This is the first installment of a series of science blogs that will address common myths attributed to noise and hearing loss. For much of the eastern U.S., 2021 has been the year of the cicadas. The Brood X insects have made their presence known after 17 years of living underground, with their characteristic buzz that rises with the temperature each day. Ranking among the loudest insects in the world, their unique call has prompted a swarm of interesting articles discussing how loud these bugs can be. Headlines such as “Trillions of lawnmower-loud cicadas emerging,” “The cicada’s deafening shriek ,
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