A correct understanding and accurate assessment of the health risks associated with noise are essential for formulating effective noise policies and for learning to live within noisy environments. This review systematically summarizes the pathways through which noise affects human health, identifies noise−related health impacts among specific population groups and within particular spatial settings, and explores the potential of soundscape approaches to enhance occupant well−being. The findings show that noise can cause physiological effects such as hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiovascular diseases, and sleep disturbances, and can also lead to psychological and cognitive consequences including annoyance and cognitive impairments. Certain population groups exhibit heightened vulnerability to noise exposure. Children, older adults, and individuals with high noise sensitivity are key susceptible groups. Compared with other spatial contexts, urban public spaces and residential environments require particular attention due to their pronounced noise−related health risks. In addition, positive soundscapes can facilitate psychophysiological restoration, alleviate cognitive fatigue, and improve the well−being of socially disadvantaged groups. Soundscape interventions are increasingly becoming an important approach, beyond traditional noise control, for improving the acoustic quality of urban environments.
For the event sponsored by Science & Technology Review to select Chinese annual top advances in science, technology and engineering, altogether top 10 scientific, top 10 technological and top 10 engineering achievements during January 1 to December 31 of 2025 have been selected from respective published influential academic journals and scientific newspapers. The selection procedure involved screening and recommending candidates internally, followed by appraisal of experts including editorial board members and external reviewers. This article introduces these achievements in a time sequence of publishing.
The construction of "Quiet China" places increasing demands on environmental noise control and high−quality acoustic environments. Sound field control (SFC) has emerged as an effective approach for actively regulating acoustic fields and has attracted considerable research attention in recent years. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the state of the art in sound field control, with a particular focus on three representative technologies: sound field reconstruction, personal audio systems, and active noise control. First, fundamental principles and representative methods for sound field reconstruction are reviewed, including pressure matching, higher−order Ambisonics, wave field synthesis, and parametric array–based approaches. Subsequently, multi−zone sound field control techniques for personal audio systems are summarized, with emphasis on acoustic contrast control and its extensions toward robustness and broadband performance. Furthermore, recent advances in active noise control are discussed from the perspectives of system configurations, control algorithms, and practical applications in complex noise environments. Based on the reviewed literature, potential research directions are outlined, highlighting system integration, intelligent control, and multi−objective optimization for real−world deployment. The reviewed progress provides useful references and technical insights for the design and application of sound field control systems in support of the "Quiet China" initiative.
Against the backdrop of rapid social development, people's demand for a quiet and harmonious environment is increasingly pressing. Noise pollution has become a significant environmental issue affecting people's quality of life and health, making noise control an indispensable technological requirement for safeguarding the people's "right to tranquility" as a basic livelihood need. This paper comprehensively elaborates on noise prevention and control technologies, covering a diverse array of techniques including sound absorption, sound insulation, noise attenuation, vibration isolation, damping, and active noise control. It presents the research frontiers of these technologies and their applicability at the technical application level, analyzes noise control strategies for different scenarios such as urban environments, transportation, and construction, and looks forward to the future development trends of noise control technologies. Furthermore, it emphasizes the crucial role of noise source mechanism research, source control, and new acoustic structural materials in the field of noise mitigation and control.
Artificial intelligence is regarded as the core driving force of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While it brings impacts and challenges to many traditional industries, it also plays an important role in empowering and enhancing their quality. Similarly, it has brought new development opportunities to the ancient discipline of acoustics. Currently, artificial intelligence has been deeply intersecting and integrating with underwater acoustics, ultrasonics, and air acoustics, continuously promoting the innovation of acoustic technologies. This paper focuses on the applications of artificial intelligence in acoustics, especially in air acoustics. Firstly, we elaborate in detail on the current applications of artificial intelligence in many fields, such as speech signal processing, sound source localization, spatial audio, acoustic event detection, classification and monitoring, as well as acoustic simulation and optimization, and we then further analyze the advantages of using artificial intelligence when compared with traditional methods. Secondly, in terms of the possible core problems which can hinder applications in practical scenarios, we conduct comprehensive discussions, including generalization, data dependency and low quality, computational complexity, real−time deployment, and multi−modality fusion. Finally, we summarize the challenges faced by the application of artificial intelligence in acoustics and the future development directions.
