April 16, 2022
A fabric that can pick up sounds as faint as heartbeats has been developed by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the USA. The fabric functions like a microphone, converting sounds into mechanical vibrations. The invention of this fabric was inspired by the function of the eardrum. The ‘piezoelectric’ material used to make the fabric’s fibre produces an electric signal when bent, enabling the fabric to create electric signals from sounds. It is also able to determine the direction of the sound. It enables wearers to monitor their respiration and cardiac rhythm comfortably. Scientists hope to use the fabric to monitor the human body better.
Did You Know?
A healthy heart makes a lub-dub sound with each beat. This sound comes from the valves shutting on the blood inside the heart.
Image Source: news.mit.edu
