How Can We Fight Unwanted Noise?

CrowdScience

BBC

Science

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 31 October 2017

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Unpleasant man-made noise is something that disturbs many of us and even damages our health. But as millions more people move into crowded cities around the world, it's a cacophony that we almost unavoidably create ourselves. CrowdScience listener Diana from New York City in the USA got in touch to ask how we can temper the din and live a more peaceful life. Presenter Anand Jagatia heads to an acoustics lab at the University of Salford in Manchester, UK, to meet the researchers and engineers investigating the best ways to make cities more pleasant for our ears whilst still maintaining the ‘buzz’ of city life. And reporter Chhavi Sachdev takes us to Mumbai in India, where we discover how sound mapping is being deployed on the city’s streets as the first step to improve the life and health of its citizens.

Do you have a question we can turn into a programme? Email us at crowdscience@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Jen Whyntie

(Image: Children cover their ears as the truck convoy front passes. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of
0:07.0	Happiness Podcast.
0:08.0	For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want
0:14.4	to share that science with you.
0:16.1	And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.
0:19.4	I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that
0:25.4	calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello you're listening to crowd science on the BBC World Service. I'm Anan Jagatier and before we get started on this
0:45.9	week's investigation into one of your science questions, I thought I'd give your ears a bit of a treat. Well I hope you enjoyed that because that's a lot for nice
0:59.4	sounds in this program. This week we're tackling the subject of unpleasant noise in our
1:07.2	surroundings and if there's anything we can do about it so brace your ears as
1:12.2	we head into the heart of a metropolis.
1:19.8	This cacophony is one of the busiest streets in Central Manchester in the UK where I am currently standing.
1:26.0	It's a stereotypical city soundscape at the heart of one of the most highly populated urban areas in Europe.
1:32.0	Loads of people, lots of buildings, and a lot of traffic.
1:38.0	And as you might have guessed, this week's query is a loud one.
1:42.0	We are tackling the issue of unwanted noise. Over to
1:45.4	listener Diana in the USA's Big Apple, New York City.
1:51.3	Hi crowd science on the BBC World Service, I'm Diana Nakeeb and I'm calling from
1:57.6	New York City in the USA. My question for today's program is, how can we fight unwanted noise?
2:06.5	Diana, do you live somewhere particularly loud in New York City? It's famously a loud place. Ironically, I live in a place that is
2:14.8	supposed to be quiet. Supposed to be. That is Staten Island. It's a
2:20.4	wannabe suburb and as soon as I woke up this morning I heard lots of interesting noise
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.