symbol.
Researchers used EEG to measure brain activity while musicians listened to or imagined Bach piano melodies. Brain activity during imagined music had the opposite polarity of actual listening, indicating prediction-driven responses. The study found that the brain continues to respond to music even when none is playing.
Research reveals that even professional female sopranos tend to be inaccurate in self-assessing their own singing abilities. However, those with higher singing competence are better at evaluating themselves. The study's findings suggest that self-evaluation plays a crucial role in developing exceptional musical skills.
Research published in Ibis found that call rates of migratory birds were significantly higher in urban areas compared to villages, indicating a impact of artificial light on bird migration. The study suggests that improved management of urban lighting is necessary to mitigate this effect.
Researchers developed an innovative method using acoustic lighthouses to reduce bird strikes with tall human-made structures. By broadcasting specific sounds, these 'acoustic lighthouses' minimize the risk of collisions without visually disturbing birds.
A study found that algorithm-generated music recommendations are less accurate for listeners of non-mainstream music compared to those who listen to mainstream music. The researchers identified four groups of non-mainstream music listeners based on their listening habits and found that users who listened to high-energy music received t...
Researchers found that algorithm-generated music recommendations were less accurate for listeners of high-energy music such as hard rock and hip-hop. Those who mostly listened to ambient music received the most accurate recommendations, while those who mostly listened to hard rock received the least accurate ones.
Haiyan Wang developed a new approach to creating high-quality thin films used in devices for optics, acoustics, and electronics. The innovation uses a versatile nanocomposite-seeded method to create single-layer films, improving production efficiency.
A team of researchers at the University of Illinois replicated hypersonic flow conditions in a NASA Langley Mach 6 wind tunnel using a numerical simulation. The study aimed to better understand the complexities of hypersonic flows, including pressure, temperature, and fluid velocity.
A study published in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics detects the earliest stages of failure in silicon carbide power electronics through real-time acoustic monitoring. The researchers found that increasing acoustic emission signals correspond to progressive damage to aluminum ribbons, allowing for early warning of device failure.
Researchers have created an optical switch that can direct high-frequency gamma radiation by switching the acoustic field. This effect demonstrates controlled transparency of a resonant medium for gamma radiation, which may be useful for controlling generated radiation in modern synchrotron sources and X-ray lasers.
Researchers from Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a method to detect keyhole instability in laser deep penetration welding. The technique uses an acoustic sensor and optical measurements analyzed with artificial intelligence, allowing for real-time monitoring of weld quality.
Researchers found that gesturing while speaking affects the sound of a person's voice, adding acoustic emphasis. The study suggests that gestures carry additional information about bodily tension and motion, contradicting traditional views on language.
Researchers are developing a smartphone app to diagnose COVID-19 at home using acoustic sensing and AI techniques. The system measures changes in human airway mechanics, which are uniquely correlated to COVID-19 infection.
Researchers found that state-of-the-art ASR systems performed worse on black speakers than white speakers, with error rates of 0.35 and 0.19 words per hour respectively. The study attributes these disparities to limitations in the acoustic models' ability to capture African American Vernacular English pronunciation and prosody.
A Curtin University-led study found that Ross Sea killer whales, also known as Type C, have a unique call repertoire comprising burst-pulse sounds and whistles to convey information about their environment. The research analyzed data from over 392 encounters with the species.
Researchers used soundscape analysis to evaluate restoration efforts on Western Aleutian Islands, finding that acoustic diversity and complexity indicate ecosystem health. The approach could assess restoration outcomes at a fraction of the effort required for traditional methods.
Humpback whales tend to socialize less in the presence of small fishing boats compared to when there are no vessels present. The noise from boats may be masking their signals, making it difficult for them to communicate and join together.
A cache of 12 previously unreleased songs by Hall of Fame artist Lou Reed has been unearthed on a cassette tape from 1975, according to a study published in the Journal of Musicology. Cornell musicologist Judith Peraino discovered the rare recordings while conducting archival research at the Andy Warhol Museum.
Researchers have pinpointed the source of acoustic signals emitted by stressed faults in a numerical model, which could lead to more accurate earthquake predictions. The study reveals that the collapse of stress chains inside an earthquake gouge emits these signals.
Researchers found that participants overestimated their effort when the feedback indicated faster heartbeat and did not underestimate it when the feedback indicated slower heartbeat. The study suggests that false cardiac feedback can produce an interoceptive illusion of effort.
Researchers have introduced a new wearable audio dataset with up to 80 microphones, which can simulate different hearing scenarios and improve the performance of devices like smart headphones. The data set is now available for free under an open-access license, making it easier for future researchers to access and build upon.
