A Sonic Suprise A Sonic Suprise
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Photo by Ted Kinsman/Science Source
Science

A Sonic Suprise

Making Sound Visible
Iza Smelczyńska
Reading
time 3 minutes

Sound can be seen. What’s more, it can draw exquisite pattern formations on physical surfaces.

Anyone who’s ever tried playing a tune on a wine glass or tracing squeaky circles along the rim of a thin champagne flute at a boring (albeit boozy) party has officially completed one of the most impressive lessons in physics. But, apart from the spectacular auditory effects, what’s so amazing about making music with glassware?

Let’s

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A Grown-Up Lullaby A Grown-Up Lullaby
Experiences

A Grown-Up Lullaby

Songs for Sleeping
Iza Smelczyńska

How far can music take us, especially if it accompanies us on our journey within, touching the boundary between dreams and reality? Let’s get comfortable. Our senses will soon be hit by an extravaganza of stimuli and mad improvisation.

Suggested background music: Robert Rich, Somnium

What role does sleep play? Is it only about rest? The principles of good sleep hygiene created to help us sleep properly through the night and wake up rested involve measures like limiting stimuli, and this includes auditory stimuli. But is that what we really need? For starters, let’s reminisce on our first childhood memories: Hush Little Baby, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Rock-a-Bye Baby. These are popular and appreciated tunes; with their help, we were able to fall fast asleep, much like an old bear. We no longer listen to them as adults; our bedrooms have become silent. Nobody sings to us, so it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep. So maybe an adult lullaby would be worth a try?

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