Showing 20 articles starting at article 1
Categories: Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published Researchers solve long-standing challenge for piezoelectric materials (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Heat and pressure can deteriorate the properties of piezoelectric materials that make state-of-the-art ultrasound and sonar technologies possible -- and fixing that damage has historically required disassembling devices and exposing the materials to even higher temperatures. Now researchers have developed a technique to restore those properties at room temperature, making it easier to repair these devices -- and paving the way for new ultrasound technologies.
Published Ultrasound technology can be used to boost mindfulness, study finds (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
In a new study, researchers used low-intensity ultrasound technology to noninvasively alter a brain region associated with activities such as daydreaming, recalling memories and envisioning the future.
Published The 'Queen of the Night' does not whistle (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Opera singers have to use the extreme limits of their voice range. Many pedagogical and scientific sources suggest that the highest pitches reached in classical singing can only be produced with a so-called 'whistle' voice register, in analogy to ultrasonic vocalizations of mice and rats. An international research team has now rejected this assumption. In their study, the scientists showed that the high-frequency sounds of operatic sopranos are produced with the same principle than speech and most other forms of singing.
Published Breakthrough approach enables bidirectional BCI functionality (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Brain-computer interfaces or BCIs hold immense potential for individuals with a wide range of neurological conditions, but the road to implementation is long and nuanced for both the invasive and noninvasive versions of the technology. Scientists have now successfully integrated a novel focused ultrasound stimulation to realize bidirectional BCI that both encodes and decodes brain waves using machine learning in a study with 25 human subjects. This work opens up a new avenue to significantly enhance not only the signal quality, but also, overall nonivasive BCI performance by stimulating targeted neural circuits.
Published Enhancing nanofibrous acoustic energy harvesters with artificial intelligence (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Scientists have employed artificial intelligence techniques to improve the design and production of nanofibers used in wearable nanofiber acoustic energy harvesters (NAEH). These acoustic devices capture sound energy from the environment and convert it into electrical energy, which can then be applied in useful devices, such as hearing aids.
Published Wearable ultrasound patch enables continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cerebral blood flow (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Engineers have developed a wearable ultrasound patch that can offer continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood flow in the brain. The soft and stretchy patch can be comfortably worn on the temple to provide three-dimensional data on cerebral blood flow--a first in wearable technology.
Published Spider silk sound system (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Researchers have investigated how spiders listen to their environments through webs and found that the webs match the acoustic particle velocity for a wide range of sound frequencies. Playing sound ranging from 1 Hz to 50 kHz for the spiders and measuring the spider silk motion with a laser vibrometer, they found the sound-induced velocity of the silk was the same as the particles in the air surrounding it. This confirmed the mechanism that these spiders use to detect their prey.
Published Metalens expands Its reach from light to sound (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Engineers achieve a wide field-of-hearing acoustic metalens free from aberrations.
Published US Navy Growler jet noise over Whidbey Island could impact 74,000 people's health (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
As often as four days a week, Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island fly loops overhead as pilots practice touch-and-go landings. The noise is immense. New research shows that the noise isn't just disruptive -- it presents a substantial risk to public health.
Published This sound-suppressing silk can create quiet spaces (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Researchers developed a silk fabric, which is barely thicker than a human hair, that can suppress unwanted noise and reduce noise transmission in a large room.
Published Why getting in touch with our 'gerbil brain' could help machines listen better (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Researchers have debunked a 75-year-old theory about how humans determine where sounds are coming from, and it could unlock the secret to creating a next generation of more adaptable and efficient hearing devices ranging from hearing aids to smartphones.
Published Data-driven music: Converting climate measurements into music (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
A geo-environmental scientist from Japan has composed a string quartet using sonified climate data. The 6-minute-long composition -- entitled 'String Quartet No. 1 'Polar Energy Budget'-- is based on over 30 years of satellite-collected climate data from the Arctic and Antarctic and aims to garner attention on how climate is driven by the input and output of energy at the poles.
Published Caller ID of the sea: Tagging whale communication and behavior (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Biologists use a novel method of simultaneous acoustic tagging to gain insights into the link between whale communication and behavior
Published New ultrasound technology may revolutionize respiratory disease diagnoses (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
By evaluating sound vibrations produced by the airflow induced within the lungs and bronchial tree during normal breathing as well as those produced by the larynx during vocalizations, doctors can identify potential disease-related abnormalities within the respiratory system. Researchers demonstrate the efficacy of ultrasound technology to detect low-amplitude movements produced by vocalizations at the surface of the chest. They also demonstrated the possibility of using the airborne ultrasound surface motion camera to map these vibrations during short durations so as to illustrate their evolution.
Published What kinds of seismic signals did Swifties send at LA concert? (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Seattle may have experienced its own Swift Quake last July, but at an August 2023 concert Taylor Swift's fans in Los Angeles gave scientists a lot of shaking to ponder. After some debate, a research team concluded that it was likely the dancing and jumping motions of the audience at SoFi Stadium -- not the musical beats or reverberations of the sound system -- that generated the concert's distinct harmonic tremors.
Published Would the highly sensitive transparent ultrasound transducer revolutionize biomedical imaging technology? (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
A team develops an ultrasensitive broadband transparent ultrasound transducer.
Published Shape-shifting ultrasound stickers detect post-surgical complications (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Gastrointestinal surgeries carry risk of fluid leaks, a potentially life-threatening complication. But no existing methods can reliably and non-invasively detect these leaks. To address this unmet need, researchers developed a tiny, soft, flexible sticker that changes in shape inside the body, enabling standard ultrasound tech to detect leaks for earlier detection and intervention. After the patient has recovered, the soft, tiny sticker simply dissolves away.
Published Doctors can now watch spinal cord activity during surgery (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Scientists can make high resolution images of the human spinal cord during surgery. The advancement could help bring real relief to millions suffering chronic back pain.
Published Advanced noise suppression technology for improved search and rescue drones (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are beneficial in search and rescue missions during natural disasters like earthquakes. However, current UAVs depend on visual information and cannot detect victims trapped under rubble. While some studies have used sound for detection, the noise from UAV propellers can drown out human sounds. To address this issue, researchers have developed a novel artificial intelligence-based system that effectively suppresses UAV noise and amplifies human sounds.
Published New cardiovascular imaging approach provides a better view of dangerous plaques (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Researchers have developed a new catheter-based device that combines two powerful optical techniques to image the dangerous plaques that can build up inside the arteries that supply blood to the heart. By providing new details about plaque, the device could help clinicians and researchers improve treatments for preventing heart attacks and strokes.