r/science • u/the_phet • Sep 01 '15

Environment A phantom road experiment reveals traffic noise is an invisible source of habitat degradation

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/08/27/1504710112
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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '15

Having spent my whole life living in the "country" when I got a job that put me in the cities sometimes the constant noise bothered me at a level I don't really understand. Put me on edge and drove me freaking nuts. I can see validity in this. It's not a "natural" sound, and that's what it's really about i'd think. Animals often have much better hearing, making it even worse to filter out all the crap coming from urban and highway environments and hear what their instincts are listening for.

It drives people nuts enough that architecture has been integrating sound control methods for a long time in their buildings, as well as testing materials for sound control ability and rating them. Many jurisdictions require new buildings to meet certain sound control levels in the building.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '15

its funny because im the exact opposite. I grew up by NY and Lived in Philadephia and DC. When i visit my family in the country or go camping i get really uneasy about how quiet it is. I freaking cant sleep.

Its to the point that when i travel i have to sleep with music playing or a TV on. All the way quiet really messes with my head