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"Natural sounds, and bird song in particular, play a key role in building and maintaining our connection with nature, but widespread declines in bird populations mean that the acoustic properties of natural soundscapes may be changing. Using data-driven reconstructions of soundscapes in lieu of historical recordings, here we quantify changes in soundscape characteristics at more than 200,000 sites across North America and Europe. We integrate citizen science bird monitoring data with recordings of individual species to reveal a pervasive loss of acoustic diversity and intensity of soundscapes across both continents over the past 25 years, driven by changes in species richness and abundance. These results suggest that one of the fundamental pathways through which humans engage with nature is in chronic decline, with potentially widespread implications for human health and well-being. "

This interactive multimedia project historically and culturally situates hearing and listening in eighteenth-century Paris by re-imagining how we might present sonic artifacts to better understand auditioning subjects within pre-recording technology soundscapes. Through multiple pathways and thematic tags, the project simulates how Parisians would have interacted with the web of sonic knowledge that existed in eighteenth-century Paris. The project culls resources from across academic digital initiatives as well as popular, public platforms. This blend of sources puts into question stereotypical distinctions made between academic and public, scholarly and popular. Enjoy exploring Organs of the Soul through a choose-your-own-adventure format. And consider what constitutes your own unique auditory subjectivity.