If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

The answer is a resounding yes—and we know this for certain because of the vast network of audio recorders that researchers have set up in recent decades to eavesdrop on nature’s symphony, from chirping birds to singing whales. Studying environmental acoustics has enabled us to uncover some of the secrets of the natural world, from elephants’ names for each other to the uncanny parallels between birdsong and human-made music.

But through these soundscapes, scientists have also discovered the cascading impacts of climate change and human activity on ecosystems and wildlife. Experts say tracking these haunting sonic shifts could help serve as early warning systems of climate consequences.

Ears in the Sky: A

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