Phantom notes played by violins turn out to be a real sound

For hundreds of years it's been known that a mysterious third note can be heard when playing two notes together on a violin – now we know why

Physics



1 November 2022

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

Violins can produce “combination notes”

Getty Images/Thomas Barwick

A musical sound once thought to be heard only in our heads as a quirk of the ear canal is actually real. Violins can produce these unusual tones – and higher quality violins can produce them more strongly.

In 1714, Italian violinist Giuseppe Tartini discovered that, when playing two notes simultaneously, he could unexpectedly hear a third sound. This third note was later named a combination tone because its frequency is a blend of the frequencies of the two original tones. It was thought that these tones arose entirely in our ears, due to the way sound is amplified by the cochlea, rather than actually emanating from an instrument.

Giovanni Cecchi at the University of Florence in Italy and his colleagues decided to investigate how different violins produce combination tones.

Advertisement

They analysed recordings of a professional violinist playing selected pairs of notes on five violins of different age and quality using a computer. Motivated by the ideas of 19th-century physicist Hermann von Helmholtz who showed that some musical instruments may be able to produce combination tones on their own, they decomposed the sound waves made by the violins into parts with different frequencies. The team found that all violins produced combination tones, but the oldest instruments produced the strongest ones. The magnitude of the most prominent combination tone for the oldest violin, made in Bologna in 1700, was about 75 per cent larger than the one from a modern mass-produced instrument.

The researchers also wanted to know how clearly listeners could hear the combination tones produced by the three highest-quality violins. They invited a group of 11 professional and amateur musicians to listen to recordings of the violinist, some of which had the combination tones removed. The listeners could hear the difference almost every time: The least accurate heard it 93 per cent of the time, while the most accurate listener heard it every time.

Jim Woodhouse at the University of Cambridge says the experiment suggests that combination tones must come from the way that air vibrates and mixes inside the violin. When a note is played on a violin, it isn’t just the string that determines the tone but also the shape of the violin – which is more precisely constructed in a high-quality instrument. “It wouldn’t be difficult to find high-quality contemporary violins that would show this effect just as strongly,” he says.

The team now want to study even more violins to pinpoint exactly which part of the instrument is responsible for the combination tones, says Cecchi.

Journal reference: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, DOI: 10.1121/10.0014600

More on these topics:

#Physics | https://sciencespies.com/physics/phantom-notes-played-by-violins-turn-out-to-be-a-real-sound/

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket just launched two Space Force satellites

After a long hiatus, SpaceX’s enormous Falcon Heavy rocket has launched for the fourth time, carrying two secretive satellites from the US Space Force into high orbits

Space



1 November 2022

By Leah Crane

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 1 November

REUTERS/Steve Nesius

SpaceX’s colossal Falcon Heavy rocket has launched for the fourth time. It is the most powerful rocket in use today, but it hasn’t launched since June 2019. Because of its incredible power, it can shuttle satellites into orbits that other operational rockets can’t reach, and despite the long hiatus the 1 November launch went off without a hitch.

This launch carried two satellites from the US Space Force, which has released scant details on what they will be used for – one of the two is classified. Both are now heading towards orbits about 36,000 kilometres above the ground in what is called a geostationary orbit, meaning the satellites will remain over the same spot on the planet and appear motionless in the sky.

Advertisement

Usually, when satellites are placed in geostationary orbit, the rocket drops them off lower down and then the satellites use onboard boosters to push themselves up into their final orbits. The Falcon Heavy is so powerful, however, that it will bring them to their final orbits over six hours or so following the launch.

The long delay between launches wasn’t caused by any problems with the rocket – both the first and second launches went smoothly from liftoff until the boosters landed back on the ground. Instead, the satellites intended to be launched kept getting delayed. There are 10 more missions on the docket in the next two years, though, so it is likely to fly again soon.

Those missions include several major NASA spacecraft: the Europa Clipper craft to visit Jupiter’s ocean moon, the Psyche craft to check out a strange metal asteroid, and even the first parts of a planned space station orbiting the moon.

