Directional hearing, the ability to determine the direction a sound comes from, is important for living beings. Unlike large animals that have directional hearing because their ears are far apart, insects have differently structured ears. The lesser wax moth is one example. Scientists discovered that its elliptical ear structure and its differing thickness allow the lesser wax moth to hear directionally despite its ears being only 600 micrometres apart. The simplicity of this solution could inspire new directional audio technology, like microphones and hearing aids. Read full article here
Technology
The First Solar-Powered Car Comes at a Hot Price
The Lightyear O is a revolutionary electric car powered by the sun. Developed by a Dutch startup, the four-door sedan has over 50 square feet of solar panels on its roof and hood, generating up to 43 miles of energy a day. With production now underway in Finland, the car does come with a hefty price tag at $262,000, but the company hopes to introduce a more affordable version, the Lightyear 2, by 2025. Read full article here