99% Invisible The Natural Experiment
May 6, 2020
Yijin Lin, a doctoral student under Erin Westgate, explores the intriguing landscape of boredom during the COVID-19 quarantine. She discusses how the pandemic has disrupted traditional research, yet provided a unique opportunity to study boredom's psychological complexities. The conversation dives into people's extreme reactions to boredom, its cultural nuances, and its impact on mental health. Additionally, insights on navigating family life amidst public health challenges offer a relatable angle, as Lin sheds light on social dynamics in these unprecedented times.
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A Quiet Ocean
- Michelle Fourney, an acoustic ecologist, studies humpback whales in Glacier Bay.
- The COVID-19 shutdown offered a unique opportunity to study whale behavior without ship noise.
Himalayas Visible
- Lockdown in India cleared air pollution enough to reveal the Himalayas for the first time in 30 years.
- This visibility highlights the severity of India's air pollution problem, one of the worst globally.
Forced Experiment
- The lockdown became a "forced experiment" for air pollution researchers like Sarath Guttikunda.
- It revealed that local sources contribute significantly to urban pollution, challenging prior assumptions.