Sign up to our free Launchpad newsletter for a voyage across the galaxy and beyond, every Friday

More on these topics:

#Space | https://sciencespies.com/space/spacexs-falcon-heavy-rocket-just-launched-two-space-force-satellites/

Scientists uncover new clues about the climate and health impact of atmospheric particles

Peering inside common atmospheric particles is providing important clues to their climate and health effects, according to a new study by University of British Columbia chemists.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and play an important role in air quality and climate. They can add to air pollution and damage the lungs, as well as help deflect solar radiation or aid cloud formation.

Different types of SOA can mix together in a single particle and their environmental impacts are governed by the new particles' physical and chemical properties, particularly the number of phases -- or states -- it can exist in.

In a new research letter published in the European Geosciences Union's open access journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, an international team of researchers found that particles with two phases can form when different types of SOA mix. The finding could help improve current models that predict SOA climate and health effects.

"Up until now, models have often assumed that when SOA types mix into the same particle, they have just one phase. But we found that's not always the case, meaning current models might not correctly capture some of these effects," says lead author Fabian Mahrt, a postdoctoral fellow at the Paul Scherrer Institute and UBC Department of Chemistry. The work was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.

The team found that six out of 15 mixtures of two SOA types commonly found in the atmosphere resulted in two-phase particles. Importantly, they also discovered that the number of phases depends on the difference in the average oxygen-to-carbon ratio between the given SOA types. It's a fairly simple but potentially powerful way to represent such effects in models. When this difference is 0.47 or higher, the researchers found particles would have two phases.

"Now we can work with very complex organic molecules, calculate a single parameter which gives us information about the properties of a particular SOA mixture, and then potentially map quite large-scale impacts," says aerosol scientist and senior author Allan Bertram, professor in the UBC Department of Chemistry.

This kind of SOA mixing might occur include when plumes of SOA particles, which have been in the atmosphere for some time, blow from rural environments over cities where newly produced SOA particles are being emitted, explains Mahrt.

"If we assume this mixing of the plumes forms particles with a single phase, we might over-predict the total organic particulate mass in these areas, and so, the effects on those people's health." The team of scientists hopes the finding can help improve models and ultimately ensure that policies and regulations are based on a rigorous scientific understanding.

Building on previous work, the researchers used fluorescence microscopy to look inside the mixed SOA particles in their current experiments, injecting them with a dye that causes the particle phases to emit different coloured light depending on their polarity. The researchers then used these colours to directly infer the number of phases of the mixtures, providing a direct visual proof of multiple phases.

"The study is evidence that we need to look at this phenomenon more carefully to get the full picture. We have one more piece of the puzzle but we have not necessarily finished the jigsaw yet," says Mahrt. The research team hopes other scientists will now extend the number of SOA mixtures experimentally, as well as include the findings in atmospheric models going forward.

Story Source:

Materials provided by European Geosciences Union. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

#Environment | https://sciencespies.com/environment/scientists-uncover-new-clues-about-the-climate-and-health-impact-of-atmospheric-particles/

Why is a Male Torso Mannequin a good solution?

Mannequins have been used in clothing shops for years. No wonder they are perfect for promoting clothes. For this reason, a multitude of different mannequin variants have been created so that boutique owners have something to choose from. One of these is the Male Torso Mannequin.

 

What is worth knowing about it? The Male Torso Mannequin - what makes it worthwhile?

A Male Torso Mannequin is a special model that depicts the silhouette from the waist up, usually excluding the head. Such a torso perfectly reproduces the appearance of a real man, so that clothes fit well on it. In addition, customers can check, without trying on, whether a particular item of clothing will fit them. However, one may ask - isn't it better to invest in a full-figure mannequin? It all really depends on the range on offer. If the shop has trousers and shoes, it will not be possible to present them with torso mannequins. A Male Torso Mannequin, on the other hand, will be perfect for displaying jackets, sweatshirts, shirts or swimwear. For this reason, it will be perfect for sportswear shops. Its advantage is its small dimensions. This makes the Male Torso Mannequin suitable even for small shop windows.

Male Torso Mannequin - where to find the right model?

