Science Questions

Is there such a think as Brown Noise?

Is it true that there’s a sound that makes people want to go for a number 2? (sometimes known as the 'Brown Note') Katy Saxby

We put this question to Dr Ian Cross:

Ian: Er, probably not. Other than, "assume the crash position!"

Chris: Wasn’t there some tests done by the American military?Ian: Yeah.  The trouble is with sound, it leaks out so it would be difficult to prevent the same thing happening to your own soldiers were it to have been efficacious.  The other thing about sound, it does this wonderful thing.  You can diminish the effect by standing further away.  This as a strategy doesn’t appear to have been something envisaged by those who were trying to test it.

March 2008