© 2026 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our daily newsletter, delivered first thing weekdays, keeps you connected to your community with news, culture, national NPR headlines, and more.

Annoying Noise

- NPR's Richard Harris explores why some noises are more annoying than others. Is it pitch? Perhaps fingernails across a chalkboard have too many high tones and not enough lows? Scientists have learned the secret and are applying their know how in all sorts of creative ways to make the world of sound more bearable.

Copyright 1996 NPR

Thanks to you, WUSF is here — delivering fact-based news and stories that reflect our community.⁠ Your support powers everything we do.