Freakonomics Radio 439. Please Get Your Noise Out of My Ears
Nov 12, 2020
Arlene Bronsaft, a Professor Emerita from CUNY, and Josh Dean, an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago, discuss the pervasive noise of modern life and its impact on health and productivity. They reveal how ambient sounds, from car alarms to subway noise, affect our mental well-being and economic efficiency. The conversation highlights the urgent need for noise reduction strategies in urban environments and explores the psychological costs of unwanted noise. With insights from cutting-edge research, they advocate for a balanced soundscape that respects both enjoyment and tranquility.
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Ocean Soundscapes
- Ocean life relies more on sound than land life because vision is limited underwater.
- Sound travels further in water, making it crucial for marine mammals to communicate and navigate.
Acoustic Enrichment for Coral Reefs
- Scientists used underwater speakers to play healthy reef sounds in degraded areas of the Great Barrier Reef.
- This attracted fish who stayed on, showing promise for reef restoration.
9/11 and Whale Noise
- Peter Tyack studied whales in the Bay of Fundy, where shipping noise was constant.
- After 9/11, ship traffic temporarily stopped, revealing a change in whale behavior.