Smart sound shield recognized by leading business magazine
Our world is a cacophony of sound: air conditioners rattle, factories thrum, airplanes roar. And all that clamor isn’t just annoying—excessive noise can also mess with our well-being, impacting cardiovascular and mental health, memory, even birth weight.
But an emerging technology from Boston University researchers offers a path to a quieter future. Developed in the lab of mechanical engineer Xin Zhang, this smart sound shield blocks noise without restricting airflow—an attribute that could be used to turn the volume down on a range of technologies, from fans to engines.
In recognition of its potential impact, the smart sound shield has been named an honoree on Fast Company’s 2026 World Changing Ideas list. Finalists were selected from 1,500 entries nationwide, and all are aimed at pressing global challenges. This is the second year running that Zhang, a BU College of Engineering Distinguished Professor of Engineering, has earned the leading business magazine’s recognition.
To dampen noise, the shield uses metamaterials, which Zhang describes as “engineered materials whose structure can be precisely designed to manipulate different types of waves, including electromagnetic and sound waves.”
The Brink spoke with Zhang to learn more about the smart sound shield and its potential impact.