Noise In The News: Weekly Round-Up

by Quiet Communities Staff

Photo credit: Andrea Piacquadio

The quiet after snowfall

Recent snowstorms across the East Coast have been intense, and more are on the way. There seems to be no silver lining to this endless winter, except for the blissful quiet that comes with heavy snowfall. Even just an inch of snow on the ground can dampen sound waves.

Texas city may fine noisy drivers

Austin, Texas, is joining a growing coalition of cities fighting excessive vehicle noise. The city proposed an ordinance to fine cars that produce noises louder than 85 A-weighted decibels. If approved, the violation would be a Class C misdemeanor, and there would be a 30-day grace period for the community to adjust. Staff said they look to other cities like Dallas and El Paso to draft the language of the ordinance.

The science of squeaking

As March Madness approaches, a new study reveals the secret behind the squeaking noise often heard on court. Originally believed to be caused by the stick-slip phenomenon, scientists at Harvard University found that the raised ridges on a sneaker’s sole actually act like tiny waveguides, squeaking as a player moves.