More than two decades of sustained development regarding acoustic metamaterials have not only unveiled a wide range of novel acoustic phenomena and provided abundant new mechanisms and methods for sound manipulation, but also introduced a new paradigm for acoustic wave control. In this article, we provide a brief overview of recent advances in acoustic metamaterials, introduce their anomalous acoustic properties and outline how artificially designed acoustic metamaterials enable multidimensional control of sound waves according to specific tasks. Covered topics include wavefront shaping, spatial distribution and directional control of sound energy, time−dependent and orbital angular momentum modulation in acoustic artificial systems. We also showcase the potential of metamaterials to address longstanding challenges in key areas such as noise reduction, room−in sound field control, and acoustic detection. Acoustic metamaterials are currently experiencing rapid development and are accelerating the transition from fundamental research to practical applications. In the future, they are expected to play a pivotal role in diverse areas such as ultrasonic diagnostics and therapy, stealth technology, and intelligent manufacturing.
Infrasound Monitoring has now emerged as a significant disaster monitoring technique. It enables the monitoring and assessment of natural disasters over extensive geographical areas using a sparse network of infrasound monitoring stations. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of infrasound monitoring technology, encompassing the physical characteristics of infrasound propagation in the atmosphere, the hardware architecture of infrasound monitoring stations, and algorithms for infrasound event detection. It elaborates in detail on the application of the infrasound method in monitoring natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and avalanches, specifically its roles in source localization, event type identification, and disaster damage assessment. Due to its long−range monitoring capability and the extended propagation distances of infrasound through the atmosphere, it is susceptible to azimuthal deviations caused by factors such as atmospheric winds. This susceptibility compromises the accuracy and robustness of monitoring results. To enhance the performance of infrasound monitoring, it is recommended to integrate infrasound data with complementary datasets (e.g., seismic data) and to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for the deep mining of correlations within multimodal data. Combining the physical principles governing infrasound atmospheric propagation with advanced signal processing methods will improve capabilities for determining source location, estimating energy release, and identifying event types. The infrasound monitoring method serves as a crucial, cost−efficient solution for large−scale natural disaster surveillance, enabling comprehensive analysis of diverse hazard types. With the advancement of artificial intelligence technology, infrasound monitoring is poised to enter a new stage of intelligent processing.
Ocean ambient noise refers to the sum of sounds produced by natural phenomena and human activities in the ocean. With the advancement of passive acoustic technologies and signal processing methods, this noise has shifted from a traditional source of interference to an important means of acquiring seabed information and can be used to invert key geoacoustic parameters such as seabed sound speed and attenuation. This paper systematically reviews the main methods for seabed geoacoustic inversion based on ocean ambient noise and categorizes them into three types according to the principles: (1) inversion methods based on the spatial characteristics of the noise field. (2) inversion methods based on reconstructing the Green’s function via noise cross−correlation. (3) inversion methods driven by data and intelligent optimization algorithms. It analyzes key challenges faced by current methods in practical applications, including robustness, resolution, and applicability, and discusses future development directions. This study is of significant value for promoting the practical application of seabed parameter inversion methods and enhancing ocean environmental monitoring capabilities.
In recent years, in addition to traditional noise reduction measures targeting aircraft engine and airframe noise sources, increasing attention has been paid to engine–airframe installation noise control and noise abatement flight procedure technologies. In terms of installation noise control, this paper provides an overview of the generation mechanisms, influencing factors, and control techniques for jet and fan installation noise, as well as the application of computational aeroacoustics methods in noise mechanism analysis and prediction. For noise abatement procedures, the principles, applicable conditions, and effectiveness of standard departure procedures NADP 1/2 (Noise Abatement Departure Procedure), continuous climb/descent operations, and derated takeoff are introduced. The integration of performance−based navigation and multi−objective optimization is highlighted as a promising approach to achieving the coordinated optimization of noise reduction and flight performance. This paper systematically reviews the progress and development trends of these two key noise reduction approaches, aiming to contribute to the realization of the "Quiet China" initiative.
With the acceleration of urbanization, equipment noise pollution has become a core challenge in the management of social life noise. This review summarizes the governance pathways and noise reduction technologies for noise pollution from equipment. It identifies three major current challenges: passive noise reduction shows insufficient attenuation for low−frequency noise (<500 Hz) and significant weight increase; active noise cancellation (ANC) faces bottlenecks in high−frequency noise (>1 kHz) control, real−time computing power, and power consumption; sound quality optimization is constrained by individual differences in psychoacoustic parameters. Aiming at the above limitations, this paper proposes frontline technological breakthrough directions: low−frequency efficient sound absorption of acoustic metamaterials (sound absorption coefficient>0.95), noise reduction−efficiency synergy of aerodynamic bionic technology, and artificial intelligence−driven dynamic adaptation of intelligent noise reduction. It is recommended to build a soundscape ecology from physical silence to psychological tranquility through the integration of the three−chain "policy−technology−standard" to support the implementation of the "Quiet China" strategy.
