For those of us confined to our homes mindlessly scrolling the news, lockdown might not feel like a great vibe. But scientists are apparently picking up some good vibrations in these strange and surreal times.
The dramatic drop in human activity around the world – which has resulted in halts in industry, shuttered shops, restaurants and bars, and deserted roads, pavements and railways – has caused the Earth’s ‘buzz’ to quieten.
Seismologists from the British Geological Survey (BGS) have reported that the human hum that usually vibrates through the planet has stilled, meaning that their sensors are picking up less noise than usual.
Thomas Lecocq, a geologist and seismologist at the Royal Observatory in Belgium, told CNN that the ‘30 to 50 per cent reduction in ambient seismic noise’ means the Earth’s upper crust is moving less. The Earth’s vibrations now are similar to what they’d expect to see on Christmas Day.
Who knows what scientists will be able to hear now cultural noise is at an all-time low? ‘In theory, this reduction in noise means we should be able to detect more earthquakes in the UK, in Europe and all around the world,’ Brian Baptie, a seismologist at BGS told the Guardian.
If you’re managing to find some peace and stillness in lockdown, it turns out that the earth under your feet is too.
Hey, did you see these goats that have taken over a Welsh town in lockdown?