Online, you will find a multitude of different mannequin models. Although this allows you to match a variant to the boutique arrangement, it can cause considerable confusion. It is therefore worth familiarising yourself with the offers of various manufacturers to choose the best solution. Examples of men's mannequins can be seen, for example, at https://shop.moremannequins.co.uk/other-mannequins-torsos-100-basic-male-79. Basic models are available there, i.e., those that will be perfect for most styles. It is worth remembering that the Male Torso Mannequin must not distract attention from the clothes, but the opposite. This is the reason universal models are the most popular. However, if someone intends to use the mannequin as a decoration, they should look for more extravagant proposals.

Also popular are models of torsos with movable joints, which resemble tailor mannequins in design. Displays of this type look very attractive in shops with elegant and luxurious menswear - stylised like an atelier. The movable joints in the wooden hands give many possibilities for positioning the mannequins, so you can create a completely new display every day. They look great both solo and in a group setting. We guarantee that the torsos from the ATELIER collection will capture the attention of many customers with their originality. 

This article was originally published by shop.moremannequins.co.uk. Read the original article here.

#Humans | https://sciencespies.com/humans/why-is-a-male-torso-mannequin-a-good-solution/

Science is all around us. What is science, how to find a job as a scientist and more.

Science is the branch of knowledge that deals with the physical world. It covers a wide range of topics from the subatomic to the cosmic, and its methods are just as varied. Science is both an intellectual and practical activity, requiring both theoretical knowledge and experimentation to advance our understanding of nature.

The scientific method is at the heart of scientific inquiry. This involves making observations and formulating hypotheses based on those observations, which can then be tested through further experiments or observation. If the results of these tests support the hypothesis, it may be accepted as a theory or law. However, if the results do not support the hypothesis, it must be rejected or modified. This process of testing and refinement is what allows science to make progress and increase our understanding of how the universe works.

Science is often divided into different branches according to their particular focus. The major branches are physics (the study of matter and energy), chemistry (the study of matter and its interactions), biology (the study of living organisms), earth science (the study of Earth and its environment) ,and astronomy (the study  stars  planets  galaxies). There are also many interdisciplinary fields such as cognitive science  which studies issues related to mind  and neuroscience.

Each branch has its own specific methods and techniques for investigating questions about their particular area of interest. However, there are some general principles that all scientists follow in their work: observing natural phenomena, formulating hypotheses based on those observations, designing experiments or other ways to test those hypotheses , analyzing data from these tests, interpreting the results, and communicating their findings to other scientists and the public.

The goal of science is to explain observed phenomena in terms of natural causes. This requires careful observation  accurate data collection, and rigorous testing. When scientists cannot find a natural explanation for something they may conclude that it represents a new discovery. In some cases however  phenomena can only be described statistically without being fully understood. In other words: "we don't know why it happens, but we know how often it happens".

What are different fields of science.

Science is the systematic study of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. The scientific method is used to test hypotheses and gather data in order to better understand our universe and the laws that govern it. There are many different fields of science, each with their own specific focus.

Astronomy is the study of the universe beyond Earth, including its stars, planets, galaxies, and other phenomena. Astronomers use a variety of tools to observe the cosmos, from powerful telescopes to satellites. By understanding how the universe works, astronomers can learn more about our place in it.

Biology is the study of living things, from single-celled organisms to complex plants and animals. Biologists use a variety of techniques to learn about life, including microscopes, DNA sequencing, and animal behavior studies. By understanding how living things work, biologists can develop new ways to improve human health or combat diseases.

Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions with other matter and energy. Chemists use a variety of tools to investigate chemical reactions, such as spectroscopy and chromatography. By understanding how chemicals interact, chemists can develop new materials or create more efficient processes for manufacturing products or cleaning up environmental hazards.

Earth science is the study of our planet Earth- its landforms, oceans, atmosphere, rocks, minerals resources - and all other celestial bodies in our solar system (such as asteroids). Earth scientists use a variety tools to investigate our planet’s history and current condition; these include satellite imagery analysis, geological surveys, climate modeling. By understanding how Earth works today & how it has changed over time, we can make informed decisions about preserving our environment for future generations. Additionally earth scientists also search for natural resources such as oil & gas deposits which are necessary for society .  Finally they also monitor natural hazards like earthquakes , volcanoes & tsunamis which present dangers to people & infrastructure.

