Although music is considered a purely auditory experience, visual cues can unconsciously influence performance judgements—a phenomenon known as the sight-over-sound effect. To explore how one’s musical expertise can affect this bias, researchers from Japan conducted a controlled study using recordings from Japanese high school brass band competitions. Their results reveal that the effect predominantly appears in musicians without genre-specific experience, highlighting how specialized training can shape multisensory evaluation in music perception and judgement.

Rabi-like splitting is one of the key concepts in modern quantum technology. Fully understanding it can help us advance our knowledge in quantum information processing.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a mathematical model for Volterra defects using differential geometry to analyze the relationships between different types of defects. Their work provides insight into the connections between edge dislocations and wedge disclinations and extends traditional theories in material science. Their results may help to explain the unusual mechanical properties of crystals so they can be used to design new materials.

In AIP Advances, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Chongqing Jiaotong University and Chongqing No. 7 Middle School compared the performance of three helmet materials under the most common types of impact and loading conditions. Though participation in sports can have positive impacts both physiologically and socially, extreme sports come with elevated risks. Researchers used computational simulations to run material comparisons for helmets made of strong plastic Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), fiberglass alloys, and aluminum composites. The findings are valuable for all extreme sports, but Wang notes the importance of customizing helmet properties to their intended activity, as the effect of an impact depends on its interaction with gravity, the potential for a rebound, and more.