City noise is constant and growing. As urban populations rise, more people are exposed to traffic, construction, and the continuous hum of machines. Our hearing evolved as an alert system that never fully switches off, even during sleep, making us especially sensitive to persistent sound. Research shows that noise affects more than hearing. Long-term exposure is linked to sleep disruption, stress, and increased risks of heart disease and stroke. Yet not all sound is harmful. Natural sounds – water, wind, birds – can calm the body. The challenge is not silence, but creating cities where meaningful sounds are heard above the noise.
