Take acoustics out to the ball game!

Happy MLB Opening Day, baseball fans! To kick off the latest season, we’d like to highlight some literature about the acoustics of the humble baseball bat. The sounds a baseball bat makes connecting with a ball can vary so much in frequency that a person with enough bats on hand can create a makeshift musical instrument! In fact, Daniel Russell from The Pennsylvania State University did just that. Check out this video of him playing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” on a piano made of baseball bats:

This video comes from Russell’s article in the Winter 2017 issue of Acoustics Today, Acoustics and Vibration of Baseball and Softball Bats.” It turns out sound and vibration feedback are incredibly helpful to players and can influence their perception of their performance. The article talks all about the physics of baseball bats and how the sounds they make when hit by a ball. You can also hear Russell talk about the acoustics of baseball bats in detail on an episode of Across Acoustics.

Russell realized that sports are a useful tool for teaching acoustics concepts. In the JASA article, “Acoustic testing and modeling: An advanced undergraduate laboratory,” he and coauthor Daniel O. Ludwigsen wrote about an instructional module in which students study the vibrational characteristics of baseball bats and other sports equipment.

The crack of the bat that heralds a home run seems even more exciting now, doesn’t it?

Popular Social Media Posts – March

As we bid farewell to March, let’s take a moment to revisit the posts that captured the attention of our social media community, sparking engagement and igniting discussions around acoustics research.

First up, a JASA post on Facebook which discussed how retroreflective array treatment can change room acoustical conditions, concentrating reflected energy onto an arbitrarily located source. Read the article at https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0025162.

Facebook

Then, folks on LinkedIn enjoyed an Acoustics Today post featuring ASA students. Read “Tuning into Change: Students Fostering Inclusion in the Acoustics Field” at https://doi.org/10.1121/AT.2024.20.1.71.

LinkedIn

Next, on Twitter (X), a post featuring the open access ASA press book, Understanding Acoustics: An Experimentalist’s View of Sound and Vibration was well received. Check out the book online at https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-44787-8.

Twitter (X)

Over on Instagram, a image showing sound transmission paths including flanking paths through a separating wall assembly was well liked. Read the article at https://doi.org/10.1121/2.0001844.

Instagram

Lastly, we’re thrilled to announce our venture into a new social media frontier – Threads! Join us on this exciting platform and share your favorite social media hubs in the comments below.

Threads

New Across Acoustics Episode – Conservation Bioacoustics: Listening to the Heartbeat of the Earth

Recent advances in technology have allowed scientists to gather larger quantities of acoustic data from locations more remote than ever before. As a result, the study of animal sounds can be used to inform species or habitat conservation and natural resource management practices in new and exciting ways. In this episode, we talk to Aaron Rice of Cornell University about how acoustics can be used to advance conservation efforts, as well as how folks outside of large research universities can take part in efforts to help save the planet with science.

The sounds of March Madness

As March Madness sweeps across the nation, basketball enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the exhilarating clashes on the court. Yet, amidst the thunderous roars of the crowd and the rhythmic bounce of the basketball, there lies a hidden symphony of sound that influences both players and spectators alike. Research sheds light on the intricate relationship between sound and the game, unveiling the fascinating dynamics at play within basketball arenas.

March Madness - crowd noise

You have probably noticed how the crowd’s energy during March Madness games ebbs and flows. Researchers meticulously analyzed the acoustic signatures of basketball crowds to classify behavior based on various emotional states expressed through sound. From the jubilant cheer of a successful shot to the collective groan of a missed opportunity, each acoustic cue provides insight into the emotional pulse of the audience. Understanding these nuances not only enriches our appreciation of the game but also offers valuable insights for enhancing spectator experiences. Read “Classifying crowd behavior at collegiate basketball games using acoustic data” in POMA at https://doi.org/10.1121/2.0001061.

march madness - bounce

While spectators contribute to the symphony of sound in basketball arenas, players themselves are attuned to a different sound—the bounce of the basketball. A study published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA) explores how listeners utilize auditory cues to anticipate the trajectory of a ball. Remarkably, individuals demonstrate an ability to predict the timing of a bounce. Read “Predicting the timing of dynamic events through sound: Bouncing balls” at https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4923020.

March madness - reverberation

While basketball arenas resonate with the fervor of March Madness, these spaces are not confined solely to sporting events. In a thought-provoking article featured in Acoustics Today, the complexities of converting arenas for alternate purposes are unveiled. From transforming a raucous sporting venue into a serene place of worship, acousticians navigate a myriad of challenges to optimize sound quality and ensure a seamless transition between functions. The meticulous orchestration of sound within these dynamic spaces underscores the profound impact of acoustics on human experiences, transcending the boundaries between sports and spirituality. Read “From sprots arena to sanctuary – Taming a Texas-sized reverberations time” at https://bit.ly/3D7ypVM.

While you immerse yourself in the excitement of March Madness, take a moment to listen closely—you just might discover the hidden sounds that enrich the game beyond the final buzzer.

Spotlight on Women’s Voices in Acoustics Today

Women's Voices Alex Tolstoy

Acoustics Today (AT) articles have been written by women, but Volume 14, Issue 3 was special because it was the first issue where all the senior authors were women. One of the founders of the ASA Women in Acoustics (WIA) Committee, Alex Tolstoy, painted the cover artwork to accompany her co-authored article “In Her Own Words: An Acoustic Story.” Pictures of each of the senior authors from the issue can be found within the painting. In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s look at some AT articles featuring women’s voices and that have been published since.

Women's Voices Allison B. Coffin

First up is Allison B. Coffin, author of “Communicate Your Science: Engaging Public Audiences with Acoustics.” Allison is an associate professor of neuroscience at Washington State University Vancouver. Her research interests include cell signaling regulation of hearing loss and regeneration and hormonal modulation of auditory plasticity. She is a passionate science communicator and communication trainer and cofounded Science Talk, the science communication professional society, where she serves as the president.

Women's Voices Bonnie K. Lau

Next is Bonnie K. Lau, the author of “Pitch Perception in a Developing Auditory Brain.” She is a research assistant professor at the University of Washington (Seattle). Her research investigates auditory brain and perceptual development and how that relates to language acquisition. She combines neurophysiological measures, including electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography, psychophysics, and clinical assessment methods, in her research. Bonnie is a member of the WIA Committee as well as the Psychological and Physiological Technical Committee of the ASA.

Women's Voices Delilah E. A. Gates

Then we have Delilah E. A. Gates, author of “The ‘Sounds’ of Black Holes.” Delilah is an associate research scholar at Princeton University. She is a theoretical physicist whose research focuses on studying observational signatures of spinning black holes by leveraging features of the space-time geometry and lensing of light around them. Outside of physics, Delilah enjoys poetry, board/card games, and decorating cakes.

Women's Voices Meaghan A. O’Reilly

Last, but not least, is Meaghan A. O’Reilly, author of “Incisionless Brain Surgery: Overcoming the Skull with Focused Ultrasound.” Meaghan is a senior scientist in Physical Sciences at Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, an associate professor of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, and the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Ultrasound. Her research interests include ultrasound therapy in the central nervous system, with a focus on delivery, monitoring, and control of microbubble-mediated therapies in the brain and spinal cord through the intact bone.

Celebrate the collective achievements of extraordinary women in acoustics and discover more articles written by WIA committee members on the AT Collections page at https://acousticstoday.org/at-collections-women-in-acoustics/. For a deeper dive into the WIA committee, visit womeninacoustics.org.