"noise" news and stories

Today's New York Times features a story about the growing number of Broadway theaters that allow patrons to take snacks and drinks with them into the show. For some venues, it's a way to accommodate a new theater-goers as well as generate some extra income. The main concern, however, is the noise factor--rattling bags of candy, soda slurping, and the crunching of popcorn. According to the NYT, some theaters are trying to combat the noise; the New Amsterdam, for instance, has special cups that muffle the rattle of ice cubes. As an added bonus, the article features a chart that measures the "potential distraction factors of some popular concession-stand items." Popcorn and potato chips were by far the most distracting, whereas chocolate bars and milk duds proved a more sly way to snack.

That infamous snap, crackle and pop that Rice Krispies make comes from air escaping from the tiny puffed grains of rice, according to a brief article posted yesterday on LiveScience.com. When the rice grains are toasted at high temperatures, they expand, creating lots of little air-filled pockets. When the milk hits the cereal, it puts pressure on the puffed rice, thus forcing the air out. At least, that's the theory. Surprisingly, no one has ever actually funded a study. The cereal science buffs out there may also remember a post about why Cheerios floating in milk tend to cling to one another. LiveScience covered that one as well.