New Delhi, June 25 -- Noise pollution is not just a nuisance. It can cause hearing loss and can worsen health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. But now, researchers have found an unlikely inspiration to 'drown out' noise: owls.

A team of researchers have developed a special kind of aerogel that is light and soft and mimics owl feathers, which along with the birds' porous skin remains 'whisper-quiet' during flight.

The aerogel is made up of two layers. The bottom layer that is porous, resembles the bird's skin with microscopic cavities that cancel out low-frequency noise. The top layer, inspired by feathers, is made of nanofibres and dampens high-frequency sounds.

The aerogel, according to the researchers, a...