Physics is the study of matter and energy - the building blocks of our universe. Physicists use a variety tools to investigate nature at its smallest (quantum mechanics) or largest (cosmology) scales; these include particle accelerators , telescopes , lasers. By understanding how matter & energy interact, physicists can unlock mysteries like why time seems to flow forward only & what happened during the Big Bang. They also develop technologies like MRIs which have had profound impacts on society .

How scientists look for jobs.

Scientists are some of the most in-demand and sought-after professionals in the world. With their unique skillset and knowledge base, they are able to contribute to a wide variety of industries and sectors. As such, they often have their choice of employers.

However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start your search for the perfect scientific job. In this article, we will give you some tips and advice on how to go about looking for a job as a scientist.

The first step is to assess your skills and experience. What kind of scientist are you? What sector are you interested in working in? What location would you prefer? Once you have a good understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses, you can start targeting specific companies or industries that may be suited to your skillset.

Next, it is important to get your CV in order. Make sure that it is up-to-date and relevant to the kind of job that you are applying for. Include any relevant qualifications, publications, or research experience that you may have. If possible, try to get someone else to check over your CV before you send it off - sometimes it’s easy to miss our own mistakes!

Once your CV is ready to go, the next step is finding advertised vacancies that match your criteria. There are numerous websites and job boards that list scientific jobs; alternatively, many companies will advertise vacancies on their own website or through social media channels such as LinkedIn. Don’t forget to set up alerts for new vacancies so that you don’t miss anything!

Another option is contacting recruitment agencies specializing in scientific roles; they may be aware of positions that have not yet been publicly advertised. Networking is also key when looking for a job as a scientist; attend industry events or conferences where you can meet potential employers and get your name out there.

Finally, don’t forget the power of social media – LinkedIn is a great way of connecting with recruiters and other scientists in your field who may be able to point you in the right direction for finding employment opportunities.

Best universities in the world to work in as a scientist.

There are many universities around the world that offer great opportunities for scientists to work.

1. Harvard University – Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world and it offers great opportunities for scientists to work. The university has a long tradition of excellence in research and teaching, and it provides an excellent working environment for scientists.
2. Stanford University – Stanford University is another highly prestigious university that offers great opportunities for scientists to work. The university has a strong focus on research and teaching, and it provides an excellent working environment for scientists.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the leading research universities in the world, and it offers great opportunities for scientists to work. MIT has a strong focus on research and teaching, and it provides an excellent working environment for scientists.
4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – Caltech is another leading research university that offers great opportunities for scientists to work. Caltech has a strong focus on research and teaching, and it provides an excellent working environment for scientists.
5. University of Cambridge - The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, and it offers great opportunities for scientists to work. Cambridge has a long tradition of excellence in research and teaching, and it provides an excellent working environment for scientists.

Most famous scientists in history.

Here are some of the most famous scientists who have made significant contributions to our understanding of the world.

3. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) – Italian physicist and astronomer who played a key role in the Scientific Revolution. His discoveries included the laws of motion and improvements to the telescope, which allowed him to make groundbreaking observations about the solar system.
4. Isaac Newton (1643-1727) – English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who is widely considered one of the most important scientific figures in history. He developed the theories of gravity and calculus, and his work laid the foundations for classical mechanics.
5. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) – English naturalist whose theory of evolution by natural selection became one of the most influential ideas in science. His book On the Origin of Species helped change our understanding of life on Earth and remains one of the cornerstones of modern biology.
6. Albert Einstein (1879-1955) – German-born theoretical physicist whose work helped shape our modern understanding of space, time, energy, matter, and gravity. He is best known for his theory of relativity, which revolutionized physics and had a profound impact on other fields such as cosmology and astrophysics.
7. Marie Curie (1867-1934) – Polish-French chemist and physicist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was awarded two Nobel Prizes—in Physics and Chemistry—and remains one of only a handful of people to have won multiple Nobels.

