Acoustics

Scientists in Germany have developed a nano ear capable of detecting sound waves six orders of magnitude below the threshold of human hearing.

Did you know there are audio recordings that predate Thomas Edison’s phonograph by almost 20 years? The phonautogram was invented by a Frenchman named Ã?duoard Léon-Scott and patented in 1857.

The cities are alive with the sound of music, thanks to one man who unleashes the natural resonant frequencies of tunnels, churches and garages.

For some sea creatures deafness can mean death, while for others, excess noise could hasten extinction.

How do different animals hear? How does infrasonic versus ultrasonic sound detection affect a marine animal’s behavior? What if any impact do ships propellers or military underwater tests have on ocean life? Dan Grossman looks at some of these questions in this sound-rich report exploring some of the scientific research being conducted into undersea noise.