How Loud is a Slithering Snail?
About this video
Listening to the sounds of the small.
Bang Goes the Theory presenter, Jem Stansfield teams up with world renowned sound recordist Chris Watson to listen into the minute sounds of insects.
Inside an anechoic chamber the pair isolate themselves from all outside noise in an attempt to capture sounds usually undetectable by the human ear. From the 'snap, crackle and pop' of a maggot to the noise of a centipede's footfall, the pair reveal a collection of extraordinary sounds through the use of specialist recording equipment.
In particular it is through the use of a contact microphone (which detects vibrations rather than changes in air pressure) that allows them to capture the sounds of insects as they move across a hard surface.
But will this be enough to capture the sound of a slithering snail?
