The screech of peeling sticky tape conceals a rapid train of tiny shockwaves, ultrafast imaging shows
Phys.org
February 27, 2026
A new experiment has uncovered the mechanism responsible for the screeching sound made by peeling sticky tape. Using a combination of ultrafast imaging and synchronized acoustic recordings, Sigurdur Thoroddsen and colleagues at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have shown that the noise is produced by a rapid train of tiny shockwaves, released through a specialized form of stick–slip motion. The research is published in Physical Review E.
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Originally published on Phys.org on 2/27/2026