All posts tagged: Sound

Iran: Activists sound alarm as regime seizes Baha’i assets

Iran: Activists sound alarm as regime seizes Baha’i assets

Published by Sam Flores

As Washington attempts to intensify economic pressure on Iran, ordinary Iranians are facing mounting financial distress. Rights groups say Iranian authorities are increasingly using asset seizures against religious minorities, dissidents and government critics, adding a new layer of economic pressure for people already struggling with soaring living costs. Members of Iran’s Baha’i religious minority seem to be bearing the brunt of the crackdown. The faith, which originated in 19th-century Persia — now Iran — is not officially recognized by the Islamic Republic. Unlike Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, Baha’is are not protected under Article 13 of Iran’s constitution, leaving them vulnerable to longstanding discrimination and persecution. Baha’is portrayed as ‘spies’ for Israel The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA) reported “a wave of arrests, searches of homes and businesses, and seizures of property belonging to Baha’i citizens” at the end of August. Amnesty International said persecution of the Baha’i community has intensified since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, citing what it described as “a coordinated state campaign of …

Rats make an ultrasonic sound when they eat chocolate

Rats make an ultrasonic sound when they eat chocolate

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. There’s nothing better than sinking your teeth into a sweet, creamy chocolate bar. Rats think so, too—and they may announce their chocolate-infused joy to the world at ultrasonic frequencies.  Researchers have previously linked ultrasonic rat vocalizations with different emotional and motivational states in the animals, such as in reaction to rewarding stimuli. For example, the rodents vocalize in this way when eating something sweet.  Now, a team of researchers in Japan have discovered that rats emit a particular ultrasonic vocalization while eating chocolate. Their findings are detailed in a study recently published in the journal eNeuro. To come to this conclusion, the researchers compared ultrasonic vocalizations that rats emitted when they had access to chocolate, with those they made when they didn’t have …

Bush dog puppies sound like birds

Bush dog puppies sound like birds

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Five pups were recently born at England’s Chester Zoo, far from their homeland. But these bush dogs (Speothos venaticus) are on a mission—they’re part of a conservation breeding program protecting the future of their species.  Bush dogs are medium-sized carnivores from Central and South America, known for their chirpy sounds. The IUCN Red List classifies them as Near Threatened. While that might indicate that they don’t need major conservation efforts as much the way that other wild animals, their last evaluation was only in 2011. Mark Brayshaw, head of mammals at Chester Zoo, tells Popular Science that a lot has changed in the past 15 years, “with the impacts of climate change, habitat loss and inter-species disease transfer growing more evident,” he explains. …

These Ryobi labels sound interchangeable, but they really aren’t

These Ryobi labels sound interchangeable, but they really aren’t

Published by Miika Tikkanen

The green aisle at Home Depot reads like one product family until you start comparing boxes. One says 18V ONE+ HP Compact Brushless. The next says 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series. A third just says USB Lithium. Ryobi stacks as many as five labels on a single product, and each word makes a claim about a different part of it: the battery rail, the motor, the cells, the housing, the noise. Only one of those words decides whether the pack already sitting on your charger will click on. After years of buying into the platform, including a shelf full of ONE+ batteries I didn’t always need, I’ve sorted out which labels change the tool and which ones only describe it. ONE+ is the only label that decides whether your battery fits Four platforms that share a paint color and nothing else ONE+ refers to one thing: the 18V battery rail Ryobi introduced in 1996 and has never redesigned. Every pack fits every tool in that system, which now runs past 300 products. That promise is …

Afghan Whigs don’t sound like the ’90s anymore

Afghan Whigs don’t sound like the ’90s anymore

Published by Sam Flores

Greg Dulli and his Afghan Whigs are back with “Soft Control.” The new Whigs record is a strong collection of material that stands solidly amongst the existing catalog of v2 Whigs albums, with big rockers, piano ballads, and tape loops neatly nestled against guitar feedback. It also brings stellar guitar work, a new drummer and features Dulli’s vocals in a way you haven’t heard them previously. 2026 is also being claimed as the 40th anniversary for this particular band of brothers, and it is indeed 40 years since the original ensemble first formed: Dulli alongside bassist John Curley (still present and accounted for), guitarist Rick McCollum, and a succession of drummers across the decades. The current lineup features Dulli, Curley, musical Swiss Army Knife Rick T. Nelson, guitarist Christopher Thorn and new drummer Bryan Lee Brown.  As the principal songwriter, what you hear on any Greg Dulli record is where he is at that moment in time.  The Afghan Whigs were in official existence until 2001, when they amicably parted ways. The ensemble with the …

