Soundproof Silk

Researchers at MIT have engineered a fabric that stifles sound! But what is this fabric made of? How does it work? And what are some uses for a soundproof fabric?

Noise pollution has been a problem in society as long as we’ve had cities. With the development of the metropolis came the drilling of skyscrapers, the loud roar of traffic, and the chatter and sound of populations of millions of people.

 Scientists have been seeking solutions to this crisis for decades, and thanks to a team of researchers from MIT, we’re one step closer to creating quiet sanctuaries in otherwise loud zones. The fabric identified is a single layer sheet of cotton and silk. Though it’s barely thicker than one human hair, it can cancel noise because it contains a unique fiber. This fiber vibrates to create unintelligible sound waves which interfere with other loud noises. Also, the fabric can be held quite still, not allowing vibrations- which is how sound is transmitted. Ideas can come from anywhere! Sometimes, the most intuitive solutions are the best ones.