This article investigatedthe acoustic vibration coupling response of a fully elastic cavity structure controlled by piezoelectric shunt technology under an internal sound source excitation.Based on the acoustic vibration equation, this article analyzed the dominant factors of the acoustic vibration response of the fully elastic cavity structure, revealed the coupling mechanism between the different panels and the acoustic cavity. In fully elastic cavity vibration, the coupling between the panel mode and the acoustic cavity mode can be calculated using orthogonal integration, and there exists a corresponding dominant panel for a specific resonance frequency. Piezoelectric shunt regulation based on dominant panel strategy can maximize control effectiveness. A vibration and noise control system for an elastic cavity based on a piezoelectric shunt circuit was established. By controlling the vibration in the dominant frequency range corresponding to the panels of the elastic cavity, multiple resonance peaks were suppressed in the overall response of the elastic cavity system. The vibration response of the wall panels at the first two resonant frequencies, 88 Hz and 144 Hz, decreased by 17 dB and 9 dB respectively, while the peak sound pressure inside the cavity reduced by 17 dB and 7 dB, and the peak radiated sound pressure outside the cavity decreased by 13 dB and 4 dB.
To systematically evaluate and optimize the development roadmap of noise−reduction technologies for civil aircraft, a comprehensive assessment framework integrating the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and quality function deployment (QFD) is established. Starting from representative aircraft noise sources, a technology list consisting of 23 noise−reduction approaches is compiled. Seven key evaluation criteria, including airworthiness compliance, total noise−reduction potential, and technology readiness level, are defined, and the corresponding weights are determined through AHP with consistency verification. Based on these weights, three QFD−based scoring methods are applied to compare the influence of individual judgment matrices and an aggregated judgment matrix on the final technology ranking. The results indicate that, provided all expert judgment matrices satisfy the consistency requirement, both the overall scores and rankings of the technologies remain stable across the three scoring methods. According to the results of Scoring Method I, hierarchical development lists and priority development lists of noise−reduction technologies are formulated. Among these technologies, nacelle acoustic liners and low−noise aerodynamic design of high−lift devices are recommended as priority development directions. This study provides a quantitative decision−making basis for the strategic planning and prioritization of noise−reduction technologies for civil aircraft.
Technological talents are the core element for achieving self−reliance and self−improvement in China's science and technology, and innovation willingness is the key to stimulating the vitality of technological talents. This article takes 236 scientific and technological talents as the survey subjects, adopts the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method, and explores the configuration path of multi factor synergy affecting the innovation willingness of scientific and technological talents under the TPB framework. Research has found that there are four driving types of high innovation willingness among technology talents, namely demonstrative norms innovation attitude driven, directive norms innovation attitude driven, endogenous attitudes subjective norm driven, and innovation attitude driven. Innovation attitude is an important condition for technology talents to generate innovation willingness; Directive norms and demonstrative norms are key elements in regulating the innovation willingness of scientific and technological talents, and there is a substitution relationship between the two; The perceived behavioral control of technology talents has a weaker effect on enhancing innovation willingness. This article reveals the complex causal mechanism of the synergistic effect of planned behavior theory elements on the innovation willingness of scientific and technological talents from a configuration perspective, providing important reference for organizations to cultivate the innovation willingness of scientific and technological talents.
In order to implement the requirements of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution" for low−noise−emission products, it is urgent to take the problem as the guide and learn from international experience to improve Chinese low−noise−emission product system. The current situation of low−noise−emission products was summarized, the international experience of low−noise−emission products was analyzed, and the suggestions for the next step of work were proposed. China has adopted measures such as levying environmental protection taxes, environmental finance, tax incentives, pricing, and government procurement in the field of noise pollution prevention and control. However, a low−noise−emission product labeling system has not yet been established in China. The standards related to low noise are not perfect, the incentive policies are insufficient, and the market supervision measures are lacking. Developed countries and regions such as the United States and Europe have established a relatively complete low−noise−emission product system, formulated laws and regulations related to low−noise−emission products, and established low−noise−emission product certification and labeling systems. Through comparative research, it is recommended that China establish a low−noise−emission product standard certification system, improve the policy incentive system, and strengthen the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement.
Ma Dayou (1915–2012) was an internationally renowned acoustician, a distinguished Chinese physicist and educator, a pioneering founder of modern acoustics in China, and a senior academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This article provides an overview of academician Ma Dayou's life, scientific achievements, and the scientific spirit he represented. He dedicated his life to acoustics research and education, achieving groundbreaking contributions in architectural acoustics, environmental acoustics, speech acoustics, and other fields, laying a solid foundation for the development of acoustics in China. A man of profound patriotism, rigorous scholarship, and relentless innovation, he embodied the patriotic spirit and academic integrity of China’s older generation of scientists.
