Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
scienceFeb 7, 202510:04pending

How Physics Could Make Big Crowds Safer

Short Wave

About this episode

What do large crowds of people and water have in common? They both act like fluids. When crowds cheer, sway and clump together, the movements look like ripples of water. Researchers hope insights from physics like this one could help officials and engineers create safer crowds at festivals.

Help shape the future of Short Wave by taking our survey: npr.org/shortwavesurvey

Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at
plus.npr.org/shortwave.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Get every episode summarized

Each time Short Wave publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

How Physics Could Make Big Crowds Safer

Short Wave

0:00
10:04

More episodes

More from Short Wave

View all episodes →