Shut up! Noises and collisions with noisy neighbors are scientifically proven to be more annoying than any other noise nuisance – and can even cause heart disease
- Researchers studied how different neighborhood noises affect residents
- They discovered that “impact noises”, such as footsteps, are considered the most annoying.
- Urban noise can keep people awake and lack of sleep linked to heart disease
- The problem is thought to worsen as urban areas become more populated
There’s a particular type of irritation reserved for when the upstairs apartment decides that 2 a.m. is the perfect time to start a bouncy at-home workout.
In fact, scientists have found that noise from your neighbors is more annoying than any other audible annoyance.
That’s because they’re usually short-lived “impact sounds,” like kicking and falling objects, and their spontaneity makes them more irritating.
Researchers from the National Research Council of Canada also say that these types of sounds can affect sleep and lead to heart disease.
Scientists have found that noise from your neighbors is more annoying than any other audible nuisance (stock image)
For their study, researchers in Canada, Korea and Germany created a living room-like situation and recorded the sound of falling objects and people walking. Study participants were then exposed to the sounds using speakers, headphones, and virtual reality headsets, and their level of irritation was reported.
The government agency carried out experiments to study the effect of different types of urban noise pollution on building occupants.
With the increase in population density of urban areas over the past decades and the increase in working from home in early 2020, it is believed that the problem will only get worse in the future without action.
In the last financial year, 450,000 noise complaints were made to councils across Britain, or one every 70 seconds, according to Churchill Home Insurance.
That’s 10% more than before the pandemic from 2019 to 2020 – an increase of almost 70,000 complaints in two years.
In the last financial year, 450,000 noise complaints were made to councils across Britain, or one every 70 seconds, according to Churchill Home Insurance (stock image)
For their study, researchers in Canada, Korea and Germany created a living room-like situation and recorded the sound of falling objects and people walking.
Study participants were then exposed to the sounds using speakers, headphones, and virtual reality headsets, and their level of irritation was reported.
In their results, presented today at the Acoustical Society of America meeting, it was revealed that participants found impact sounds more annoying than continuous sounds, such as music or speech.
Markus Mueller-Trapet, of the research group, said: “Long-term exposure to such unwanted sounds can potentially lead to cardiovascular problems and sleep disturbances.”
Despite this, the researchers found that the dull sound of people walking barefoot is not included in the technical requirements for the construction of buildings.
They hope their findings can inform architects and property developers and help them create more livable urban environments.
In addition, they support the introduction of an impact sound requirement in the National Building Code of Canada.
An online listening test has been set up to add more evidence to their investigations, which will run from November 21 this year until March 31, 2023.
Butterfly wings texture could be used to make noise canceling wallpaper
Go ahead and order this drum kit, because noise wallpaper might not be too far off.
Scientists have found that when they mount tiny sections of moth wings on a hard surface, they are able to absorb up to 87% of incoming sound waves.
The University of Bristol research team first discovered that the unique scales on the wings of moths absorb the echolocation calls used by bats.
The sounds they absorb are all at too high a frequency for humans to hear, so further work is needed to narrow the range of absorption to practical use.
But in the future, we may be able to mimic this noise wing texture on the exterior of buildings to absorb traffic noise, or to reduce aircraft weight.
Learn more here
A close up image of a butterfly wing showing a scale on the surface. These absorb the echolocation calls used by bats to find prey and effectively hide it from their predator.
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