ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay How Do Cicadas Make Noise? (In Slow Motion) – Smarter Every Day 299
Welcome to an exciting exploration of how cicadas make their unique sounds! This journey began in Peru back in 2012, and today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of these noisy insects.
If you’ve ever been outside during the summer, you’ve probably heard the loud buzzing of cicadas. But have you ever wondered how they make that sound? An entomologist named Phil Torres explains that cicadas use a special structure called the tymbal. Imagine the top of a Snapple bottle that clicks when you press it—that’s similar to how the tymbal works. The lower part of the cicada’s body is hollow, which helps amplify the sound, making it even louder.
To see how the tymbal works, we used a high-speed camera set at 3,000 frames per second. It was tricky to get the cicada in focus, but we discovered that the tymbal opens and closes in just six milliseconds! That’s super fast!
In Alabama, cicadas appear in large numbers every 13 or 17 years. Right now, they’re everywhere! You might find them on cars or even at restaurants. These cicadas spend most of their lives underground, feeding on tree roots. When they finally come out, they shed their old skin, grow wings, and try to find a mate.
In 2024, we visited a wildlife refuge to record cicada sounds. We noticed two main types of sounds: a high-pitched clicking and a lower rumbling noise, which some people say sounds like a subway train. We learned from interns at the Fish and Wildlife Service that cicadas are usually louder near the edges of trees.
With the help of Gordon McGladdery, who creates audio for Smarter Every Day, we used a spectrum analyzer to study the sounds. We found two frequency bands: one between 1,000 and 1,200 hertz and another between 3,000 and 10,000 hertz.
We filmed the tymbal in slow motion to see how it works. The tymbal moves in a series of mechanical actions, creating different frequencies. We think the wobbles make the higher sounds, while the buckling creates the lower rumbling noise.
Cicadas have a special anatomy that helps them produce these sounds. Their hollow bodies and the way their tymbals move are key to their noisy nature.
After our study, we released the cicadas back into their natural environment. It was amazing to learn so much about these incredible insects!
Thank you for joining us on this adventure with Smarter Every Day. If you’re interested in learning more or want to see the cicada tymbal footage, feel free to reach out. We appreciate the support from our patrons on Patreon, and if you haven’t joined yet, now is a great time. Don’t forget to subscribe or sign up for our email list for more exciting discoveries!
Using simple materials like paper, rubber bands, and cardboard, create a model of a cicada’s tymbal. Experiment with pressing and releasing the model to mimic the sound production process. This will help you understand how the tymbal works to produce sound.
Watch slow-motion videos of cicadas making noise. Pay attention to the movement of the tymbal and how quickly it operates. Write a short paragraph describing what you observe and how it relates to the sound production process.
Use a smartphone app to record and analyze the sounds of cicadas in your area. Compare the frequency bands you find with those mentioned in the article. Discuss with your classmates why different frequencies might be produced.
Research the life cycle of cicadas, focusing on their time underground and their emergence. Create a timeline or a comic strip that illustrates the different stages of their life, highlighting the importance of sound in their mating process.
Conduct an experiment to understand how hollow structures amplify sound. Use a plastic cup or a small box to amplify the sound of a ticking clock or a phone speaker. Relate your findings to how a cicada’s body amplifies its tymbal sounds.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any informal language, filler words, and personal anecdotes while maintaining the core content:
—
Hello, I’m Destin. Today, we will explore a story I’ve been wanting to share for a long time, which began in Peru in 2012. We need to revisit Peru first.
Welcome back to Smarter Every Day. If you live in most places, you may hear cicadas nearby. I know an entomologist named Phil Torres, who is here at the Tamo Plata Research Center to explain the source of the cicada noise.
Phil explains that cicadas produce sound using a structure called the tymbal, which acts like the top of a Snapple bottle when clicked. The lower part of their body is hollow, serving as a resonance chamber. We are setting up a high-speed camera to capture how quickly this structure vibrates to create sound.
We have the high-speed camera set at 3,000 frames per second, but we struggled to capture the cicada in focus. Eventually, we learned that the tymbal opens and shuts in about six milliseconds.
In Alabama, there are two broods of cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years. Currently, cicadas are abundant everywhere. They often land on vehicles and can be found in various locations, including restaurants.
The cicada exoskeletons we see are remnants of cicadas that have lived underground for many years, feeding on tree roots. Once they emerge, they shed their exoskeletons, develop wings, and attempt to mate. Our goal is to capture the sound-producing mechanism of the cicada using a high-speed camera.
In 2024, cicadas are out in force, and we are on a wildlife refuge to record their sounds. There are two distinct sounds: a high-pitched clicking and a lower rumbling sound, which some describe as similar to a subway train approaching.
We encountered interns from the Fish and Wildlife Service who informed us that cicadas are typically louder near the edges of trees rather than deep in the woods. We are interested in understanding the source of the two different sounds we hear.
Gordon McGladdery, who creates audio for Smarter Every Day, is helping us analyze the sounds. We use a spectrum analyzer to identify two frequency bands: one between 1,000 and 1,200 hertz and another between 3,000 and 10,000 hertz.
After gathering cicadas, we set up for slow-motion filming to observe the tymbal at high speeds. We aim to capture the mechanics of how cicadas produce sound.
The tymbal operates through a series of mechanical actions, producing multiple frequencies. We hypothesize that the wobbles correspond to the higher frequencies, while the buckling produces the lower rumbling sound.
We also discuss the mechanics of sound production in cicadas and how their unique anatomy contributes to the sounds we hear.
As we conclude our cicada study, we release the cicadas back into their environment.
Thank you for watching Smarter Every Day. If you are interested in the cicada tymbal footage for academic purposes, please reach out. I appreciate the support from patrons on Patreon, and if you haven’t considered it yet, now is a great time to join.
Feel free to subscribe or sign up for the email list if you’re interested. Thank you for joining me on this journey of discovery.
—
This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing informalities and personal anecdotes.
Cicadas – Cicadas are large, loud insects known for their distinctive sound, often heard in the summer. – Cicadas emerge from the ground after several years to mate and produce their characteristic buzzing sound.
Sound – Sound is a form of energy that travels through the air as waves and can be heard when it reaches a person’s or animal’s ear. – The sound of cicadas can be heard from a distance as they communicate with each other.
Tymbal – A tymbal is a specialized structure in some insects, like cicadas, used to produce sound. – The male cicada uses its tymbal to create a loud noise to attract females.
Anatomy – Anatomy is the study of the structure of living organisms, including their systems, organs, and tissues. – In biology class, we learned about the anatomy of insects and how their bodies are structured.
Insects – Insects are small arthropods with a three-part body, six legs, and usually one or two pairs of wings. – Insects like cicadas play important roles in the ecosystem, such as pollination and serving as food for other animals.
Underground – Underground refers to being beneath the surface of the earth. – Cicada nymphs live underground for several years before emerging as adults.
Frequency – Frequency is the number of times a wave, such as a sound wave, repeats in a given period, usually measured in hertz. – The frequency of a cicada’s call can vary, which helps them communicate with each other.
Buzzing – Buzzing is a low, continuous humming sound, often made by insects like bees or cicadas. – The buzzing of cicadas filled the air on the hot summer day.
Hertz – Hertz is a unit of frequency that measures the number of cycles per second of a wave. – Scientists measure the frequency of a cicada’s song in hertz to study their communication patterns.
Alabama – Alabama is a state in the southeastern region of the United States, known for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. – In Alabama, the arrival of cicadas is a common sign that summer is approaching.
