Scientists create tissues that can ‘hear’ sounds

It sounds like a fantasy, but researchers have created a type of tissue capable of “hearing.” With this, it will be possible to create a shirt with the characteristics of a microphone, converting the sound into vibrations and electrical signals so that it can be recorded. It follows the same principles as the human ear.

The invention was described in a study published last Wednesday (16/3) in the scientific journal nature.

As the British newspaper shows, independentThe fabric’s ability to hear is incredibly accurate: It can pick up sounds that range from a quiet library to a busy road, and even tell the direction of the noise.

“By wearing an audio suit, you can talk through it to answer phone calls and communicate with others. In addition, the fabric can interact imperceptibly with human skin, allowing users to comfortably, continuously and long-term monitor heart and respiratory conditions,” says the researcher After Wan from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Massachusetts Institute of Technologyin English acronym), in the US, lead author of the study, citing the British newspaper.

All tissues vibrate in response to sound – although these vibrations are usually so small that they go unnoticed. Typically, the primary relationship between clothing and noise is its dampening, so much so that it is often used in studios for soundproofing.

In the newly published study, researchers changed the way tissues respond to sounds. Use contrast material with property piezoelectricShe was able to convert the fabric’s vibrations into electrical signals and thus generate sound waves.

The Independent revealed that even when it was made into a dress, and sewn into the back of the shirt, the material was able to pick up the sound of people clapping around. The cloth even knew the angle the palms came from, ten feet away.