A team of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin has developed a tiny prototype device that mimics the parasitic fly’s hearing mechanism, which may be useful for a new generation of hypersensitive hearing aids. Described in the journalApplied Physics Letters, from AIP Publishing, the 2-millimeter-wide device uses piezoelectric materials, which turn mechanical strain into electric signals. The use of these materials means that the device requires very little power.

“Synthesizing the special mechanism with piezoelectric readout is a big step forward towards commercialization of the technology,” said Neal Hall, an assistant professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at UT Austin. “Minimizing power consumption is always an important consideration in hearing-aid device technology.