How science changed our life in the 21st century.

Science has changed our lives in many ways during the 21st century. In terms of communication, we now have instant messaging, email, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. We can also video chat with each other no matter where we are in the world. This has made it easier to keep in touch with friends and family members who live far away.

In terms of transportation, we now have cars that drive themselves, trains that can travel at high speeds, and planes that can fly us to different parts of the world in a matter of hours. We also have space exploration vehicles that allow us to explore different planets and even galaxies.

In terms of medicine, we now have vaccines for diseases that were once deadly, such as polio and smallpox. We also have treatments for cancer and other diseases that were once considered incurable. We can also transplant organs from one person to another, which has saved countless lives.

In terms of food production, we now have genetically modified crops that are resistant to pests and disease. This has helped to increase crop yields and decrease food prices. We also have artificial intelligence systems that help farmers to plan their planting and harvesting schedules more efficiently.

#Biology, #Environment, #History, #Nature, #News, #Physics | https://sciencespies.com/news/science-is-all-around-us-what-is-science-how-to-find-a-job-as-a-scientist-and-more/

Researchers complete first comprehensive threat assessment of all U.S. trees

For the first time, researchers have completed threat assessments for all 881 native tree species in the contiguous United States, resulting in a comprehensive checklist and synthesis that will serve as a critical baseline to guide future tree conservation efforts.

The new assessment of U.S. trees reveals that 11-16% of tree species in the contiguous 48 U.S. states are threatened with extinction, with the most common threat being invasive and problematic pests and diseases. According to Abby Meyer, executive director of Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S. (BGCI-US), a partner on the project, "These results lay the groundwork for U.S. tree and ecosystem conservation efforts that will contribute to achieving critical international conservation goals, including the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration and the Global Tree Assessment."

Murphy Westwood, Ph.D., vice president of science and conservation at The Morton Arboretum and senior author of the report, noted that much of the world's biodiversity depends on trees, which offer food and habitat for countless plant, animal and fungal species while providing invaluable benefits to humans. "Understanding the current state of trees within the U.S. is imperative to protecting those species, their habitats and the countless communities they support," she said.

The report, available through early access online, will be published in an upcoming special issue of Plants, People, Planet highlighting this and other projects of the Global Tree Assessment initiative. This study is the culmination of five years of research conducted by BGCI-US, The Morton Arboretum and NatureServe, in partnership with the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.

Researchers examined the extinction risk, patterns of geographic and taxonomic diversity and leading threats facing tree species native to the continental U.S. Most U.S. species had never been assessed or were outdated on the two most widely used threat assessment platforms, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and NatureServe.

"This assessment advances our understanding of the threats faced by America's native trees and will help focus the conservation efforts of public gardens, federal agencies and conservation organizations," said Susan Pell, Ph.D., acting executive director of USBG. "The U.S. Botanic Garden is proud to sponsor national partnerships such as this that advance plant conservation."

"Trees form the basis of many of the world's terrestrial ecosystems," said Sean T. O'Brien, Ph.D., president and CEO of NatureServe. "Understanding what trees are threatened and why is critical to informing conservation for trees and ecosystems across the nation."

advertisement

---

The authors built the checklist based on the standardized Global Tree Assessment definition of a tree: a woody plant with usually a single stem, growing to a height of at least two meters; or if multi-stemmed, then at least one vertical stem five centimeters in diameter at breast height. Based on this definition, the checklist of trees native to the contiguous U.S. contains 881 species.

Oaks (genus Quercus) and hawthorns (genus Crataegus) dominate the tree flora of the U.S., with 85 and 84 native species, respectively. Hawthorns and oaks were also found to have the most threatened species, with 29 and 17 species, respectively.

The research found that geographically, the distribution of native (plants that evolved in the contiguous U.S.) and endemic (plants found only in the contiguous U.S.) trees is primarily concentrated in the southeastern U.S., California and Texas. Florida and Texas have the highest number of native tree species, with 342 and 321, respectively. Florida and California have the highest number of threatened tree species, with 45 and 44, respectively.

