Physicists Have Almost Achieved Perfect Silence
Physicists at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology are decimal points away from being able to totally neutralize sound. Scientists have long experimented with achieving total quiet through materials known as acoustic insulators, which absorb ranges of sound but can’t feasibly capture the full spectrum of acoustic wavelengths. That’s where the Hong Kong researchers come in. Their approach involves using two “degenerate resonators” tuned to the same frequency. To put it in layman’s terms, as sound waves hit the first resonator, they begin resonating at the same frequency and dissipate. The second resonator, however, is prepared for this dispersal and is giving off waves that create interference and neutralize the sound. Apparently the end result in 99.7 perfect silence. Find out more here.
