Articles tagged with Acoustics
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.
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 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.
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.
Researchers found that video monitoring can detect nocturnal seizures, particularly tonic seizures, but the added value is limited due to high costs. The study suggests developing less costly and invasive devices to improve detection while addressing privacy concerns.
Researchers found that similarities between contact calls of female rhesus macaques were predicted by familiarity, not kinship. Call structure was similar among females with similar age or matrilineal membership, suggesting experience has a greater impact on acoustic similarity than genetic background.
The new NIST method uses nonlinear acoustic measurements to detect cracks in ceramic capacitors before they cause electrical failure. This approach has shown promise in rejecting over 90% of sample capacitors with visible cracks and may help prevent failures in medical implants, spacecraft, and other mission-critical electronics.
UC Davis researchers develop ultra-low-power sensors with near-zero power consumption, targeting continuous and passive monitoring of environments. The goal is to extend sensor lifetime from months to years, enabling always-on sensing without significant power drain.
Researchers found that larger vocal organs and deeper roars in male howler monkeys correspond to smaller testes and lower sperm production. This trade-off is related to the mating system, where males with large hyoids and deep roars live in small groups with one dominant male.
Scientists from Hiroshima University have observed an unusual dispersion of the acoustic mode in liquid Bi using inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS). The results resolve previous disagreements and suggest a possible mechanism involving a long-range interatomic force, which is related to local structures.
Gerhard M. Sessler, a renowned expert in acoustics, received the 2015 Gold Medal of the Acoustical Society of America for his groundbreaking work on electret and silicon-based microphones. His inventions have led to the development of highly sensitive and cost-effective microphones that dominate global production.
Humpback whales cooperate with each other to corral prey near the surface and emit specific acoustic cues when feeding on bottom prey at night. These sounds, dubbed 'tick-tock' noises, help flush out sand lance, a common food source.
A study by Queen Mary University of London and The University of Nottingham reveals that cows use distinct, individualized 'calls' to communicate with their calves, which change in frequency and pitch when separated. Researchers identified two maternal calls, one for close proximity and a louder call for separation.
Ning Xiang, Director of Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been awarded the Wallace Clement Sabine Medal by the Acoustical Society of America. He is recognized for his contributions to measurements and analysis techniques, numerical simulation of sound fields in coupled rooms.
Parasitic butterfly larvae may use acoustic signals to infiltrate ant colonies, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. The larvae's sound patterns were found to be more similar to those of the queen ant than worker ants, suggesting a potential strategy for infiltration and exploitation.
Researchers found that visual cues like texting improve performance in noisy environments, making it easier to understand messages. Adding text messaging as a supplement to audio presentation significantly reduces difficulties in communication during auditory overload situations.
Researchers estimate that the ocean was even louder 200 years ago due to whales' vocalizations. New data suggest that human-generated noise in modern oceans is just a small increase compared to natural whale sounds.
Researchers created a simplified model of the brain and skull inside a helmet during a collision, illustrating how fast vibrational motion translates to sloshing brain motion. The study aims to improve helmet design for better brain protection, with potential futuristic helmets that crumple on impact like plastic car bumpers.
A new damping technique has been developed to combat painful vibrations in baseball bats, targeting the sweet spot where vibrations between 600-700 Hz cause pain. The technique involves a mass-spring device that quickly eliminates these painful oscillations, reducing shock and discomfort for players.
A study suggests that smoking, but not nicotine, may reduce the risk of developing an acoustic neuroma, a rare benign tumor near the brain. Current smokers have a 59% lower risk compared to non-smokers, while snuff users show no protection.
Research suggests that smoking can increase the impact of genes like TCF4 on acoustic stimulus filtering, potentially leading to schizophrenia. Healthy carriers of the TCF4 gene also exhibit reduced stimulus filtering abilities.
Researchers developed a new pentrometer to measure apple crispness, improving accuracy and reducing errors in traditional sensory analysis methods. The study found significant correlations between the computerized penetrometer's data and expert panel ratings, demonstrating its potential for large-scale apple breeding programs.
Research reveals that North American right whales adjust their calls in response to increased ocean noise levels, maintaining signal-to-noise ratio while incurring costs. This adaptation is crucial for successful communication in a noisy ocean, but its long-term effects on whale behavior and population health remain uncertain.
Researchers decoded Orangutan long calls, discovering they convey individual identity and context. Females can distinguish between spontaneous and aroused calls, reacting differently to each. Long calls may serve to repel rivals or predators, a key finding that sheds light on Orangutan communication.
A new acoustic telemetry system, JSATS, detects 98% of tagged fish in juvenile salmon migration studies, allowing for more precise survival estimates and reducing the number of fish needed. The system's smaller tag size and flexible receiver placement capabilities also improve conservation efforts.
A team of scientists used satellite and acoustic tags to study white shark migration patterns in the North Pacific, revealing a genetically distinct population that has separated from other sharks worldwide. This finding suggests the possibility of long-term population assessment and monitoring, which could help ensure their protection.
Researchers studying Idaho's Clearwater River have found that temperature differences and slow-moving water can delay the migration of juvenile salmon, allowing them to grow larger before reaching the Pacific Ocean. This delayed migration could help the fish survive better when they finish their ocean-bound trek.
Researchers used acoustic equipment to analyze the spectral patterns of stridulations produced by Guam's coconut rhinoceros beetle, revealing distinct temporal patterns that aid in communication among beetles. The method allows for early detection of feeding grubs, saving money and lives of coconut trees.
A new study found that salmon smolts survive at similar rates of 70-80% in both the Columbia and Fraser rivers, with differences attributed to stressors such as dams, water temperature, and contaminants. The research used acoustic and transponder tags to track survival rates over a four-year period.
Researchers found that higher-ranking males produced groans with lower minimum fundamental frequencies and to a lesser extent, with lower formant dispersion. Dominance status was the factor most strongly related to mating success, with higher-ranking males having higher mating success.
This study investigates the 3D rupture conformations of a surface fault under biaxial compression, revealing three stages of crack growth and introducing the concept of anti-wing cracks. The results provide fundamental understanding of surface fault propagation and have significant implications for future studies on active fault movement.
Researchers at NIST have built a system that measures temperatures with precision, which may help update the definition of the Kelvin. The system uses electrical noise to measure temperatures with accuracy and is simpler than other systems, making it ideal for industrial thermometry labs.
Researchers found that bats quickly learned new foraging behaviors, such as associating frog calls with palatable prey, through social learning. This study suggests that cultural transmission plays a role in the flexibility of bat foraging behavior, enabling them to adapt to changing environments.
University of Miami researchers are tracking black and red grouper in the Dry Tortugas National Park using acoustic telemetry technology. The study aims to improve our understanding of species movement and habitat requirements, enabling more efficient design and assessment of future marine-protected areas.
The use of underwater listening devices has yielded surprising discoveries about the movements and calling behavior of endangered large whales in Alaskan waters. These devices have enabled scientists to detect and recognize whale calls over tens of miles, providing new insights into the seasonal habits of these marine mammals.
Researchers aim to develop AI system that can assess acoustic qualities of spaces using music played in the room. The project has £70,000 funding and could provide solutions for architects and the construction industry.
New acoustic tracking technology provides detailed knowledge of fish movement and habitat use, enabling the design of effective conservation measures. Small reserves can effectively protect adult fish populations, while larger reserves may be more beneficial for overall marine biodiversity.