The giant art that keeps planes quiet

Next to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the Buitenschot Land Art Park, a giant set of ridges and furrows cut into the landscape. Yes, it's art: but it also stops some local residents from being exposed to jet noise.
More about the park: www.schiphol.nl/en/schiphol-a...
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[@TomScottGo]

I got really lucky with the weather and really unlucky with the direction the planes were going.

[@hem9483]

Tom Scott thanks for the video tom :) it really makes my day better

[@schil7019]

Love ur vids

[@MultiArtartart]

awesome job!

[@bluegleam8168]

Tom , you're in my country ! 😃

[@thisnamewasnottaken6117]

unlucky my dude, still a great video

[@diamondflaw]

The land is ribbed for the neighborhood's pleasure.

[@xmlthegreat]

AHAHAHAHAHAH Best one yet! Good work mate

[@aviinl1]

I shall not like this comment as right now, it has 69 likes. I'll like it with this comment.

[@jameswalker199]

Only has 68 for me. I guess that's not been pushed to my nearest datacentre yet

[@EcceJack]

That's it! You win the Internet for the day! 😄😄

[@frzstat]

the comment that may have won the internet for 2019!

[@civishamburgum1234]

I can already hear the future archeologist say: "It was probalbly for cultural use."

[@vaclav_fejt]

And the future Erich von Däniken saying: "It was a part of an aircraft landing facility!"

[@qwertyuiopzxcfgh]

Clearly it was used for ceremonial purposes

[@Snowshowslow]

Or religious use. Anything unexplained is for ritual and religious use ;-) My brother who has a PhD in archaeology would rant about that constantly, haha.

[@OB.x]

lmao I got my degree in that, and i just lmao hearing that. I'm a stock broker now btw.

[@hebl47]

@@Snowshowslow I bet your brother would love Metatron's video: RANT!! Archaeology And Everything CEREMONIAL

[@zappawench6048]

Sounds like a proverb: When the fields are ploughed, The planes are less loud.

[@robbedoeslegrand236]

The planes. I saw what you did there.

[@nigelft]

I think you just inadvertently wrote a haiku ...

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

@@nigelft You think wrong.

[@Gjoufi]

​@@imveryangryitsnotbutter Roaring jet engines Freshly turned the black soil is Silence of the wind There fixed the haiku :P

[@michaelvins3215]

When the plains are ploughed The planes are less loud

[@BDNeon]

Kinda reminds me of the corrugation in cardboard. Funnily enough, when I was working at my own warehouse job marking some items for a last-minute repack, I had a stack of unassembled cardboard boxes next to me, a whole pallet of just cardboard sheets ready to fold into boxes. It was of course noisy in the warehouse, as was always the case when we were on shift picking orders, and I noticed with my sense of directional hearing tuned from years of playing online shooters with headphones, that there was a peculiar sort of auditory void seemingly in the direction of that stack of boxes. When out of curiosity I tried putting my ear against the stack, it was almost like going deaf in one ear, I was stunned by just how strongly it muffled the sound.

[@FreezeO]

Try lying down in the grass, same effect, love it.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

@@FreezeO You made me realise this after 58 years. Damn!

[@callmeshaggy5166]

I have the same effect covering my ears with almost anything else too!! Wild! Also mufflers

[@SivaKanthSharma]

"auditory void" is literally the best way to describe that sensation

[@woodybob01]

​@@callmeshaggy5166 you clearly misunderstand

[@EoThorne]

That is the biggest noise-cancelling device I've seen.

[@magic_cfw]

I'll buy 10 of them

[@mavoc3094]

it is noise damping not canceling

[@marksmits1911]

I life near there and if the wind is good you can still hear them starting when you are trying to sleep

[@CoderShare]

Still cheaper than Bose.

[@thegeneralissimo470]

Nah, the largest one would be China.

[@deldarel]

People: "So we're having trouble with..." the Dutch: "Build dams." People: "No, it's not water, it's..." the Dutch: "Did we stutter?"

[@romainsavioz5466]

Stanley is dutch

[@ToTheGAMES]

Hahaha! I love it.

[@higherquality]

What do you mean "Did we dam"?

[@wilamsanmngap5736]

I don't get it... please explain

[@888831596]

They’re “damping” the noise.

[@yondie491]

As a former US Air Force Brat who once lived, for six years, within a few hundred meters of a runway whose express purpose was to train new pilots how to take off and land (i.e. LOTS of intentional balk landing), I can fully appreciate the need for this, and the wonderment of how it works. Great video.

