NOISE/NOTES
By Eoin A. King, NNI Editor
NNI is on Facebook and Twitter – we try to keep our readers informed with noise news from all across the globe by highlighting interesting research and projects. Here is a roundup of some of the stories that have been making headlines. Follow @NNIEditor to stay up to date with all noise-related news.
INTER-NOISE 2025 is Confirmed for Brazil!
After Brazil successfully headed the 1st Latin American Symposium (during INTER-NOISE 2021), it has been announced that the bid from ProAcústica to host INTER-NOISE 2025 in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, has been successful! We look forward to seeing you all in Brazil in 2025!
Acoustics and Hybrid Work
The International WELL Building Institute recently hosted a webcast titled ‘Acoustics in the world of hybrid work’, looking at the current trends and research around health, performance, and the new workplace. It was agreed at the outset that acoustics in the world of hybrid work is a critical topic to consider as more and more people are working from home.
The Lancet says Noise Pollution needs more attention
A recent editorial in the Lancet notes that noise pollution receives far less attention than air or water pollution because “it cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled.” It also recalls a quote from Nobel Prize winner Rober Kock who in 1910, predicted that “One day man will have to fight noise as fiercely as cholera and pest”, and argues that this prediction acts as a warning for today: action is needed now before noise pollution reaches epidemic proportions.
Noise Pollution was identified as a ‘menace to humanity – and a deadly threat to animals
Karen Bakker (Director of the University of British Columbia’s Program on Water Governance) writes in The Guardian (UK) to describe the adverse impacts of noise on marine life. Karen Bakker (Director of the University of British Columbia’s Program on Water Governance) writes in The Guardian (UK) to describe the adverse impacts of noise on marine life. The threat is significant – the article reports that a single shot from a seismic survey air-gun cal kill zooplankton – the foundation of the marine food chain – up to a mile away from the detonation site.
The Toxic Effects of Noise
Leaps.org (a non-profit, editorially independent media platform) recently published an extensive feature describing the effects of noise. The article features contributions from many people working in the field of Noise Control, including the Quiet Coalition, the Community Noise Lab (Brown University of Public Health), and regular NNI contributor, Jim Thompson. It is well worth a read.
Switching Perspectives – Sounds can be Good For You
Here at NNI, we are often caught up with the negative aspects of exposure to noise, but it is often worthwhile to consider the positive aspects of a healthy acoustic environment. Time magazine recently reported on how sound can improve happiness. It notes that ears, unlike eyes, have no on/off switch, and this makes it different to manage today’s world. However, it turns to some studies to show how sound can help make us happy – for example, a study in South Korea found that forest sounds led to not only self-reported feelings of comfort but also decreased heart rates and other physiological indicators of relaxers. Elsewhere, meditation or mindfulness sessions with singing bowls have been shown to help slow heart rate and lower blood pressure more effectively than practices involving science. This is well worth a read for those of you who might be exhausted from the constant reporting on the negative aspects of noise.
