Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., Board of Directors, GrowNYC, and Co-founder, The Quiet Coalition Am I surprised to read that NASA’s Mars rover, when it landed on Mars, brought “grinding, clanking, banging” to this planet? The answer is a resounding “No.” After all, having brought noise pollution to planet Earth in huge
Photo credit: Amir Esrafili from Pexels by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition Snow muffles sound by absorbing the sound waves, but it is also noisy underfoot. Why? This fun report from WTTW in Chicago explains that snow contains tiny ice crystals that crunch when we compress them underfoot as we walk. I also
Photo credit: Olaf Arndt licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition This article in the current issue of Acoustics Today discusses electric vehicle noises, which are mandatory in the U.S. to alert blind and visually impaired pedestrians of approaching electric vehicles. Apparently an early study showed increased pedestrian accidents
How did classical music get louder? It started with Beethoven. Now Dr. Daniel Fink says he has to wear ear plugs at the orchestra to listen without pain.
Dr. Arline Bronzaft writes about an unintended consequence of the pandemic. A recent Atlantic article shows that stay at home have resulted in cleaner air, less noise.
How to occupy your time while self-isolating? You can record sound wherever you are and submit it to Cities and Memory for their project recording the sounds of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus has people howling at the moon, writes Dr. Daniel Fink. And he understands why. In times such as these, coming together through sound brings comfort and unity.
Dr. Daniel Fink points us to a delightful essay on learning to run without headphones if your smartphone dies. You just might rediscover the joy of listening to the world.
Dr. Daniel Fink writes about Paige Tower’s interesting essay on how New York City’s noise worsened her anxiety, and how a move to a place closer to nature’s sounds helped her regain her calm.
Michigan scientists are studying the natural soundscape. Dr. Daniel Fink says the soundscape is also an indicator of environmental health, because natural quiet is good for all living things.
