A Korean research team created an underwater acoustic lens capable of focusing sound precisely at a desired point while reducing weight by about 40% compared to conventional designs. The findings have significant implications for underwater communication, marine environmental monitoring, and acoustic energy transfer.
SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalJournal of Sound and Vibration·DateJul 1, 2026
Researchers have developed a soft, custom-molded acoustic contact lens that actively corrects outgoing sound waves before they pass through an autonomous drone's protective shell. The lens boosts sonar signal strength by up to 10 decibels while cutting background reverberation without draining extra battery power.
SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJun 16, 2026
Researchers developed a machine learning framework to detect and classify shell-crushing sounds, enabling the quantification of predator impacts on mollusk populations. The system uses multi-step approaches and demonstrates strong performance in controlled tank conditions and field settings.
SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalEcological Informatics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 3, 2026
Researchers found the Cascadia Subduction Zone to be more active than previously thought, with signs of shallow earthquakes and fluid flow detected offshore. The study suggests variable fluid pathways could alter the behavior of large earthquakes on the fault, potentially influencing the severity of future events.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 27, 2026
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Researchers analyzed over 2,000 hours of underwater recordings to detect subtle shifts in red hind spawning behavior and population dynamics. The study found a notable shift in the balance of mating calls over the 12-year period, with calls linked to competition becoming dominant.
SourceFlorida Atlantic University·TypeObservational study·DateSep 18, 2025
Researchers at Griffith University developed a publicly available tool to analyze unknown sound-types in large acoustic datasets. The new protocol pinpoints river species, providing valuable insights into river ecosystems.
SourceGriffith University·JournalMethods in Ecology and Evolution·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 3, 2025
Researchers at UNSW Sydney discovered that leopard seal songs share structural similarities with human nursery rhymes, featuring predictable patterns and low entropy. The study found that male seals spend up to 13 hours a day singing in two-minute cycles, with each individual creating a unique sonic signature.
SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 31, 2025
Researchers found that coral larvae settle near speakers in artificial reef environments, suggesting sound as an environmental cue. The study aims to develop scalable strategies using audiovisual remote sensing tools to monitor reef biodiversity.
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Researchers at Purdue University have developed a metamaterial that can significantly reduce underwater noise generated by offshore wind farm installation. The technology, which uses carefully arranged plates to trap air and guide sound, achieves a 40-decibel reduction in noise levels.
Acoustic metamaterial enables pushing, rotating, and complex movements in 3D. Researchers can now move and position objects underwater without touching them directly, paving the way for applications like remote surgery and drug delivery.
Researchers use acoustics to identify corroded UXOs in shallow water, making them difficult to observe with standard sonar imaging techniques. The study helps provide better predictive tools for finding UXOs in civilian environmental demining efforts.
Baleen whale species that flee from killer whales produce calls at deep frequencies undetectable to their predators, while others sing higher-frequency songs that are easily heard. This 'flight' vs 'fight' difference influences all aspects of baleen whale behavior, from migration patterns and communication to mating and feeding habits.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalMarine Mammal Science·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 6, 2025
A new study by Duke University finds that deep-diving whales confuse plastic debris with prey items, as its acoustic signature mimics squid. Researchers tested various types of plastic trash and found strong similarities in their acoustic signals compared to whale prey, highlighting the need for more sustainable materials.
SourceDuke University·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 16, 2024
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Researchers found that commercial ship noise completely masks Cook Inlet beluga whales' most commonly used calls, compromising their critical communication. The study documents the complex vocal repertoire of the population and provides a quantified measure of masking by ship noise on their communication.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·TypeObservational study·DateDec 11, 2023
A team led by Lehigh University's Yahong Rosa Zheng is developing an Autonomous Observatory Node that can collect and transmit data from underwater sensors wirelessly, without the need for expensive subsea cables. The prototype aims to operate at depths of up to 1000 meters, enabling researchers to study extreme environments and detect...
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed an underwater 3D-positioning app for smart devices, allowing divers to accurately track each other's locations. The app uses acoustic signals and timestamps to estimate diver distances and locations, improving accuracy with more devices in the network.
