Ping Pong Balls: Surprising Noise Blockers Revealed

Ping pong balls have been found to be an affordable and effective solution for noise insulation, particularly for low-frequency noise. Researchers from the University of Lille and the National Technical University of Athens have developed an acoustic "metasurface" using ping pong balls as Helmholtz resonators, which can absorb sound waves at their natural frequency. By creating a panel of perforated ping pong balls, the researchers were able to increase the range of resonant frequencies that could be absorbed. This cost-effective solution has the potential for various applications beyond sound insulation.