Soundproofing inspired by moths: Bristol spinout aims to bring its material to market
Tiny structures on moth wings absorb sound – helping the insects escape bats. Bristol company Attacus Acoustics is turning this into insulation said to be up to ten times thinner.
Photo: Quartl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Video: YouTube · University of Bristol · youtube.com
The University of Bristol tells the story behind its spinout Attacus Acoustics in a new video. The starting point is the microscopic structures on the wings of some moths: they absorb sound and reduce echoes, which helps the insects evade bats and their ultrasonic echolocation. The research was led by Professor Marc Holderied of the School of Biological Sciences.
According to the university, the material developed from this is designed to absorb sound while being up to ten times thinner than conventional insulation. Possible uses include sound-absorbing wallpaper, quieter aircraft cabins and car interiors; talks with aerospace manufacturers are under way. The technology is protected by patent filings managed by the university.
"We are now focused on scaling our technology and collaborating with commercial partners," said chief executive Dr Akash Gupta. The company is seeking commercial and investment partners to scale up manufacturing and deployment; the university did not give any funding figures.