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Short Wave

How Physics Could Make Big Crowds Safer

07 Feb 2025

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What do large crowds of people and water have in common? They both act like fluids. When crowds cheer, sway and clump together, the movements look like ripples of water. Researchers hope insights from physics like this one could help officials and engineers create safer crowds at festivals.Help shape the future of Short Wave by taking our survey: npr.org/shortwavesurveyListen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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Full Episode

0.089 - 3.811 Robert Frahn

Conductor Robert Frahn says a good melody captures our attention.

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4.111 - 18.078 Regina Barber

And then it moves you through time. Music is architecture in time. If you engage in the moment with what you're listening to, you do lose a sense of the time around you.

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18.458 - 22.88 Robert Frahn

How we experience time. That's on the TED Radio Hour from NPR.

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24.158 - 43.711 Unknown

Hey, short wavers, before we get started, quick little favor to ask. Can you help us shape the future of shortwave by completing a short anonymous survey? It's a chance for you to tell us about what you like and don't and how we can serve you better. It's an awesome responsibility, but I trust you. And we want to hear from everyone, whether you're a day one or brand new listener.

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44.331 - 72.501 Unknown

Just go to npr.org slash shortwave survey. We'll also put a link in our show notes. Thank you. Okay, on to our show. You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. Hey, Shortwavers. Regina Barber here. And Emily Kwong. With our biweekly science news roundup featuring the hosts of All Things Considered. And today we have one of our favorites, the fun, the full of energy, Elsa Chang.

73.157 - 80.16 Elsa Chang

Thank you. Hi, guys. Hi, Elsa. Okay, so give me my science presence this week. What do you have for me today?

80.36 - 92.186 Unknown

We got you. Okay, so we're going to talk about how the physics of fluids can help crowd control. How our mood may be better in the morning. And a fossil that might shed light on the early ancestors of modern birds.

92.666 - 97.689 Elsa Chang

Okay, I'm a little bit skeptical about the second one, but very excited to hear what you guys have to say.

98.269 - 104.757 Unknown

I'm a morning person. You might hate me now. Okay. All that on this episode of Shorewave, the science podcast from NPR.

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