Bristol Spinout Turns Moth-Wing Science Into Soundproofing Up to 10 Times Thinner
Attacus Acoustics, a new University of Bristol spinout, is commercializing a sound-absorbing material inspired by moth wings that it says can be up to ten times thinner than conventional soundproofing.
A new University of Bristol spinout, Attacus Acoustics, is turning research on moth wings into sound-absorbing materials that it says can be up to ten times thinner than conventional ones, the university announced.
Some moths evolved wings that absorb bat sonar
To evade bats hunting with echolocation, some moth species evolved scales and structures on their wings that absorb sound waves and reduce reflections, acting like an acoustic invisibility cloak. Researchers led by Professor Marc Holderied in Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences adapted those principles to engineer thin, lightweight materials.
“Nature has spent millions of years refining solutions to incredibly complex problems, and moths are masters of acoustic stealth.” — Professor Marc Holderied, University of Bristol
Holderied traces the idea to an unusually fluffy moth he met in a Costa Rican rainforest 30 years ago, during PhD fieldwork on the acoustics of flowers. That encounter led to years of research combining biology, physics, acoustics and engineering.
Aircraft cabins and walls are early targets
Existing soundproofing is often bulky and heavy. The company is in discussions with aerospace manufacturers, where cutting cabin noise without adding weight is a major challenge, and is also looking at uses from noise-reducing wallpaper to quieter car interiors. Chief executive Dr Akash Gupta said the focus is now on scaling the technology with commercial partners.
The technology is protected by patent filings, and the performance figures come from the university and company. It joins other new materials research such as wallpaper that generates electricity from humidity.
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