5 speaker placement mistakes ruining your sound

5 speaker placement mistakes ruining your sound

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Audiophiles are always searching for better sound quality, but you don’t need to upgrade your gear to enjoy a sharper listening experience. Optimizing the audio gear you already own is more important than discovering the products you’re planning to buy next. Acoustics and speaker placement are crucial elements of any great listening room — and they can be the hardest to master. I made a handful of speaker placement mistakes while building a Dolby Atmos home theater in my living room, and you can learn from these five pitfalls. Related I finally added Dolby Atmos to my home theater without drilling a single hole I can’t install surround sound speakers in my ceiling, but I found a better solution. The speakers are too close to your wall Speakers move air to create sound, and they need breathing room Credit: Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf It’s tempting to place your speakers right up against the wall furthest away from your main listening position. Especially in tight rooms, you might think about putting your speakers further away to separate …

All the best sound systems and after parties at Notting Hill Carnival

All the best sound systems and after parties at Notting Hill Carnival

Published by Sam Flores

More than two million people are set to turn up to west London in full force to celebrate Caribbean culture at the 60th edition of the legendary carnival. You won’t have to look far to find good music and in truth, you just need to follow the crowds to find the best sound systems, with everything from Reggae to Groove and Samba on offer. But for first-timers, or regulars who want to be prepared, these are the sound systems worth hunting out on carnival day. From the first female DJ at Carnival to veterans of the dance who have been spinning since the 70s, the Jamaican Sound System culture has well and truly been exported to the capital and is an integral part of Carnival. With the carnival scheduled for a 7pm close, you’ll also want an afterparty plan in your back pocket. There will be a party at every pub on just about every street corner in W1. But for those looking for their final dance destination, we also have a pick of the …

Dermatologists sound the alarm as tanning becomes trendy again

Dermatologists sound the alarm as tanning becomes trendy again

Published by Daniella Wilson

A personal journey into the dangers of tanning began for Nichole Sims at just 15, a common practice among her peers before school events. Eight years later, she received a life-altering diagnosis: melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer. Now, Sims actively combats the pervasive misinformation online, where tanning is often promoted as a mood enhancer and beauty standard, by sharing her own stark reality. “I just feel like our generation doesn’t really look into a lot of risks. They just kind of live in the moment,” Sims observed, reflecting on the cavalier attitude towards health. Experts are increasingly alarmed by a renewed surge in tanning’s popularity among young adults, significantly amplified by social media platforms. Viral videos showcasing “tanning secrets” and bikini tan lines garner millions of views, with comments flippantly dismissing health risks, such as one stating, “The earth probably won’t last long anyway, I’d rather go out tan than pale.” This concerning trend comes as the American Cancer Society projects over 100,000 new melanoma diagnoses in the U.S. by 2026, with approximately 8,500 …

Best Smart Speakers for 2026: Big Sound and So Much More

Best Smart Speakers for 2026: Big Sound and So Much More

Published by Miika Tikkanen

The smart speakers above are our current favorites, but you still have other options if you’re looking for something specific in audio performance. Options that didn’t make this list include: Apple HomePod: I really like the HomePod’s sound, which is possibly the best in the business, but it’s simply too expensive for the average budget at over $250 to $300 — which is why Apple released a Mini version. The smaller HomePod doesn’t have quite the same incredible sound, but it’s a whole lot more affordable, which is why it ended up on the list. Echo Dot 4: I really like this Echo Dot and use it in my house, but it’s starting to become an older model and I’m not sure how much longer Amazon is going to sell it since there are new models like the Echo Dot Max. Echo Show 11: This smart display offers surprisingly good sound with its updated design, but it’s more focused on the 11-inch screen, which is why it ended up on my picks for best smart …

The Andover FreePlay portable stereo speaker pairs Bluetooth convenience with the company’s neatly sorted sound philosophy

The Andover FreePlay portable stereo speaker pairs Bluetooth convenience with the company’s neatly sorted sound philosophy

Published by Jenni Sidey

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Sign Up For Goods 🛍️ Product news, reviews, and must-have deals. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Boston-based Andover Audio has established a solid foundation, a base, a SpinBase to be specific, as a go-to manufacturer of low-profile high-fidelity turntable speakers. Just last month, we recommended the flagship Andover One-SB as a top audiophile pick for Father’s Day. Even the more affordable model is perfect for a newer generation of vinyl fanatics who are building a collection but don’t have the square footage to build a traditional components stack. But those same music fans have grown up with streaming, so sticking to a listening station doesn’t hold the same allure. With that in mind, Andover has announced the FreePlay, its first portable Bluetooth speaker. See It …