[@harmsc12]

"It'll even filter out constant steady noise" ...or add constant steady noise in if you've got some hearing damage. I hate tinnitus.

[@ChiDraconis]

I did not notice my tinnitus until told that people with hearing damage from loud noises have tinnitus

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

@@ChiDraconis If I tell you that tinnitus is a lie and nobody ever actually has it, would that help you stop noticing it?

[@notxeroshi]

@@neolexiousneolexian6079 yes

[@Ravaxr]

Audio tech here to remind readers: Wear your damn ear protection. Plenty of companies make convenient cases for earplugs that fit right in with your keys so they are always on hand, and make the plugs as 'flat' as possible so it doesn't color the sound, just knocks the dB down to safe levels. That muffled sensation after concerts and sporting events is damage that is already done. The 'tinnitus whine' trope in vidya after unprotected gunshots or flashbangs are extreme examples, not the only way to lose it. That muffled hearing is damage that is already done and what recovers will always be worse than before. It's cumulative damage that will not get better. Drum corps hand them out like candy. Musicians use them all the time as combo in-ear monitors. You should use them, too.

[@ratelslangen]

@@Ravaxr Also listen to your doctor and take your antibiotics medication if you have an ear infection. I have permanent tinnitus from an infection at 8 years old.

[@nazamroth8427]

Wait.... did the dutch build an entire (dutch scale) mountain range near an airport? The absolute madmen.

[@SeanBZA]

Well, the Swiss have the Alps, the French have well, err Baugettes, the Belgians have chocolate, so the Dutch decided that they will make the plain of the thousand hills instead, and still want the Germans to return those bikes they stole.

[@tardvandecluntproductions1278]

We also turned a inland sea into a lake.... with a big dam! pre-airplane fortifications? Dams!

[@GamezBeatz]

We even have a kind of Aztec pyramid located near the arport called Big Spotters Hill. Once a year there is even a -party- festival called Mysteryland in the same area as BSH.

[@Quintinohthree]

They built the very land the airport sits on, why not build some hills into it too?

[@bananenzijndebeste2]

God created the earth, the Dutch created the Netherlands

[@lisakruger6969]

I was like, “hey, that place looks green and flat, looks like the Netherlands” Tom: “just over there is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport”

[@ls200076]

There you go.

[@theramendutchman]

Tell me you have a relative named "Freddie"?

[@lisakruger6969]

RamenDutchman I do not, but it would have been really fun if I did😂

[@weeardguy]

I was more pushed in the direction of the Netherlands by the land-barriers on the small waterways and just started thinking like 'that looks Dutch to me...' . It's a pity I didn't even know about this...

[@nfboogaard]

Same here, I thought I recognised a polder 😂

[@tiaxanderson9725]

The Netherlands: Dutch Delta flooding? "Not anymore" It's impossible to dam a busy harbour against flood *and* still use it at the same time? "Not anymore" Non-existing bridges on euros? "Not anymore" Wind across a canal? "Not anymore" Airport noise pollution? "Not anymore"

[@maksuree]

@Hernando Malinche is that an ongoing issue, a historical one, or both? I haven't heard of this

[@ChickenSDS]

Hotel?

[@tiaxanderson9725]

@@maksuree 1800 till the Japanese occupation in 1942, and independent from 1949 or 1950. You could probably find most relevant info on Wikipedia

[@rrdgz5355]

@Hernando Malinche Cool name bruh

[@dropit7694]

Rising sea levels? Not any...hol up

[@juststeve5542]

What always amazes me about hearing is that when abroad, in a noisy tram full of people talking "foreign", I can pick up someone talking English at the other end of the carriage!

[@mandowarrior123]

I can only hear Americans like that.

[@PureGamingTV]

They're usually the noisy, disruptive and drunk people.

[@juststeve5542]

@@mandowarrior123 you need to be a bit more adventurous in your travelling ;-) (But yes, Americans tend to have a bit more ummm, volume, than Brits).

[@OrangeC7]

@@juststeve5542 Just a tad... _Jump cut to a group of friends watching football_

[@bbmikej]

Something about your brain is programmed to pick out sounds that are familiar to you

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

“I’d send up a drone to show you, but, you know... airport” *Gatwick would like to know your location*

[@sakeriyasaleh4820]

Your always at the top of every Tom Scott video

[@Grantallica]

You guys should submit your channel for Austin Mcconnell's 'Best channels with under 1000 subscribers'

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

zedanga saleh I watch a lot of KZbin and I love Tom’s videos.