According to BGCI's PlantSearch database of plants in botanical collections, 95% (849) of native U.S. tree species are located in at least one ex-situ (outside natural locations) collection, such as a botanic garden, arboretum or seed bank. Most species are represented in dozens or even hundreds of collections, such as Franklinia alatamaha, which is extinct in the wild. However, 17 threatened tree species are not currently conserved in any ex-situ collection and thus have no insurance policy against extinction.

The checklist and synthesis of U.S. trees is the culmination of a project that began in 2017, when BGCI-US, The Morton Arboretum, NatureServe, USBG and the USDA Forest Service began efforts to assess the threats to all U.S. trees. The authors also established a data sharing methodology for future updates to improve efficiency and conservation collaboration to protect U.S. trees.

"Through initiatives like the Global Tree Assessment, tree research and conservation has evolved from a series of small individual efforts to a global venture grounded in collaborative, scientifically-backed strategies," said Westwood. "The checklist is a major milestone for trees, but most importantly, our hope is that this study will inform and amplify the scope of tree conservation efforts across the country," she added.

The checklist of U.S. trees is available on The Morton Arboretum's website: https://mortonarb.org/science/projects/data-sharing-for-conservation-us-trees/

#Nature | https://sciencespies.com/nature/researchers-complete-first-comprehensive-threat-assessment-of-all-u-s-trees/

Is Cricket Sustainable Amid Climate Change?

The joke is that if you want it to rain during this wetter-than-usual summer in the Caribbean, just start a cricket match.

Beneath the humor is seemingly tacit agreement with the assertion in a 2018 climate report that of all the major outdoor sports that rely on fields, or pitches, “cricket will be hardest hit by climate change.”

By some measures, cricket is the world’s second most popular sport, behind soccer, with two billion to three billion fans. And it is most widely embraced in countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South Africa and in the West Indies, which are also among the places most vulnerable to the intense heat, rain, flooding, drought, hurricanes, wildfires and sea level rise linked to human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases.

Cricket in developed nations like England and Australia has also been affected as heat waves become hotter, more frequent and longer lasting. Warm air can hold more moisture, resulting in heavier rainstorms. Twenty of the 21 warmest years recorded have occurred since 2000.

This year, the sport has faced the hottest spring on the Indian subcontinent in more than a century of record keeping and the hottest day ever in Britain. In June, when the West Indies — a combined team from mainly English-speaking countries in the Caribbean — arrived to play three matches in Multan, Pakistan, the temperature reached 111 degrees Fahrenheit, above average even for one of the hottest places on earth.

“It honestly felt like you were opening an oven,” said Akeal Hosein, 29, of the West Indies, who with his teammates wore ice vests during breaks in play.

South Africa cricketers took a water break during a match against India at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi in June. This has been the hottest spring on the Indian subcontinent in more than a century of record keeping.Anindito Mukherjee for The New York Times

India’s Shreyas Iyer in action during the match. To cope with the heat, some players have worn ice vests during breaks in play.Anindito Mukherjee for The New York Times

Heat is hardly the only concern for cricket players. Like the roughly similar pitching and batting sport of baseball, cricket cannot easily be played in the rain. In July, the West Indies abandoned a match in Dominica and shortened others in Guyana and Trinidad because of rain and waterlogged fields.

An eight-match series between the West Indies and India concludes Saturday and Sunday in South Florida as the height of hurricane season approaches in the Gulf and the Atlantic. In 2017, two Category 5 storms, Irma and Maria, damaged cricket stadiums in five countries in the Caribbean.

Read More About Extreme Weather

• Wildfires Out West: California and other Western states are particularly prone to increasingly catastrophic blazes. There are four main reasons.
• A Miserable Summer: Monthlong heat waves. Record-breaking floods. No more Choco Tacos. This summer has left many Americans with only one option: surrender.
• Yosemite’s Paradox: The national park’s towering trees are perennially threatened by fierce wildfires. To protect the treasured forests, experts say it’s time to cut and burn.
• Europe’s Heat Wave: The record-setting heat that roasted London showed how ill-prepared northern European cities are for extreme weather driven by global warming.

