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Birds clap in the dark to flirt

Researchers have captured the behavior of scissor-tailed nightjars creating a unique sound by snapping their wrists together during courtship and copulation. The study sheds light on lesser-known bird communication methods and raises questions about the nuances of mechanical sounds.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Avian Biology·DateMay 19, 2026

Vietnam’s sound decision

In her book 'Sonic Socialism: Crisis and Care in Pandemic Hanoi', Christina Schwenkel explores how Vietnam used sound technologies to inform, regulate, and connect people during the pandemic. The country's success was largely due to its rapid communication systems, including loudspeakers and public health videos.

Your cells can hear

A team of researchers at Kyoto University has found that cells can hear and respond to sound waves, leading to potential applications in medicine and healthcare. The study used acoustic pressure to induce cellular responses, revealing the suppression of fat cell formation and activation of mechanosensitive genes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2025

Researchers listen to the hearts of bats in flight

Researchers from Max Planck Institute tracked the heart rates of male common noctule bats during flights, revealing a significant increase in heart rate from 6 to 900 beats per minute. The study found that bats consume up to 42% more energy in summer compared to spring, and develop unique strategies to survive in different seasons.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJul 9, 2024

Multi-bubble math

Scientists at the University of Tsukuba have developed a theoretical model to describe the motion of ultrasound waves in liquids containing multiple bubbles, which may enable advances in diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ultrasound technology. The new equations can also be used to enhance microbubble-enhanced medical applicati...

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalUltrasonics Sonochemistry·DateJul 11, 2022

New highly efficient wave-based acoustics simulation for large architectural spaces could revolutionize acoustic design

Researchers developed a highly efficient wave-based acoustics simulation that can accurately estimate the acoustics of large-scale interior spaces. The method uses a time-domain Finite Element Method to consider frequency-dependent characteristics of sound absorption materials, enabling precise modeling and high-speed estimations.

SourceKobe University·JournalBuildings·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 21, 2022