According to the latest issue of the journal Nature Electronics, researchers at the Ermenau University of Technology in Germany have designed a miniature electronic sensor that simulates the workings of the cochlea in the human ear and can be used as a hearing aid or microphone to distinguish sound in noisy environments. This electronic cochlea adjusts its sensitivity to specific frequencies based on the volume of sound it receives. If the wearer is in a busy restaurant, it will change the response of hair cell to the frequency of sound emitted by others, so that the wearer can hear sounds beyond the background noise. Researchers say that this sensor integrates for the first time the process of processing sound signals in the inner ear, making it more efficient and faster than previously developed devices. The sensor is approximately 350 microns long and 150 microns wide, consisting of a silicon wafer that can convert sound waves into electrical signals of different frequencies. This silicon chip is connected to an actuator and can change its response to different frequencies. This means that if someone walks from a quiet office to a noisy street, the sensor can also adapt. However, researchers say that each sensor can only operate within a very small frequency range, so 30 to 60 sensors are needed to cover the range of human hearing. (New News Agency)