Capturing and Analyzing Subtle Combination Tones Produced by Violins

This Totoni violin, made in Bologna in 1700, produced the strongest and most audible combination tones. CREDIT: Gabriele Caselli, Giovanni Cecchi, and Giulio Masetti

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2022 – When two musical notes are played simultaneously, the human ear can perceive weak additional tones called combination tones. These subjective tones result from the nonlinearity of the inner ear and are attributed to the amplification mechanism of the cochlea. Subjective tones are perceived with…click to read more

From the Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Characteristics, mechanisms, and perceivability of combination tones in violins
DOI: 10.1121/10.0014600

Telehealth Makes Hearing Health Care More Equitable

Dr. Samantha Kleindienst Robler taking a photo of an ear (not a patient) using a telemedicine/telehealth cart. CREDIT: Reba Lean

Dr. Samantha Kleindienst Robler taking a photo of an ear (not a patient) using a telemedicine cart. CREDIT: Reba Lean

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2022 – According to the World Health Organization, 1.6 billion people across the globe are living with hearing loss. Much of that is preventable, stemming from excessive noise, untreated ear infections, and…click to read more

From the Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Telehealth solutions for assessing auditory outcomes related to noise and ototoxic exposures in clinic and research
DOI: 10.1121/10.0013706

Saturn V Was Loud But Didn’t Melt Concrete

The Saturn V rocket carried humans to the moon and remains the most powerful rocket to reach orbit to date. CREDIT: NASA

WASHINGTON, August 23, 2022 – The Saturn V carried man to the moon and remains the most powerful rocket to successfully launch to orbit. It captures the imagination — but sometimes, it might capture a bit too much imagination. Abundant internet claims about the acoustic power of the rocket suggest that it melted concrete and…click to read more

From the Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Saturn-V sound levels: A letter to the Redditor
DOI: 10.1121/10.0013216

Ultrasound Could Save Racehorses from Bucked Shins

Top: Cross-sectional view of the bone mineral density distribution in the metacarpal bone measured by computed tomography. Bottom: Simulated wave propagation in bone. CREDIT: Miyashita et al.

WASHINGTON, August 9, 2022 – When racehorses enter training at about 2 years old, they can develop tiny stress fractures and new bone formations in their legs. This condition, called bucked shin, occurs in about 70% of the animals, leading to pain and delays…click to read more

From the Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Study on ultrasonic wave propagation in equine leg bone for screening bucked shin
DOI: 10.1121/10.0012689

Update Noise Regulations to Protect Seals, Porpoises

Harbor porpoises engaged in experiment where its hearing sensitivity is measured by means of electrodes attached with suction cups to the skin. CREDIT: Solvin Zankel, Fjord&Belt, Kerteminde, Denmark

Harbor porpoise engaged in experiment where its hearing sensitivity is measured by means of electrodes attached with suction cups to the skin. CREDIT: Solvin Zankel, Fjord&Belt, Kerteminde, Denmark

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2022 – Noise produced by pile drivers building offshore wind turbines can damage the hearing of porpoises, seals, and other marine life. Regulations are in place, but guidance on this difficult topic requires regular revisits to incorporate results from…click to read more

From the Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Thresholds for noise induced hearing loss in harbor porpoises and phocid seals
DOI: 10.1121/10.0011560

‘Urban Canyons’ Prolong Sonic Booms in Cities

Propagation of an N-wave sonic boom above (a) an isolated building and (b) multiple buildings. CREDIT: Didier Dragna

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2022 – Twenty years after the retirement of the Concorde, several industrial and research projects want to make supersonic flight a reality again. However, supersonic planes produce sonic booms loud enough to warrant noise concerns and regulations, limiting…click to read more

From the Journal: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Sonic boom reflection over an isolated building and multiple buildings
DOI: 10.1121/10.0010452

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