Researchers recorded and identified mating and feeding sounds of 21 ocean species, including those influenced by the moon. The study's findings will contribute to the development of the Global Library of Underwater Biological Sounds (GLUBS), an open-access online platform for monitoring changes in marine environments.
SourceProgramme for the Human Environment, The Rockefeller University·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateApr 26, 2023
Researchers at the University of Bristol collected 840 hours of underwater sound recordings from five ponds in England, revealing clear daily acoustic activity cycles. The study provides insights into the health of freshwater ecosystems and the potential for assessing species presence without disturbing the environment.
SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalFreshwater Biology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 25, 2023
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Researchers at the University of Washington developed AquaApp, a mobile app that enables underwater messaging on billions of existing smartphones and smartwatches using software. The app uses acoustic signals to transmit messages and can accommodate up to 60 unique users on its local network.
Scientists analyzed nearly two decades of underwater recordings to find that the distinctive songs of Chagos pygmy blue whales have increased in frequency over time. This suggests that stocks of the sub-species may be on the rebound after being hunted to near-extinction in the 20th century.
SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 10, 2022
A team of researchers from the University of Tsukuba has developed a new approach for accurate underwater acoustic positioning in multipath environments. By using a database of signals and selectively removing reflected waves, they achieve centimeter-scale accuracy in object location, even in shallow waters.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJapanese Journal of Applied Physics·DateMay 26, 2022
A new tool called DeepSqueak uses deep learning to identify marine mammal calls with high accuracy, even in noisy environments. The tool was originally developed for rodent ultrasound signals but has been adapted to detect sounds at other frequencies, including humpback whales and delphinids.
A new machine learning algorithm can accurately identify fish calls from hydrophone data, enabling efficient analysis of marine environments. The method has implications for understanding changes in ocean conditions and coral reef health.
SourceOregon State University·JournalMarine Ecology Progress Series·DateJan 6, 2022
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Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Researchers developed an attention-based deep neural network to detect multiple ship targets, exceeding conventional networks' performance. The model focused on inherent features of the two ships simultaneously, outperforming traditional approaches.
SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJASA Express Letters·DateOct 12, 2021
Hady Salloum and his team at Stevens Institute of Technology will commercialize an underwater security system to protect ports, ships, and supply chains from surface and underwater intruders. The system uses patented technology to detect human divers and small boats, ensuring safer travel, shipping, and logistics.
Researchers created a 3D underwater acoustic carpet cloak using transformation acoustics, hiding objects from detection instruments like sonar. The cloaked object mimicked the reflecting surface and was undetectable in every direction.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 4, 2018
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A new underwater acoustic localization system has been developed to estimate the trajectory of sound sources in the ocean without multiple receivers or anchor nodes. The system uses bathymetry information to discriminate the location of the source of the signal.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences create first underwater acoustic carpet cloak using transformation acoustics, controlling sound wave propagation. The carpet cloak, composed of layered brass plates, successfully mimics a reflecting plane and makes the cloaked object imperceptible to sound detection.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 4, 2017
The University of New Hampshire will study ocean ecosystems using underwater acoustic technology in the mid- and south Atlantic Ocean. The research aims to understand patterns and trends in regional ocean soundscapes and processes, including climate change.
Megan S. Ballard receives the R. Bruce Lindsay Award from the Acoustical Society of America for her contributions to underwater acoustic propagation modeling and inversion techniques in acoustical oceanography. The award recognizes her research on sound field calculation in complex underwater environments.
Most aquatic species sense sound via particle motion, yet few studies have included measurements. Researchers from the University of Exeter and others have developed user-friendly tools to maximize its uptake and understand the impact of man-made noise on aquatic life.
SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalMethods in Ecology and Evolution·DateMar 1, 2016
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Henry Cox, Senior Fellow at Lockheed Martin, has made fundamental and practical contributions to array signal processing, underwater acoustics, and sonar systems engineering. The Helmholtz-Rayleigh Silver Medal is awarded for interdisciplinary contributions named after two great pioneers of acoustics.
A new coupled normal mode method is presented to solve range-dependent propagation problems in underwater acoustics. The proposed method is accurately validated through comparison with analytical solutions and demonstrates high computational efficiency.