The secret of squeaky basketball shoes
Nature
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Basketball players often rely on more than just sight to understand the game; the squeaks from their shoes as they move across the court provide crucial sensory feedback. New research reveals that these familiar sounds stem from wave-like deformations in the shoe soles moving at nearly 300 kilometers per hour. These waves cause localized lifting of the sole, allowing smooth sliding and generating the characteristic squeak. The pitch of this sound directly correlates with the speed of these wave movements.
Djellouli et al.'s study, published in *Nature*, used high-speed imaging to capture these dynamic processes. They found that the frequency of the waves depends on the shoe's sole stiffness and thickness, which also determines the emitted sound's frequency. This discovery bridges the gap between the everyday experience of athletes and the complex physics at play during movement.
Understanding these wave dynamics offers insights into frictional interactions, with potential applications in materials science and engineering. It could lead to advancements in designing more efficient soles or other interfaces where smooth movement is crucial. Beyond sports, this research contributes to our knowledge of how surfaces interact under stress, opening doors for innovations in various fields that rely on precise control of motion and noise.
For athletes, the implications are practical: the sounds they hear are not just a byproduct but a vital part of their sensory experience on the court. This study highlights the hidden physics behind everyday
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Originally published on Nature on 2/26/2026