Power steering for your hearing: Ears have tiny 'flexoelectric' motors to amplify sound

Utah and Texas researchers have learned how quiet sounds are magnified by bundles of tiny, hair-like tubes atop "hair cells" in the ear: when the tubes dance back and forth, they act as "flexoelectric motors" that amplify sound mechanically.

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<p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news159599814.html">Power steering for your hearing: Ears have tiny 'flexoelectric' motors to amplify sound</a></p> <p>Utah and Texas researchers have learned how quiet sounds are magnified by bundles of tiny, hair-like tubes atop "hair cells" in the ear: when the tubes dance back and forth, they act as "flexoelectric motors" that amplify sound mechanically.</p>