This Mathematical Formula Cancels Out All Sound


The noise canceling headphones you use to shield yourself from babies, traffic, annoying spouses, and other sonic nuisances, are all powered by a single mathematical formula, Wired explains: the Fourier Transform. Sounds are waves. The Fourier Transform analyzes a given wave, and produces the equivalent of its audio opposite. When that's played, the two more or less cancel out, muffling your audio environs. Think of it as bizarro Superman punching Superman in the face. [Wired]