In a stroke of luck, the SuperCam microphone on Perseverance was turned on the moment a dust devil swept directly over the rover.
acoustics
Underwater Sounds Help Reveal Extent of Glacial Calving
If a glacier calves into the Arctic Ocean, does it make a sound? Some scientists say yes and have devised a clever way to use those sounds to calculate the size of the fallen ice chunks.
Scientists Tune In to Blue Whale Feeding Rhythms
New acoustic sensing technology is allowing scientists to track blue whale movements in real time, a breakthrough that could help save whales’ lives.
Shake, Rattle, and Probe
Helioseismology allows scientists to study the interior of the Sun, solve some basic physics mysteries, and forecast space weather.
Wiretapped Cables and the Songs of Whales
Researchers jerry-rigged fiber-optic cables in a fjord to eavesdrop on blue whales, with possible applications ranging from seafloor mapping to meteorology.
Volcanic Lava Lake Belts Out Its Secrets in Seismic “Songs”
A cacophony of magma displacements and volcanic gases recorded underneath Kīlauea’s roiling lake of lava could one day provide information to help predict future eruptions.
Tiny Creatures May Play a Difficult-to-Detect Role in Ocean Mixing
As an idea that began as a joke, critter-driven ocean mixing has long been controversial. Now scientists have caught spawning anchovies causing turbulence and stirring the sea.
Rock Music in Utah
Three-dimensional models could help forecast rock tower frequencies—and seismic impacts—around the globe.
Hundreds of Volcanic Explosions Detected Underwater at Kīlauea
Hundreds of volcanic explosions detected underwater at Kīlauea
The explosions, identified during the 2018 eruption phase, offer a clear acoustic signal that researchers could use to measure ocean properties.
Stratospheric Balloons Listen In on Ground Activity
Solar-powered hot-air balloons, floating 2.5 times as high as Mount Everest, detected a buried explosion more clearly than ground-based sensors did.