Seeing with sound - acoustic camouflage against biosonar

5 February 2021, 4.00 PM - 5 February 2021, 5.00 PM

Professor Marc Holderied, Professor of Sensory Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol

Zoom

Abstract

Invisibility cloaks are fantastic devices in popular culture from Harry Potter to Star Trek. But even in the real world so-called metamaterials (synthetic composite materials with emergent new properties) can act as (partial) cloaks both against light (vision) and sound (acoustics).

We recently discovered that the 65MY old arms race with their echolocating bat predators has equipped moths with remarkable acoustic metamaterials on their wings and bodies. These ultrathin sound absorbers offer protection because the strength of the echo bouncing off the moth's body determines the distance over which bats can detect it. In the talk Marc will use innovative acoustic tomographies to visualise how ultrathin layers of fur on bodies and scales on wings of moths provide acoustic cloaking in flight and when resting on substrates as one important form of acoustic camouflage.

Biography

As a sensory ecologist and bioacoustician with strong links to bio-inspired engineering, Marc's research expertise is in the emerging fields of acoustic camouflage and biosonar navigation, with a continued passion for acoustic arms races and wildlife acoustics. As an international consultant for the automotive industry, he helped develop Ultrasonic Vision technology. Marc joined the School of Biological Sciences in Bristol in 2005.

https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/marc-w-holderied

Contact information

The recording of the seminar is now available https://youtu.be/_JwMXk3JVgY.

Thank you to our speaker and to everyone who attended.

 

Professor Marc Holdereid

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