Friction test finally pins down the sneaker squeakAP, NEW YORKAs he watched the Boston Celtics play from the stands of TD Garden, one noise kept catching Adel Djellouli’s ear. “This squeaking sound when players are sliding on the floor is omnipresent,” he said. Other researchers have studied these kinds of bursts before, but this sneaker study examines friction happening at much faster speeds — and for the first time, it links the speedy pulses with the squeaking sound they produce. Understanding friction better could help scientists better understand how the Earth’s tectonic plates slide and grind during earthquakes, or to save energy by reducing friction and wear. Could scientists eventually fine-tune shoes to squeak in a pitch so high human cannot even hear it?

Source: Taipei Times February 26, 2026 21:46 UTC