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

Grant Reid thank you so much! Maybe we will next time around, we love his videos!

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@NateandNoahTryLife Hey, Tom's put out the call for next year's guest videos, too.

[@CarthagoMike]

Best thing: the tops of those structures are still below sea level.

[@MaartjeBraakman]

I lived in Zwanenburg (a small village next to Schiphol) for 16 years of my life, and I got so used to all the airplane noises! I didn't know these fields existed, thanks for being a great Teacher, Tom!!

[@DRW023]

Dan woon je net aan de verkeerde kant van de heuvels 😂

[@sarahkate2669]

"Of course it was flat ground, it is the Netherlands" * laughs in nederrijnse heuvelrug *

[@theoneandonlyAeth]

Ahh yes, where the Netherlands goes from flat to not quite as flat.

[@tacitus5665]

Laughs in Alps

[@thany3]

Laughs from my upstairs, which is just above sea level 🤷‍♂️

[@Madhattersinjeans]

Why are you typing your sneezes?

[@jessevos3986]

@@thany3 up top!

[@caleb...]

I accidentally left my headphones on max volume, I clicked this video about quite places and was immediately blasted with "HEARING IS INCREDIBLE". Thanks.

[@watcherofwatchers]

Seems like it was your fault and not Tom's.

[@ShadowDragon8685]

Well it _was,_ when you still had that power, then Tom Scott obliterated your eardrums telling you how awesome eardrums are.

[@engihere5434]

Ill take 500 for things that didn't happen Jerry

[@SpacemanSpiff23]

"How often does the train go by?" "So often you won't even notice." Elwood knew about your brain cancelling constant noise.

[@1fastbitch434]

I see what ya did there. 👍

[@potatoonastick2239]

Blues Brothers for people who don't know, it's a good watch!

[@MarsCBG]

Tom: "It'll even filter out constant, steady noise like a fan or the wind whistling through trees." Me: *Cries in ADHD*

[@FroggyMosh]

Scott: "It'll even filter out constant, steady noise like a fan or the wind whistling through trees." Me: *Wears hearing protection in bed, or on windy days*

[@scottowens398]

I've got ADHD too. I feel your pain.

[@Starling2100]

Was looking for this comment djfjjfjr

[@caspermartijn]

same

[@mookie34545]

My brain sucks at filtering noise so much the fan becomes the one asking questions.

[@hahanamegobrrr6667]

"so how can we reduce the noise from a full-power commercial jet engine being fired mere kilometers away from a populous city?" *_triangles_*

[@hahanamegobrrr6667]

@Agent J *_you dare defy the triangles?_*

[@LManonymous]

@@hahanamegobrrr6667 huge toblerones

[@landerbennewith6169]

In physics, if it's not spheroids its triangles. If its neither spheroids or triangles, then its a point particle with no frictional forces moving through a perfect vacuum.

[@1UpsForLife]

*laughs in vihart*

[@simonbirrer958]

Damn mathematicians and their triangles

[@Quxxy]

I *thought* the title said "The Giant **Ant** That Keeps Planes Quiet". I'm sure you can imagine my profound disappointment.

[@MisterAppleEsq]

It would definitely work.

[@hnyii]

Those are actually camouflaged colonies.

[@vaclav_fejt]

I read that as well.

[@xLars_]

same

[@Madhattersinjeans]

It does.

[@SirMrTreflip]

When I saw the title I thought "Oh they should build that at Schiphol" I didn't even know

[@Quasihamster]

"So you've found a solution to the plane noise problem?" "Yes indeed!" *unfolds blueprint* "What the... DUDE!" "What?" "That's the goddamn Himalayas you want us to build there!"

[@6yjjk]

*passes joint* "Juscht haf a schmoke and it will make schencsh."

[@zarboov88]

Best use of a selfie stick I’ve ever seen...

[@tuscanyiscol]

There is 100% a stabilizer on that thing

[@mattl1598]

@@tuscanyiscol I think Tom uses the GoPro fusion most of the time and it can be synced with the horizon to keep it from seeming wobbly

[@user-xb2ws4qj3t]

In Israel a guy neutralized a terrorist with a selfie stick (to be clear the guy was with the selfie stick, I don't think you can murder someone with a selfie stick)

[@9nikolai]

@@user-xb2ws4qj3t I was about to make a reply, but then I noticed the reply going the wrong way because of your name, which I think is amazing. Edit: Apparently, it goes back to normal when I send.

