Curtains on All That Noise
Hospitals and nursing homes can be noisy places, making it hard for people to sleep. To provide patients with some relief, researchers at Georgia Tech’s aerospace and transportation laboratory have made high-tech curtains consisting of sheets of fabric that sandwich a noise-dampening plastic. In tests, the curtains reduced noise levels by 12 decibels-roughly a factor of 16.
The curtains are scheduled for further trials in actual nursing homes. Krishan Ahuja, head of the acoustics and aerodynamics branch at the lab, says the drapes could also be used to cut noise in factories and offices. By using different materials in the middle of the curtains (the group has tested everything from cardboard to metal), the Georgia Tech scientists can adjust the level of noise reduction. Ahuja hopes the quiet curtains will be ready for commercialization within a year.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
How SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system—and beyond
With the first orbital test launch of Starship on the horizon, scientists are dreaming about what it might make possible— from trips to Neptune to planetary defense.
DeepMind says its new language model can beat others 25 times its size
RETRO uses an external memory to look up passages of text on the fly, avoiding some of the costs of training a vast neural network
The therapists using AI to make therapy better
Researchers are learning more about how therapy works by examining the language therapists use with clients. It could lead to more people getting better, and staying better.
What it will take to unleash the potential of geothermal power
Four new pilot plants funded by the US infrastructure bill could help expand the range of the “forgotten renewable.”
Stay connected
Illustration by Rose WongGet the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.