A team of researchers, led by Sungyoung Kim, is developing a comprehensive method to preserve and reconstruct the 'sound signature' of cultural heritage sites. The project focuses on auralization, which simulates unique acoustical environments in virtual or physical spaces, and aims to provide non-expert humanities researchers with dig...
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.
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...
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.
Researchers studied 34 right whale mother-calf pairs from 2011 to 2015, discovering that near-surface resting behavior increases the risk of ship strikes and low call-rates may be a defense mechanism. The study's findings emphasize the need for improved protection measures to prevent extinction
Researchers developed flexible piezoelectric acoustic sensors for improved speaker recognition, achieving sensitivity over two times higher than conventional sensors. These sensors enable 97.5% accurate speaker recognition and diverse voice detection in various environments.
A Surrey-based team won the top spot in the DCASE 2018 Challenge, a machine learning competition focused on audio classification. The CVSSP's AI-powered system uses artificial intelligence to simulate human auditory function and improve situational awareness of sounds.
Snort production is significantly associated with positive situations and internal states in horses, suggesting a potential tool for improving animal welfare practices. Horses living in naturalistic conditions emit more snorts than those in restricted environments.
Researchers recorded methane bubbles from seafloor off Oregon coast using hydrophone, estimating bubble size and frequency related to methane content. The study aims to use sound to estimate volume and rate of methane gas exiting seafloor fields.
Coral reef fish rely on acoustic cues for habitat selection and settlement. Research found that degraded reefs have reduced acoustic complexity, richness, and sound-pressure levels, making them less attractive to fish larvae and juvenile fish. This may limit future fish settlement and reduce reef resilience.
The Boras extend their language reach by a factor of 100 using drummed speech with rhythmic units encoded in pauses between beats. Drummed speech allows them to convey meaning and distinguish words through tone and rhythm.
The new approach enhances audio-analysis machines to process noisy environments by combining scalograms and spectrograms with convolutional neural networks. This improves sound classification, enabling better identification of isolated sounds like gunshots and music or speech in complex scenes.
Researchers propose that cave art may have played a role in the development of human language, citing acoustic properties and visual representations. The study suggests that early humans used sound echoes to convey symbolic thinking, which eventually led to the creation of language.
Researchers have obtained detailed three-dimensional images of a megathrust fault west of Costa Rica, revealing long grooves and other features that may control how the fault slips in an earthquake. The study provides unprecedented insight into the mechanisms at work along these faults, critical for disaster management worldwide.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University will design and deploy a software-defined testbed for real-time undersea wireless communications and surveillance. They aim to advance the state-of-the-art in 3D passive undersea acoustic localization by providing novel algorithmic solutions.
Researchers tracked North Atlantic right whales using passive acoustic monitoring, finding they use nearly the entire eastern seaboard during winter and move around more than thought. The study revealed changes in their time spent in some areas and confirmed their presence along the East Coast year-round.
A computer science approach using machine learning predicts the time remaining before a fault fails by analyzing acoustic signals emitted during laboratory-created earthquakes. The technique identifies new signals, previously thought to be low-amplitude noise, that provide forecasting information throughout the earthquake cycle.
A new study found that humpback whales avoid loud ocean mining noise triggered by seismic air gun surveys, suggesting a clear avoidance reaction within a certain distance from the vessel. The research aims to improve current mitigation measures to prevent adverse effects of seismic air gun noise on large whale behavior.
A new study found that players who lost Wimbledon matches produced higher-pitched grunts than those who won. The researchers analyzed television footage of 50 matches and discovered that the likely match outcome became apparent from the outset, suggesting longer-term physiological or psychological factors at play.
A closed-loop acoustic stimulation brainwave technology significantly reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a small pilot study. The intervention, high-resolution relational resonance-based electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM), showed a 89% decrease in symptoms and improved balance in brain pattern activity.
Acoustic habituation is a common form of sensory filtering that allows the brain to block out extraneous sounds and focus on important information. The Western-led research identified the underlying molecular mechanism that controls this ability, which can be regulated with drugs in animal models.
The James Webb Space Telescope has completed its acoustic and vibration tests, ensuring it can withstand launch vibrations and maintain functionality in space. The telescope was subjected to simulated forces of up to 100 times per second using a new vibration test system.
The James Webb Space Telescope is set to undergo an earsplitting acoustic test, simulating the intense vibrations of launch. The team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has completed vibration testing and prepared the telescope for the test, which will push its limits.
A new study using acoustic networks has documented a 34% per year decline in Mexico's critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The decline is attributed to resumption of illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba, despite conservation efforts.