If you have ever tried to block out noisy neighbours, you will know the problem with soundproofing: the materials that work well are often thick, heavy and bulky. A team at the University of Bristol thinks moths may have solved that problem millions of years ago.
Some moths are hunted by bats, which find their prey using echolocation — sending out sound waves and listening for the echoes. To hide, some moth species evolved tiny scales and structures on their wings that absorb sound waves and reduce reflections, acting a bit like an invisibility cloak for sound.
Researchers in Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, led by Professor Marc Holderied, have adapted those biological principles into engineered materials. The University announced on 6 October 2026 that a new spinout company, Attacus Acoustics, will commercialise the work. The technology has the potential to deliver sound absorption while being up to ten times thinner than conventional materials, with possible uses in construction, transport, aerospace and manufacturing.
The idea began with a chance encounter about 30 years ago, when Professor Holderied, then a PhD student studying the acoustic properties of flowers, met an unusually fluffy moth in the rainforests of Costa Rica. That moment led to years of research combining biology, physics, acoustics and engineering.
Why does thinner soundproofing matter? The University points out that long-term exposure to excessive noise is linked by the World Health Organisation to stress, sleep disruption, cardiovascular disease and reduced wellbeing. Lighter, thinner materials could mean noise-reducing wallpaper in buildings, quieter car interiors and quieter aircraft cabins — the company says it is already in discussions with aerospace manufacturers, where cutting cabin noise without adding weight is a major challenge.
This is a good example of something science lessons return to again and again: nature is full of working solutions, and understanding how they work is the first step to copying them. A moth wing is not just a wing — it is a lesson in waves, echoes and materials.
For children, the key idea is simple. Sound travels as waves. When those waves hit a surface, they can bounce back, pass through, or be absorbed. The moth's wing structures are especially good at absorbing them. Ask your child: if you wanted to hide from a bat, would you rather be loud and shiny, or soft and quiet? That one question contains most of the physics.
Sources:
- University of Bristol, "Bristol spinout turns moth-wing science into revolutionary acoustic material", press release issued 6 October 2026: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2026/october/bristol-spinout-turns-moth-wing-science-into-revolutionary-acoustic-material.html
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