logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2019
10m 4s

Why noise is bad for your health -- and ...

TED
About this episode

Silence is a rare commodity these days. There's traffic, construction, air-conditioning, your neighbor's lawnmower ... and all this unwanted sound can have a surprising impact on your health, says noise researcher Mathias Basner. Discover the science behind how noise affects your health and sleep -- and how you can get more of the benefits of the sound of silence.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Why Big Tech is incompatible with democracy | Bruno Giussani
Most of the technology powering life in Europe today — chatbots, the cloud, digital infrastructure — is owned by companies in the United States. Writer and curator Bruno Giussani makes the case that Europe's reliance on American technology has crossed the line from convenient to ... Show More
22m 11s
Yesterday
Why AI is an even bigger deal than you think | Reed Hastings
Netflix cofounder and Anthropic board member Reed Hastings joins TED's Sal Khan to give a look inside the race to build AI. Hear his take on how the technology could accelerate education — including the possibility of an AI tutor for every student — and reshape the economy faster ... Show More
19m 8s
Jul 19
Sunday Pick: Why you should try improv comedy (w/ Rick Andrews) | How to Be a Better Human
What do radio personality Ira Glass, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, and your host Chris Duffy have in common? They all have practiced an unexpected skill that makes them more human—improv comedy. And they learned it from master improv teacher Rick Andrews. Rick joins Chris t ... Show More
41m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2022
Finding Your Quiet Space
We’re constantly assaulted by “noise” all around us: crowds, vehicles, social media. As quiet spaces around us dwindle, what is it doing to our minds and bodies? Why do we need silence for our health? Acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton takes Dr. Sanjay Gupta on a tour to one of th ... Show More
22m 27s
Jun 2024
How noise pollution harms our health, with Arline Bronzaft, PhD
From roaring leaf blowers to screeching trains, the world is full of unwelcome noise – and researchers have found that noisy environments can take a real toll on people’s mental and physical health. Arline Bronzaft, PhD, talks about how noise affects health and well-being, how it ... Show More
38m 18s
Apr 2024
Can noise harm our health?
From ear-splitting aircraft noise and the drone of traffic to the hum of an open-plan office, the world around us can feel loud. But is it getting louder? And is this having any effect on our health - and even on how long we live? We find out when living close to a road, railway ... Show More
27m 52s
Jan 2023
The Happiness of Silence
We're surrounded by noise. That "noise" can be actual sounds - but also other annoyances and distractions that make it hard for us to concentrate or think clearly. And it's only getting worse - we're all being bombarded with more sirens, more pings, more chatter, more information ... Show More
32m 20s
May 2021
Is my neighbour’s noise harming my health?
<p>As millions more of us move to live in densely populated cities, we almost inevitably face living in closer proximity to our neighbours. Neighbour noise can certainly be a source of annoyance – but could it even be damaging to our health? Increasing evidence suggests that un ... Show More
27m 34s
Mar 2025
LOUD: Is noise an invisible killer?
BBC health correspondent James Gallagher investigates how our noisy world is damaging our health. He finds out why noise increases our risk of health problems, like heart attacks, sleep problems and anxiety, and can even affect how long we live. James spends two days in Barcelona ... Show More
49m 29s
Nov 2020
439. Please Get Your Noise Out of My Ears
<p>The modern world overwhelms us with sounds we didn’t ask for, like car alarms and cell-phone “halfalogues.” What does all this noise cost us in terms of productivity, health, and basic sanity?</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswi ... Show More
49m 41s
Jul 2024
Silence and Sound
Humans are noisy. The National Park Service estimates that all of our whirring, grinding, and revving machines are doubling or even tripling global noise pollution every 30 years. A lot of that noise is negatively affecting wildlife and human health. In this guest episode, the te ... Show More
30m 37s
Nov 2022
Sociology Ruins Silence
Not many people realize institutions and society regulate silence. The noise in our lives, both external and internal, is actually controlled by laws and norms, and that noise affects our physical and mental health. So what role do the social sciences play in this phenomenon? I'm ... Show More
37m 20s