Wed Dec 03 04:30:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
Silence is Golden: How Active Noise Cancellation Works
December 3, 2025 – Are you tired of the constant barrage of noise in your daily life? The Hindu’s “Science For All” newsletter explores the science behind creating a temporary, noise-free reality: active noise cancellation (ANC).
The article details how ANC, first conceptualized in 1934, works by using microphones to detect unwanted sounds. A processor then analyzes these sounds and generates an “anti-sound” – a sound wave with the same frequency but an inverse phase. Speakers then emit this “anti-sound,” which cancels out the original noise through a phenomenon called destructive interference.
While ANC actively cancels noise, Passive Noise Cancellation (PNC) physically blocks sound from reaching the ears. This is often achieved using physical barriers such as earcups.
The piece highlights the components of ANC: microphones, a processor, and speakers. It explains how ANC and PNC work together in headphones to provide the best listening experience by reducing unwanted sounds.
This article originally appeared in the December 3, 2025 e-Paper edition of The Hindu, focusing on science and technology topics. For more insightful articles like this, check out The Hindu’s e-Paper, featuring sections like “The View From India,” “First Day First Show,” “Today’s Cache,” “Data Point,” and “Health Matters.”
First Piper 