Name: The beautiful, mysterious science of how you hear
Uploaded: 2020-03-13T14:57:05Z
Duration: 15 min 32 s
Description: Have you ever wondered how your ears work? In this delightful and fascinating talk, biophysicist Jim Hudspeth demonstrates the wonderfully simple yet astonishingly powerful mechanics of hair cells, the microscopic powerhouses that make hearing possible -- and explains how, when it's really quiet, your ears will begin to beam out a spectrum of sounds unique to you.

Have you ever wondered how your ears work? In this delightful and fascinating talk, biophysicist Jim Hudspeth demonstrates the wonderfully simple yet astonishingly powerful mechanics of hair cells, the microscopic powerhouses that make hearing possible -- and explains how, when it's really quiet, your ears will begin to beam out a spectrum of sounds unique to you.

Jim Hudspeth: The beautiful, mysterious science of how you hear

The beautiful, mysterious science of how you hear

Your ears decode the world's symphony, translating air vibrations into the rich tapestry of sounds you experience daily.

Hair cells in your ears, misnamed yet marvelously efficient, act as antennas, converting sound vibrations into electrical signals.

Our hearing's exquisite sensitivity and breadth stem from hair cells' active process, amplifying sounds to astonishing levels.