Binghamton University researchers find spider silk responds to air particle velocities for sensitive, long-distance sound detection.

Researchers at Binghamton University have discovered that spider silk responds to changes in the velocities of air particles, enabling spiders to detect sound for highly sensitive, long-distance noise detection. Unlike human eardrums and traditional microphones, which detect sound pressure waves, spider silk moves at the velocity of particles in a sound field. This sound velocity detection method holds great potential for high-sensitivity, long-distance sound detection and could inspire new designs for microphones.

May 16, 2024
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