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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
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

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.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateOct 21, 2025

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

Eavesdropping on underwater signals from the air

A new eavesdropping technology has been developed to intercept underwater messages from the air, posing significant security risks. The device uses radar to decode tiny vibrations on the water's surface, allowing for location identification and message interception.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·DateNov 20, 2024
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

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

This sound-suppressing silk can create quiet spaces

A team of researchers from MIT created a lightweight, compact, and efficient mechanism to reduce noise transmission using a sound-suppressing silk fabric. The fabric uses vibrations to cancel out unwanted sounds in two different ways, one for small spaces and another for larger areas like rooms or cars.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMay 7, 2024

Hearing study: Each nerve fiber trains on it’s own

A recent study by researchers at LMU Munich discovered that neural networks adapt to sensory stimulation on an individual nerve fiber basis, rather than transferring improvements to neighboring fibers. This finding suggests that varied sensory experience throughout life is essential for maintaining cognitive fitness.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2024
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

The drone that could save bats from the terror of wind turbine blades

A new study uses drone-mounted technology to deter bats from flying into wind turbines, reducing fatalities by 40% and allowing turbines to operate efficiently. The device transmits ultrasonic signals and lights to warn bats of danger, leading them to fly over the turbine and out of harm's way.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalRemote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation·DateDec 15, 2022

A new spin on bouncing sound waves

Researchers at KAUST have developed acoustic tweezers that use spinning sound waves to manipulate ultrasmall objects with precision. This technology has the potential to enable precise control of submillimeter objects in opaque media, such as soft biological tissues.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 13, 2022

How giant-faced owls snag voles hidden in snow

Great gray owls have a broad disc-like face that acts as radar to find food, while their facial features help correct for sonic distortions caused by snow. The owls' ability to hover above prey allows them to pinpoint location and avoid acoustic mirages created by the snow.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateNov 30, 2022
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

MIT engineers build a battery-free, wireless underwater camera

MIT researchers create a low-power, sound-harvesting camera that captures color photos and transmits data wirelessly. The autonomous device can run for weeks without power, enabling scientists to explore remote oceans and monitor climate change impacts.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2022

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

Whales learn songs from each other in a cultural ‘deep dive’

Researchers found that New Caledonian humpback whales can learn and accurately sing songs from Australian counterparts with remarkable accuracy. This cultural transmission is rare in non-human species and provides insight into the evolution of cultural communication in animals and humans.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateJun 30, 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
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

CityU physicists discovered special transverse sound wave

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have discovered a new type of sound wave that vibrates transversely and carries both spin and orbital angular momentum like light. This finding provides new degrees of freedom for sound manipulations, enabling unprecedented acoustic communications and sensing capabilities.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2021

Sounding off on Seattle Space Needle renovation #ASA181

The Seattle Space Needle renovation incorporated acoustic designs to limit sound transmission, enhancing visitor experience. Acoustic materials and effective reverberant sound control were selected for the observation levels and restaurant.

SourceAcoustical Society of America·DateDec 2, 2021

Filtering unwanted sounds from baby monitors #ASA181

Researchers at Johns Hopkins APL aim to create an ideal baby monitor that filters out unwanted noises, ensuring parents don't miss infant cries. The team's open-source device uses audio processing hardware to filter out background sounds, improving the overall baby monitoring experience.

SourceAcoustical Society of America·DateDec 2, 2021

Estimating the quality of sound spaces from an observed speech

Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology create method to estimate five-room acoustic parameters and speech transmission index using a short conversation, with potential applications in monitoring auditoriums during concerts and saving lives through smart speakers

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalApplied Acoustics·DateNov 18, 2021

Decorating windows for optimal sound transmission

Researchers developed a layered glass material allowing for acoustic propagation without air ventilation. The decorated window comprises ordinary glass, resulting in an inexpensive and optically transparent material.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 1, 2020
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

'Chemical earmuffs' could prevent hearing loss

A team of biologists identified a receptor that, when blocked, can prevent common types of hearing loss. They found that a drug called IEM-1460 selectively blocks the receptor and prevents hearing damage in mice exposed to noise.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 2020

The future of sonar in semiheated oceans

Scientists studying climate change's impact on underwater sound propagation and sonar transmission. Warmer oceans increase sound speed, making detection of submarines more challenging.

SourceAcoustical Society of America·DateMay 25, 2016
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Caltech engineers develop 1-way transmission system for sound waves

Researchers at Caltech have created a tunable acoustic diode that allows acoustic information to travel only in one direction, controllable by frequency. This technology brings soundproofing closer to reality, with potential applications in biomedical ultrasound devices and energy-harvesting systems.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 26, 2011

Computer model improves ultrasound image

A computer model developed by Koos Huijssen predicts sound transmission of improved ultrasound instrument designs, processing large data sets on PC and parallel supercomputers. The model is being used to design a new sonographic transducer at Erasmus University Medical Centre.

SourceNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research·DateNov 4, 2008

Teaching computers to replace lost sounds

Researchers can now reconstruct missing sound sequences by analyzing typical language patterns. This technology will aid safe communication in noisy environments and help historians recreate lost texts.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·DateMar 21, 2002