Main content

How bad is our noise problem?

How does noise pollution affect wildlife and humans, why do we hate certain sounds, and why is it louder outside at dawn and dusk? We tackle three noisy listener questions.

We generate a huge amount of noise, whether it’s our rumbling roads, pumping parties, or talkative tourists. And the topic of noise also generates a lot of questions from our listeners. In this episode we explore three of them, with the help of acoustic scientist Kurt Fristrup and neuropsychologist Catherine Loveday.

Listener Dominique finds it hard to experience even one minute of a natural soundscape without some intrusion of human-made noise. He wonders how noise pollution is affecting both the natural world and us humans. We discuss just how noisy our modern world is, and visit a National Park in California to hear how they’re encouraging more peace and quiet there.

Meanwhile Michelle, having witnessed her husband wince in pain at the sound of squeaking takeaway boxes, asks why certain noises are particularly unpleasant or even painful to some people.

And finally, Jennifer has a sonic mystery for us to solve: why does the time of day make such a difference to the distant noises reaching her remote home?

With contributions from Professor Catherine Loveday, Dr Kurt Fristrup and Mia Monroe.

Additional audio courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service/Patrick Myers, Dominique Laloux, Boise State University/Jesse Barber, and KCSU/Asher Korn

Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Cathy Edwards
Studio Managers: Bob Nettles and Jackie Margerum

Available now

35 minutes

Last on

Mon 6 Feb 2023 18:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 3 Feb 2023 20:32GMT
  • Fri 3 Feb 2023 21:32GMT
  • Mon 6 Feb 2023 04:32GMT
  • Mon 6 Feb 2023 13:32GMT
  • Mon 6 Feb 2023 18:32GMT

Podcast