Moth Wing-Inspired Sound Absorbing Wallpaper in Sight After Breakthrough
Published:22 Jun.2022 Source:University of Bristol
Experts at the University of Bristol have discovered that the scales on moth wings act as excellent sound absorbers even when placed on an artificial surface. The researchers, which recently discovered that moth wings offer acoustic protection from bat echolocation calls, have been studying whether their structure could inform better performing sound absorbing panels, when not moving in free space.
Bats and moths have been involved in an acoustic arms race between predator and prey ever since bats evolved echolocation some 65 million years ago. Moths are under huge predation pressure from bats and have evolved a plethora of defences in their strive for survival, but it's the scales, on a moth wing, that hold the key to transforming noise-cancelling technology.