[@user-xb2ws4qj3t]

@@9nikolai and I am confused, you replied after all, so why you didn't just reply the thing you wanted in the beginning.

[@jayayebee]

Archeologists are going to love trying to figure this out, one day.

[@kacperwoch4368]

Ceremonial site.

[@thefirsttime7759]

They'll still have the internet

[@manus5423]

@@thefirsttime7759 the internet will be dead in some hundred years or obsolete. Along with all the info stored.

[@DiscoStuIII]

Religious purposes

[@NathanChisholm041]

@@manus5423 I'm sure by then a alternative solution to save information would of been devised!!

[@georyd]

I live 700 meters away from there, and honestly, you don't hear anything from the airport. It's a magnificent design, as the only sound that gets through is a 747. Even that sound is barely noticable and it only lasts a couple of seconds

[@jur4x]

Problem: exists KSP players: moar boosters! Dutch people: dams. More dams!

[@RifleRF]

jur4x If you think it’s too loud, I feel bad for you son. I’ve got 99 boosters and they’re all in stage one.

[@Ultigen]

that the moment you said boosters the rest of that read out in my head in Scott Manley’s voice

[@jur4x]

@@Ultigen check your stagin' and fly safe!

[@ShadowDragon8685]

@@RifleRF Jebediah Kerman, get that monstrosity back into the VAB _right now!_

[@fabianerades]

The Tim Traveller effect, just tell the Dutch they are great at something and get a ton of views

[@wmchristie]

You misspelled the Tom Traveller Effect. I’ll show myself out.

[@daanwillemsen223]

Tim Traveller is the best!

[@antalz]

This one youtube hack will get you millions of subs!!!! (you wont't BELIEVE it!)

[@VezWay007]

Works with Filipinos too.

[@mr.moonmn1436]

🤨

[@ThaRemo]

Neat, I frequently ride my bike below that bridge with the airplanes going over it

[@ronrolfsen3977]

How Dutch of you.

[@Madhattersinjeans]

I frequently don't ride my bike below that bridge with the airplanes going over it

[@seancooper4058]

@@Madhattersinjeans I frequently ride my bridge below that airplane with the bikes going over it

[@roondarmurnig338]

@@seancooper4058 I frequently ride my airplane below that bike with the bridges going over it.

[@SebastTapia]

@@roondarmurnig338 I frequently bike my airplane below that ride with the bridges going over it.

[@DL-gx5cr]

I will tell you having visited the Netherlands just a couple weeks ago, that noise control has been a key consideration not just of air traffic, but also their train systems. This is really ingenious and something I really appreciated, having suffered through ear-busting noises on the trains in NY/NJ for several years.

[@JD-qq8fz]

Thanks again Tom! Learning about our world with you is always an absolute delight.

[@infrabread]

I do appreciate how you pronounced Schiphol as a non-Dutch speaker. I knew what you meant, and you didn't hurt yourself with the ch sound.

[@SeanBZA]

Yes, speaking what is a related language I also find the attempts by non local speakers to pronounce hilarious at times, though being English mostly I always also asked them not to try English, so we speak 2 languages that we are comfortable in, and have no issues translating the other speech. But then, this country does have 11 official languages, not including signed variants of each.

[@FuncleChuck]

I adore your mega-acoustics videos. Sound is such a wonderful medium, it’s slippery and invisible but so fun to manipulate. It’s almost magic.

[@valkyrie273]

Your type of contact is exactly why I love/watch youtube EVERY day..thank you a million times over for your hard work and passion to share these videos with us!

[@eliontheinternet3298]

This video is absolutely gorgeous! Stunning quality!

[@femkeball]

I live literally 200 meters from there, my profile pic was taken at that park, really nice to walk the dogs and watch the airplanes take off. I don't really believe these hills work as well as they were intended, they spend a lot of money and time on it but they only used the data from one measuring point and it hardly showed a difference.

[@stevedoe1630]

Femke Ballieux Too bad. I wanted it to work, especially since it was inspired by farmers. I guess some research university is going to lose a grant over this failure. 😕

[@voornaam3191]

@@stevedoe1630 No. They are going to earn an EXTRA grant, because they need to do more research. What negative culture are you exposed to?! We Dutch are used to SOLVING problems. Are you okay?!