Matches can last up to five days. Even one-day matches can extend in blistering conditions for seven hours or more. While rain cleared July 22 for the 9:30 a.m. opening of the West Indies-India series in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, players still had to contend with eight hours of sun at Queen’s Park Oval in temperatures that reached the low 90s with 60-plus percent humidity.

According to a 2019 report on cricket and climate change, a professional batsman playing over a day can generate heat equivalent to running a marathon. While marathon runners help dissipate heat by wearing shorts and singlets, in cricket the wearing of pads, gloves and a helmet restricts the ability to evaporate sweat in hot, humid conditions often lacking shade.

“It’s pretty evident that travel plans are being disrupted because of weather conditions, along with the scheduling of matches, because of rainfall, smoke, pollution, dust and heat,” said Daren Ganga, 43, a commentator and former West Indies captain who studies the impact of climate change on sport in affiliation with the University of the West Indies.

“Action needs to be taken for us to manage this situation,” Ganga said, “because I think we’ve gone beyond the tipping point in some areas. We still have the opportunity to pull things back in other areas.”

The International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body, has not yet signed on to a United Nations sports and climate initiative. Its goal is for global sports organizations to reduce their carbon footprint to net-zero emissions by 2050 and to inspire the public to consider the issue urgently. While Australia has implemented heat guidelines, and more water breaks are generally permitted during matches, there is no global policy for play in extreme weather. The cricket council did not respond to a request for comment.

“This is like stick your head in the sand denial,” David Goldblatt, the British author of a 2020 report on sport and climate change, said of the council. “Cricket really needs to get its act together. A whole bunch of trouble is not really far away.”

A suggestion in the 2019 climate report that players be allowed to wear shorts instead of trousers to keep cool in excessive heat may seem like a common-sense idea. But it has not gone over well with the starchy customs of international cricket or seemingly with many players, who say their legs would be even more susceptible to brush burns and bruises from sliding and diving on hard fields.

A spectator stood next to a mist fan and wiped sweat off his face. Matches can last for days, testing both fans and players.Anindito Mukherjee for The New York Times

In July, cricket fans sat in the sun in Durham, England, to watch a match between England and South Africa. Oli Scarff/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

“My two knees are already gone,” said India’s Yuzvendra Chahal, who is 32.

Still, questions are being raised inside the sport and out about the sustainability of cricket amid the extremes of climate and the exhausting scheduling of various formats of the game. The English star Ben Stokes retired on July 19 from the one-day international format, saying, “We are not cars where you can fill us up with petrol and let us go.”

Coincidentally, Stokes’s retirement came as Britain recorded its hottest day ever, with temperatures rising for the first time above 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. As climate scientists said such heat could become the new normal, England hosted a daylong cricket match with South Africa in the modestly cooler northeastern city of Durham. Extra water breaks, ice packs and beach-style umbrellas were employed to keep the players cool. Even with those precautions, Matthew Potts of England left the match, exhausted.

Aiden Markram of South Africa was photographed with an ice bag on his head and another on his neck, his face in apparent distress, as if he had been in a heavyweight fight. Some fans were reported to have fainted or sought medical attention, while many others scrambled for thin slices of shade.

On June 9, South Africa also endured taxing conditions when it faced India in the heat, humidity and pollution of New Delhi. The heat index was 110 degrees Fahrenheit for an evening match. A section of the stadium was transformed into a cooling zone for spectators, with curtains, chairs and misting fans attached to plastic tubs of water.

“We are used to it,” said Shikhar Dhawan, 36, one of India’s captains. “I don’t really focus on the heat because if I start thinking about it too much I will start feeling it more.”

In India, cricket players are as popular as Bollywood actors. Even in sauna-like conditions, more than 30,000 spectators attended the match in New Delhi. “It feels great. Who cares about the heat?” said Saksham Mehndiratta, 17, attending his first match with his father since the coronavirus pandemic began.

After watching some spectacular batting, his father, Naresh, said, “This chills me down.”

