We live in a world filled with constant noise. From the hum of traffic outside to a neighbor’s blaring TV or the chatter in a co-worker’s cubicle, unwanted noise is an ongoing challenge.
To address this issue, a team of interdisciplinary researchers from MIT and other institutions has developed an innovative silk fabric designed to suppress sound and create quieter spaces.
This fabric, as thin as a human hair, features a special fiber that vibrates when voltage is applied. The researchers utilized these vibrations to suppress sound in two distinct ways.
The first method uses the fabric to generate sound waves that interfere with and cancel out unwanted noise, much like noise-canceling headphones. However, while effective in small areas, this technique is less practical in larger spaces like rooms or airplanes.
The second, more surprising technique involves keeping the fabric still, which blocks the vibrations that transmit sound. By halting this sound transmission, the fabric significantly reduces noise in larger areas, making it ideal for spaces like rooms or vehicles.
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