[@stevedoe1630]

@@voornaam3191 The culture I am exposed to frowns upon personal accusations, especially when the topic of conversation is based on situation. Glad you are Dutch, I am from USA... none of this was germane to the conversation, but it's fun to share. Nevertheless, yes I agree you have a valid point... maybe more funding for research & development to continue making a solution.

[@weeardguy]

That's the problem with sound. It can be extremely annoying in one place, and almost non-existent in other places. At work, we have a few heavy, stationary tools (a table saw and belt-sander) that produce quite the noise. But it differs greatly on where you are in the building how much noise you actually have to endure: some areas are do-able, while others are just plain hell and feature a loud, very low, bass-like hum. Same with the company that brings or picks up containers or big electrical cabinets once in a while: when the hydraulic-boom is operated and the vehicle's engine is revving up, multiple people will pour from the place where they work somewhere in the building, as some standing wave, that almost makes your eardrums vibrate with every individual wave of the extremely loud hum the lorry produces, is so loud it's 'not pleasant' to say the least. But other parts of the building are fine. Just certain locations where something either resonates or reflects the sound are the problem-areas

[@AtlantianDragon]

@@weeardguy You are experiencing constructive interference, some strategically placed noise dampening devices would make life a lot easier over there!

[@johanneboor8517]

I actually live around here and heard the planes during watching this video :p

[@dillanbob]

Same xD

[@vinos1629]

SaMe Xd

[@Bennie_Tziek]

I am actually used to the planes. But I am a bit further away in Amstelveen.

[@moonyfoxy876]

Im on a plane

[@motttta]

I'm on a boat

[@someoneelse7629]

As I grew up, I lived next to a busy railroad yard, with the konstant squeking of brakes, and the boom-slack when trains took off, 24/7. We who lived there always made fun of guest who stayed over, or new neighbours who couldn't sleep. Then I moved really close to an airport, straight under the line, so close that the passing planes created drafts that swirled up leafs and trash from the ground along the walls of the houses. we had constant microburst all over the place. The noice cancelling in your brain kicks in after a few weeks and then you don't notice it

[@zerojee6236]

Informative, short, and to the point without endless rambling as filler. Good job.

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

So that's a mountain range in Holland - the Dutch Alps?

[@krashd]

The Toblerone range.

[@luuketaylor]

The earliest I've ever been on a Tom Scott video! Usually I'm relegated to the archives from years past, but not today. :)

[@LM01234]

Same here. It's an honor

[@peteradams2577]

I will go to my dog to the buitenschot sometimes, and now I know it is the buitenschot I am utterly amazed that a youtuber I watch went there, it truly is a lovely place and my dog loves it. I am glad that you filmed there

[@RubTubeNL]

I always love learning something about my own country in a video from Tom Scott

[@id104335409]

Oh yes, human hearing is amazing - it somehow filters out everything you hear in the classroom.

[@SanderKaiser]

Yup. Can’t wait to see this pop up on “two of these people are lying“ shortly 😂

[@rijuvenate]

If only this was in Finland

[@MarceldeJong]

@@rijuvenate don't mention Finland to the Dutch. We're in a kind of war with them. They're always taking top spot on a lot of lists, with Netherlands being second.

[@Quintinohthree]

@@MarceldeJong They have lakes, we have polders. It's a fair trade.

[@peterslegers6121]

@@Quintinohthree We had loads of lakes... It must be just a matter of time before they have more polders than us...

[@Quintinohthree]

@@peterslegers6121 Sure, but untill them we'll have more polders, and even by then we'll still have bigger polders. Polders so big we had to create a whole extra province for the biggest ones.

[@coopaloopmex]

I cannot stop watching these videos. Facinating!

[@HurricaneCook]

I thought, for some reason, that the title of this was about a giant Ant, and was really confused.

[@ChristopherGermain]

Thanks for the video Tom! Quick note: Around 2:30 you say the second purpose is sound dampening. Dampen is a word used for when you make something wet, damping is typically word for when you're looking at reducing sounds. Although I suppose when it's informal, both words can be used. Cheers!

[@YensR]

Ha, was going to say that, one of my pet peeves! I know, sad... :D

[@polomare2027]

Fascinating. I'm reminded of the baffles on the wall coverings of a soundproof booth or recording studio. It's one of those things that's so simple, it's genius!

