logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2019
59m 12s

FE2.5 - The Nature of Sound

Future Ecologies
About this episode
The world is full of sound. With the help of Hildegard Westerkamp, Bernie Krause, and Nick Friedman, we untangle some of the amazing ways that we can learn about our planet by listening to it. Join us as we explore the nature of sound through the sounds of nature. Featuring sublime electroacoustic composition, stunning field recordings, and cutting-edge scie ... Show More
Up next
Jun 2026
FE6.10 - Mussel Memory
On the emerald isle of Ireland, an easily-overlooked creature holds the history of a nation within its shell. From the rise and collapse of heavy industry, to a bloody civil war, the riverbeds of Ireland have been witness — and they tell a story of change and possibility stretchi ... Show More
50m 58s
May 2026
Future Ecologies presents Ideas: What the River Wants to Be (Part 1)
We have a soft spot for food systems that challenge the modern convention: food systems like forest gardens or sea gardens that don’t at all look like vast rows of monocultures, but instead blend into the landscape — to the point of being invisible — at least until you’ve learned ... Show More
55m 17s
Apr 2026
[HYPHAEDELITY] Chelsey Armstrong x Leigh Joseph — The State of Ethnobotany
Spring is here, and (not to brag, but) around these parts, the smell of flowers is in the air, and everything seems to be buzzing with life. Times like these, it’s hard not to have plants on the brain, and we fully endorse you getting out to meet your green neighbours. While you ... Show More
50m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
The science of sound
Scientists, conservationists and other researchers are using audio soundscapes in innovative ways to record the natural world in rich detail and help develop strategies to preserve it. Gaia Vince visits the Dear Earth exhibition at London’s Southbank Centre where she interacts wi ... Show More
35m 39s
May 2022
Listen Again: Sound And Silence
Original broadcast date: Friday, October 16, 2020. Sound surrounds us, from cacophony even to silence. But depending on how we hear, the world can be a different auditory experience for each of us. This hour, TED speakers explore the science of sound. Guests on the show include N ... Show More
50m 27s
Feb 2025
Soundtracks of our lives
From our favorite songs to our own voices, we're surrounded by sound all day. But how does all this noise affect our emotions and behavior? This hour, TED speakers explore how sound shapes our lives. Guests include musician and professor of songwriting Scarlet Keys, AI CEO Pierre ... Show More
49m 38s
Feb 2022
A sonic tour of the solar system
What does it sound like on Mars? On Jupiter? Titan? This collaboration between the podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz and the composer Melodysheep imagines the soundscapes of other worlds. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and rea ... Show More
21m 59s
Sep 2023
Sound And Silence
Original broadcast date: October 16, 2020. Sound surrounds us, from cacophony even to silence. But depending on how we hear, the world can be a different auditory experience for each of us. This hour, TED speakers explore the science of sound. Guests on the show include NPR All T ... Show More
50m 27s
Mar 2022
Sounds of the Earth - February
Relax with a calming mix of music and natural sounds, from Kenya to New Zealand via Lancashire and the Cotswolds. Featuring recordings made by Radio3 Breakfast listeners Cathy Tattersfield and Josh Clarke, and BBC Natural History recordists Trevor Gosling and Nigel Tucker. 
32m 23s
Oct 2025
Using sound as a tool for conservation
What can the sounds of the natural world tell us about the health of our ecosystems? Datshiane Navanayagam talks two sound ecologists in Scotland and Australia about using soundscape monitoring as a tool to help in conservation work.Dr Elizabeth Znidersic is an Australian environ ... Show More
26m 28s
Oct 2024
A sonic journey through the universe | Felipe Sánchez Luna
In an astounding sonic experience, creative director Felipe Sánchez Luna takes you on a journey through the universe as told in sound. Take a deep breath, listen closely and discover the power of sound to provide you with a new emotional understanding of the world.Vote for our sh ... Show More
11m 19s