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Noise-Canceling Single-Layer Woven Silk and Cotton Fabric (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
35 points by bookofjoe 2 hours ago | hide | past | web | 9 comments | favorite





Apologies for the ADHD induced tangent. Has anyone else noticed that regular little party balloons seem to have a passive noise cancelling effect? If you bring them close to your ear there's a zone of 'dead air' when they are maybe an inch away. My theory was that there's something in passing through the rubber envelope that creates a phase delay or inversion, but it could just all be in my head lol.

My wife makes balloon arches and I've never noticed but this sounds fascinating. Maybe I'll get her to work, for "science". :P

Note: Her balloons are not typically helium filled, so the other users question about air/helium might make a difference.


The latex from which the balloon is made is a decent soundproofing material, so what you're hearing is likely just that.

Could it be an interaction between static electricity from the balloon and tiny elements in the ear?

Having filled a room with balloons, this is very noticeable. It also make heating the room difficult.

it maybe acting as an acoustic lens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLBmWF9Xo10

It seems like the effect would be very frequency specific.

Do you see a difference regardless of helium or air? I assume from your description that it has to be inflated to work.

im curious about replicating this



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