[@LordSoviet]

Lovely video as always Tom. Thank you so much for your content it's highly appreciated

[@cf6282]

Always fun to see you actually going to the places you talk about. Everything true about this story.

[@Lemonbirch18]

It’s like noise cancelling headphones for earth

[@TrevorJr26]

I had my headphones way too loud before i pressed play and now my hearing is not incredible I'm afraid Tom.

[@elmotlk]

You inspired me the same thing, I can't hear him anymore, thanks!

[@adnalm]

I used to live alongside a motorway in England, and after a few weeks living there, I hardly noticed the sound of the traffic; my hearing was filtering out the sound, as you suggest. But all we got to help filter out the sound was a fence and some trees; the latter being felled soon after because the roots were digging up the motorway! Interesting presentation - as always. Thank you.

[@mdiqbal8747]

Day by day i just love your videos.

[@ageofzac1185]

Damn I really wanted to hear Tom try to say Schiphol in a Dutch accent.

[@BuildingCenter]

This is one of the most surprising and interesting episodes, AND it's blissfully brief. This is a banger. Edit for UK readers: This is not a sausage.

[@commodoreNZ]

Never stop Tom! We love you!

[@mattmaloney5988]

Brilliant find Tom.

[@cliostronk2667]

I remember this! I grew up in that area, but we lived in a so-called green zone with far less noise (hardly any to be honest). The area in question, Vrijschot-Noord in the town Hoofddorp, is a very posh neighbourhood with some of the most expensive houses in the region. Which explains why it became a priority to fix it. Those people had money, power and patience (and were angry and sleep deprived). I am not so sure if they had searched this hard for a solution if it had been the worker bees of Schiphol who were jet-engined out of their beds instead of the higher management. Fun times

[@thegeneral123]

Weirdly enough, just found this video and I landed at Schiphol beginning of March and had the 15 min commute in a KLM plane to the terminal after landing on the far runway. I was starting to wonder what was going on as it was taking so long to get to the airport. Now I know and I also learnt about the art used to lower the noise as well.

[@TomSchouten92]

I've landed there for years and never noticed or heard anything about this place. Maybe that's how good it works.

[@renfroyourfro1582]

This vid is an example of why I'm a sub! Thanks Tom and team!

[@marsgal42]

From the air they look like the baffles in an anechoic chamber. My former home airport had a preferred departure that climbed out over farmland, and two more with specified noise abatement procedures. The fourth departure was also over farmland, but due to prevailing winds was only used a handful of times a year.

[@anshsinghal7252]

He's been to Europe, new Zealand and God knows where in a matter of days, at least that's what it seems like

[@Beastly_Chariot]

Top quality content as always, cheers Tom 😁

[@Mister__Jey]

You just have to admit enviously that the countries in this country have the best engineers for their streets, for their cities, for their bicycle parking garages, and all sorts of things, even for supermarkets. They are just phenomenal .. You can see so many great things for your own country and unfortunately it is not done.

[@Yotanido]

"Of course, the one day I'm here, they're actually landing on that runway, not taking off, so the engines are pointed the other way" Doesn't matter if they are landing or taking off, they will be facing into the wind. The problem is the wind coming from the wrong direction, not whether the runway is used for take-offs or for landings.

[@gordonrichardson2972]

The pattern visible from above at 02:30 looks like a diffraction grating, which is used to bend light waves of differing wavelengths, though not to absorb them.

[@andymcl92]

Diffraction gratings can bend all kinds of waves, not just light. Also, the peaks don't absorb the sound either (according to what Tom said) but rather scatter it.

[@imjody]

You cover the coolest stuff. Thanks for sharing this with us, Tom. :)

[@matt_b...]

this drives me CRAZY! How do you keep doing this, week after week, year after year ... coming up with incredibly interesting things to talk about and educate others on!? Ugh .. I'll stop obsessing. Thanks for another great clip. Carry on.

[@BThings]

It is so interesting to me how our brains are able to filter out so much auditory information, especially since I have sensory processing disorder, which sometimes makes it so that it is harder for me to tune things out, even when they are constantly around! The computation our brain does to let us perceive the world efficiently and effectively is extremely fascinating!

