Strathclyde engineers are looking into the hearing systems of insects to inspire the next generation of ultrasound sensors.
Dr James Windmill, from the Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and project partner Dr Jerome Sueur, from the French national museum of natural history, are researching the little-understood mechanics of how certain insects 'hear'.
Ultrasound is used in all areas of life - from monitoring babies during pregnancy to assessing the structural integrity of ageing infrastructure such as buildings, bridges and airplanes.
Dr Windmill said: "I’m interested in how we measure these really small creatures and incorporate what we learn from them into engineering systems and technology."
Plea minutissima (pygmy backswimmer), an aquatic insect found across Europe, is one species under investigation.
These insects are incredibly small - less than 2 millimetres in size - but have fully-functioning microscopic hearing systems that work well under water.
The team play high frequency sounds to the insects and measure the movement of their ears with a laser.
Dr Windmill says past research has shown that similar species can have very different hearing systems.
"When Dr Sueur and I looked into cicadas in France we were surprised to find two very closely related species had completely different auditory systems. Given that there are more than 100,000 species of moth worldwide - another insect I'm investigating - there's a lot of biology still to look into."
Their research could also increase knowledge of biodiversity.
"Dr Sueur is interested in the spread of these insects through river systems, with the long term goal to use our understanding of how they communicate to measure population. You could then get an idea of the effects of pollution and land use on the river system from aquatic insects."
Dr Windmill's work has recently been boosted by a number of grants. One has allowed the centre to purchase an acoustic microscope; a specialist piece of equipment that builds a 3D image of a live sample - much like an x-ray - but without harming the insect.
The most recent grant is from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Using a combination of microscopy, motion detection and computer modelling, this new grant will investigate the physical mechanics behind the detection of ultrasound by the ears of certain insects.
Who's involved?
Dr James Windmill, Research Fellow Dr Joseph Jackson and PhD students Hannah Moir and David Mackie.
Who funds the research?
The two-year research project into aquatic insects is funded by the Royal Society of London.
Other grants include:
• BBSRC
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral training grant
• EPSRC responsive mode funding
Visit the Facilities and Resources web pages to learn more about research facilities at Strathclyde.