South Africa, though, was taking no chances after a tour of India in 2015, when eight players and two members of the coaching and support staff were hospitalized in the southern city of Chennai by what officials said were the combined effects of food poisoning and heat exhaustion.

A staff member refilled water bottles for spectators at the match at the Riverside cricket ground in Durham, England. Oli Scarff/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

England’s Ben Stokes walked past his teammate Jos Buttler after losing his wicket.Lee Smith/Action Images Via Reuters

“It was mayhem,” said Craig Govender, a physiotherapist for the South African team.

For South Africa’s recent tour, Govender took along inflatable tubs to cool players’ feet; electrolyte capsules for mealtimes; slushies of ice and magnesium; and ice towels for the shoulders, face and back. South Africa’s uniforms were ventilated behind the knees, along the seams and under the armpits. Players were weighed before and after training sessions. The color of their urine was monitored to guard against dehydration. During the June 9 match, some players jumped into ice baths to cool down.

“Global warming is already wreaking havoc on our sport,” Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia’s test cricket team, which plays five-day matches, wrote in February in The Guardian newspaper of Britain.

In 2017, Sri Lankan players wore masks and had oxygen canisters available in the dressing room to counter the heavy pollution during a match in New Delhi. Some players vomited on the field.

In 2018, the English captain Joe Root was hospitalized with gastrointestinal issues, severe dehydration and heat stress during the famed, five-day Ashes test in Sydney, Australia. At one point, a heat-index tracker registered 57.6 degrees Celsius, or 135.7 Fahrenheit.

The incident led Tony Irish, then the head of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association, to ask, “What will it take — a player to collapse on the field?” before cricket’s governing body implemented an extreme heat policy.

Also in 2018, India’s players were asked to limit showers to two minutes while playing in Cape Town during an extended drought there that caused the cancellation of club and school cricket.

In 2019, the air in Sydney became so smoky during a bush fire crisis that the Australian player Steve O’Keefe said it felt like “smoking 80 cigarettes a day.”

Climate change has touched every aspect of cricket from batting and bowling strategy to concerns by groundskeepers about seed germination, pests and fungal disease. Even Lord’s, the venerable cricket ground in London, has been forced at times to relax its fusty dress code, most recently in mid-July when patrons were not required to wear jackets in the unprecedented heat.

India’s Hardik Pandya paused for a drink during practice before a match. Climate change has touched every aspect of the sport, from the care of the pitch to the spectator dress code at matches.Anindito Mukherjee for The New York Times

Children played cricket in New Delhi in June. Because of global warming, “our love and appetite for sport risks straying into brutality,” said Russell Seymour of Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.Anindito Mukherjee for The New York Times

Athletes are being asked “to compete in environments that are becoming too hostile to human physiology,” Russell Seymour, a pioneer in sustainability at Lord’s, wrote last year in a climate report. “Our love and appetite for sport risks straying into brutality.”

To be fair, some actions have been taken to help mitigate climate change. Matches sometimes start later in the day or are rescheduled. Cummins, the Australian captain, has begun an initiative to have solar panels installed on the roofs of cricket clubs there. Lord’s operates fully on wind-powered electricity. The National Green Tribunal of India, a specialized body that addresses environmental concerns, has ruled that treated waste water should be used to irrigate cricket fields instead of drinkable ground water, which is in short supply.

Players on the Royal Challengers Bangalore club of the Indian Premier League wear green uniforms for some matches to heighten environmental awareness. Team members appeared in a climate video during a devastating heat wave this spring, which included this sobering fact: “This has been the hottest temperature the country has faced in 122 years.”

Yet some in the cricket world counter that climate change cannot be expected to be the most immediate concern in developing nations, where the basics of daily life can be a struggle. And countries like India and Pakistan, where cricket is wildly popular, are among the least responsible for climate change. One hears the frequent admonishment that rich, developed nations that emit the largest amount of greenhouse gases must also do their share to lower those emissions.

“In the U.S., people are flying on private jets while they’re asking us not to use plastic straws,” said Dario Barthley, a spokesman for the West Indies team.

Kitty Bennett contributed research.

#Environment | https://sciencespies.com/environment/is-cricket-sustainable-amid-climate-change/