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Good vibrations?

Researchers have found that exposure to vibrations from power tools can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome, a condition that leads to numbness, loss of dexterity, and discoloration in the extremities. A study by Concordia engineer Subhash Rakheja suggests that simple seat upgrades can reduce exposure by up to 60 percent.

How long does a tuning fork ring?

A team from Vienna and Munich has developed a numerical solver to predict the design-limited damping of mechanical resonators, enabling the creation of more efficient devices. The solver uses quantum mechanics to calculate the radiation of phonons from the resonator, removing the need for trial and error prototype fabrication.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2011

Measuring fatigue through the voice

Australian researchers found that as fatigue progresses, speech slows and variations in pitch increase, indicating a loss of control over the muscles producing speech. The study provides a novel method for analyzing the effects of fatigue on the central nervous system through acoustic analysis.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateDec 22, 2010

All-optical transistor

Researchers at EPFL have discovered an all-optical transistor that controls the flow of light using a novel optical microresonator. The device enables a strong 'control' laser to turn on or off a weaker 'probe' laser, opening up new possibilities for telecommunications and photonics.

Were our tetrapod ancestors deaf?

Researchers studied the closest living relative of tetrapods, the African lungfish, and found that they lack sensitivity to airborne sound. The inner ear's structure suggests a high vibration sensitivity but limits hearing to very low frequencies, implying that early tetrapod ancestors were probably deaf to airborne sound.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalBiology Letters·DateNov 8, 2010

Surfing for earthquakes

Researchers have developed a web portal that allows seismologists to study noise for analyzing the Earth's structure, leading to better understanding of earthquakes. The system enables smaller groups to perform complex analysis previously limited to large organizations.

A simple quantum dynamics problem?

Scientists have observed the first real-time measurements of a rare gas atom and halogen molecule dissociation. The study found that adding vibrational energy to the bromine-stretching vibration led to rapid direct dissociation, while higher excitation resulted in a more complex mechanism.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 13, 2010

Harvesting energy from nature's motions

Researchers at Duke University created a non-linear device that can convert a range of vibrations into electricity, improving efficiency over traditional linear devices. This technology has the potential to power small electronic devices, such as pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators, and even sensors in ocean buoys and spacecraft.

SourceDuke University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateOct 30, 2009

Perceiving touch and your self outside of your body

A study published in PLOS ONE found that sensations of touch can be felt and mislocalized towards where a virtual body is seen, altering the mapping of touch sensations in space. This research demonstrates the crucial role of brain mechanisms in multisensory processing for conscious experience.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 4, 2009

1 nano-step closer to weighing a single atom

Researchers have created a new class of ultra-sensitive nanoscale devices capable of detecting the vibrations of individual gold nanoparticles. By studying bipyramid-shaped nanoparticles with highly uniform sizes and shapes, scientists overcame previous limitations in understanding damping in these systems.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 27, 2009

Researchers shed new light on catalyzed reactions

Rice University scientists develop technique to view step-by-step breakdown of TCE, a common groundwater pollutant, using nanoparticles and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The method provides new level of detail for understanding catalyzed reactions in water, with potential applications in biofuels processing.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 19, 2008

Catching quakes with laptops

The project uses laptops with built-in accelerometer chips to detect tremors, allowing for faster earthquake detection and more accurate location of strong motions. With many sensors, it's possible to provide several seconds of warning before an earthquake hits neighboring regions.

Size-specific cracking shakes

Scientists have found that certain nanostructures are more susceptible to failure by fracture at specific sizes. This is due to phonon confinement, which affects thermal transport and electronic processes. The study provides valuable information for designing stable nanostructures with reduced fracture energy.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review B·DateAug 1, 2008

Make way for the real nanopod

A team of researchers created the first fully functional radio from a single carbon nanotube, enabling tiny wireless communication devices. The nanotube radio works by detecting incoming radio waves and vibrating at its flexural resonance frequency to receive signals, offering a new approach to making radios.

Story tips for journalists

The RT3 accelerometer measures walking intensity, providing an accurate alternative to traditional questionnaires. Researchers found that only 15% of Americans meet the recommended physical activity level, with people with disabilities getting even less.

SourceJournal of Rehabilitation Research·JournalThe Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development·DateSep 18, 2007

Researchers find a new way to read nanoscale vibrations

Cornell researchers have found a simple solution to measuring nanoscale vibrations by tapping with an atomic force microscope (AFM), allowing for the detection and identification of bacteria, viruses, and other organic molecules. The new method uses probes similar to those in AFMs to measure vibrations in nanomechanical oscillators.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateMar 26, 2007

Termites get the vibe on what tastes good

Researchers found termites prefer blocks with more wood content, even without touching them. The study suggests termites use vibrations to assess food quality, which could lead to new methods for controlling feeding termites and mitigating termite damage in buildings.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMar 19, 2007

Research aims to calm your car's rattling

Researchers at Purdue University have developed mathematical models to simulate and analyze the rattling of car headrests, a major source of consumer dissatisfaction. The models can predict which vibration frequencies cause the rattling and enable automakers to tune their suspension systems more effectively.

Listening in on the birth pangs of Earth's crust

Researchers at Brown University and Columbia's Earth Institute recovered two lost ocean-bottom seismometers, providing unprecedented insights into the process of seafloor spreading. The data from the instruments reveals increasing seismic activity before a major episode of seafloor creation, offering a unique 'ear to earth's belly'.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2006

Magnetic fields revealed in technicolour

A team of scientists has successfully created a new material that induces magnetic vibrations at visible light frequencies, allowing for the creation of ultra-small optical lenses and miniature lasers. This breakthrough could lead to significant advancements in optics, optoelectronics, and biosensing.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature·DateNov 16, 2005

Turning sensation into perception

A study by Romo and de Lafuente found that the medial premotor cortex plays a crucial role in sensory perception, particularly in touch. The researchers used macaque monkeys as subjects and found that activity in this region correlated with the intensity of the stimulus, regardless of whether the monkey consciously felt it or not.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateNov 6, 2005

Cracking the perception code

Researchers discovered that monkeys perceive vibration frequency by analyzing neuronal firing patterns, particularly in the first 250 milliseconds. The findings suggest a complex process where attention to the initial response dominates perception, with subsequent firings becoming less significant.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateAug 1, 2005

APS physics tip sheet #49

Physicists propose new class of time machines that avoid difficulties inherent in other models. Researchers also analyze lateral vibrations to control friction and crack propagation in thin films. The horizontal Brazil nut effect is studied, showing grain migration to center or edge based on size and density.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 8, 2005

Turn up da noise

Researchers found that adding noise to weak vibrations increased the ability of participants to detect the frequency of the original signal. This effect could be useful in designing prosthetics for the elderly to prevent painful falls and improve balance control.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJul 5, 2005