[@pitodesign]

I read "The giant ANT... " by mistake and waited throughout the whole video when the ants would come in. :-D

[@CaptainPeterRMiller]

Tom Scott. I'm now saying, "Great Scott". That's you for me !. Airport noise reduction makes sense and you have presented that fact so transparently. Thank you. GREAT SCOTT !!

[@zJoriz]

Didn't know that either. You keep finding interesting stuff about my own country I never heard of. Bravo

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

I love the intersection of art and engineering!

[@Bar21297]

That's architecture my friend

[@pegeonpera]

Its a nightmare when I am assigned that runway in FSX. It takes more time to taxi than the flight in some cases

[@BicyclesMayUseFullLane]

Gotta love polderbaan, eh?

[@rearspeaker6364]

slackers at work.

[@thegeneralissimo470]

I could tell a difference between when Tom was below the dampeners, and standing on top of them. Amazing!

[@andycremeans]

I like you Tom. You inspire me to think about so many different things differently.

[@SkippyTheLost]

Déjà Vu: I remember you talking about this place before. I must be from a future. Not the future, just a future.

[@TheSkypetube]

Déjà Vu: I remember you talking about this place before. Higher on the street And I know it's my time to go

[@higherquality]

Nice

[@hybridjunkie]

Calling you and the search is mystery Standing on my feet It's so hard when I try to be me

[@modestheliolisk]

WOOOOAAAAH!

[@higherquality]

Déjà Vu: I've just been in this time before Higher on the street And I know it's my place to go

[@tylernass6263]

my computer volume: *set too high* Tom: HEARING me: not anymore I'm not.

[@TheAkashicTraveller]

Why did so many people watching this video have their sound up way too high?

[@FSstefan7]

Thanks so much. That was awesome.

[@steveakin1103]

This is an example of someplace outside of the US where thoughtfulness and design and science are employed for the benefit of people. In the US, if the people near an airport complained about the noise, the local leaders would say, “then move.”

[@LostieTrekieTechie]

Instead of a waveform, a spectrograph is slightly more visually readable.

[@Ddrhl]

If they could figure out how to stop tinnitus, that would be REALLY stunning!

[@blarg2429]

Tiny triangles lining your ears.

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

@@blarg2429 As fun an idea as that is, any fix for tinnitus would probably require ear surgery that isn't yet feasible.

[@Widdekuu91]

They have an app that allows you to pick the 'same type of tinnitus' and then you play it all day and slowly turn it off, hopefully tricking your brain into not-hearing the tinnitus anymore.

[@Ddrhl]

@@Widdekuu91 Link?

[@TheElvisnator]

Congratulations on 2 Million subs, Tom!

[@jmbarts6790]

Looks so peaceful with all that nature.

[@iAmTheSquidThing]

So… Giant acoustic foam?

[@sperzieb00n]

more like giant diffuser panel

[@Opus313]

You can always count on the Dutch to come up with an innovative way to mitigate noise pollution!

[@LML1415]

thank you for the wonderful explanation

[@twhaak]

Drove by there several times on my way to Mysteryland. Never knew what they were for! Very interesting video!

[@RudeAlert]

Actually, a waveform is legible with your eyes if you've been trained for it. I took a few linguistics courses years ago, and after just one semester I was able to read whole sentences just from the waveform. It was kind of amazing how quickly I was able to pick it up but it was definitely doable. Minor nitpick aside, good video as usual.

[@MikaEriksen]

Always wondered what those are for and I live basically next to them haha

[@klaus7164]

Amazing Places is probably my favorite KZbin format 👍

[@KhoPhi]

I feel so stupid for only getting to discover your channel this year. So much insights here. Subbed. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some Tom Scott binge watching to do.

[@Reth_Hard]

"Heroin is incredible!" - What?! I mean, I agree but... huh... Apparently my own hearing is definitely no incredible.

[@obama7792]

bruh that's also what i heard, i had to rewind the video just to make sure

[@jordanberndt4157]

Tom: "Your hearing is amazing. It will even filter out steady noise like a fan or the wind" My ADHD: hahahahha nope

[@gavinhopkins9948]

That's not how that works

[@FroggyMosh]

Rustling leaves during autumn storms..... *It.* *Never.* *Stops.*

[@slinkerdeer]

@@FroggyMosh why would you want it to? Such a calming peaceful noise

[@TheOrigamiGuru]

This was brilliant! Very interesting and smart!

[@h4r_dy758]

This guy knows everything. Much respect