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Sound safety

Engineers at Asius Technologies create a device that seals the ear canal, boosting sound pressures and alleviating listener fatigue. The technology uses a sacrificial membrane to absorb pressure waves, protecting the ear drum and preventing over-activation of the acoustic reflex.

Putting muscle into birdsong

The study found that male zebra finches use their stronger vocal muscles to control the pitch of their songs, while females rely on lung pressure. This discovery sheds light on how birds learn to sing and the complex mechanisms behind birdsong.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 29, 2010

Under Pressure

Researchers at Carnegie Institution use X-ray diffraction to determine iron's elasticity at high pressures, which could explain seismic anisotropy in the inner core. The findings suggest the inner core is close to melting and may contain additional components with low shear-wave velocities.