TCP010 | ⏰~6min read
Welcome to The Contemporary Polymath Newsletter, where you broaden your horizons, feed your curiosity, and spark new ideas on Thursdays by Naya Moss
📧 In This Issue
- 👁️ How your eyes change what you hear
- 🍽️ Music that alters taste
- 🏛️ Ancient sound design
- 📖 Music’s effect on the brain
- 🦟 Sound tech, lost GPS skills, and Einstein
👋🏾 Hey there friend,
During the early times of the pandemic, I spent seven months studying sound, music theory, instruments, ancient acoustics, and how sound shapes perception, emotion, and memory. It made me realize how much sound isn’t just something we hear, it’s something we feel, carry, and respond to without even thinking.
That experience changed how I pay attention. It’s not just about the noise itself, but the spaces between. The quiet moments. The way certain sounds make a room feel warmer and cozier.
Next week, I’m doing a little experiment. I’ll be visiting one museum per day for 4-5 days. No agenda, just following curiosity. Each night I’ll write about what I learned, look deeper into anything that caught my attention, and reflect on how it connects back to how I see the world. So far i’m excited to check out the
- Met’s Superfine exhibit based on Dandyism
- Mary Heilmann: Sunset at the Whitney
- Contemporary artist Ilé Oriaku exhibit of multimedia drawings by Toyin Ojih Odutola
- Rashid Johnson’s: A Poem for Deep Thinkers at the Guggenheim
I’m excited to see what comes out of it and share with you my learnings! Has sound ever made you notice something you would’ve otherwise missed?
But for now, let’s talk all about sound. 🎶
(p. s. if you are in nyc and want to join my museum run, let me know 😊)
🌍This Week’s Explorations
Written by Us
Psychology
🙉 You’re looking right at someone. They say one word, but your brain hears something totally different. That clash between sight and sound? It’s called The McGurk Effect, and once you notice it, you start questioning just how much of perception is real… and how much is your brain filling in the blanks.
🎶 There’s a reason crunchy chips feel more satisfying. Sound doesn’t just add mood, it changes flavor. High-pitched tones can make things taste sweeter, while ambient drones might dull the salt. This is science and psychology of Sonic Seasoning!
History
🏛️ If you think acoustics are a modern invention, think again. Ancient temples and theaters weren’t just built for beauty, they were tuned for resonance. Some rooms were designed to carry whispers across the floor, others to bounce chants off curved ceilings. This is Acoustic archaeology, revealing how ancient spaces were designed not just for rituals, but for resonance. They were intentional soundscapes meant to move bodies and beliefs.
🔍 Intriguing Finds
A curated selection of news and discoveries
- 🦟 Mosquitoes Have a Hidden Ability That Could Change Sound Technology
- 💡 How to Be Interesting with Derek Thompson
- 📑 Breaking Down Einstein’s Greatest Papers
- 🪸 Broadcasting healthy reef sounds helps baby corals settle and revive dying reefs (video here)
- 🧠 A mini-brain grown from Alvin Lucier’s blood is composing music after his death, turning neural activity into sound
📖 Books We Are Reading
Book rec for this week
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks dives into the strange, moving, and often mind-bending ways music affects the brain, from sudden musical obsessions to healing after trauma. It’s a fascinating blend of neuroscience and storytelling that makes you hear music, memory, and the mind in a whole new way.
👥 Readers Corner
We are looking to interview some polymaths to feature in our newsletter, if that interest you, hit the button below:
💭 How Inquisitive
🔙 Answer to last week’s question
🎵 Can what you hear change what you taste?
Yes! this is known as sonic seasoning. Researchers have found that high-pitched sounds can enhance sweetness, while lower tones can emphasize bitterness. It’s a real-time remix of your senses—sound shaping flavor in ways we don’t consciously notice.
⏭️Question for next week
🧠 What’s it called when your clearest memories turn out to be wrong?
🇮🇩 Jaga dirimu. Bersikaplah baik. Semoga harimu, soremu, atau malammu menyenangkan di manapun kamu berada!
🇺🇸 Take care. Have a wonderful day, evening, or night wherever you are. Be kind!
Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe here
If you enjoyed this newsletter, a cup of matcha 🍵 serves as fuel!
Best,
Naya
