The Economic Times

COVID lockdowns accidentally created an experiment scientists could never have deliberately run: What happens when the roads and buildings stay, but the people disappear?

The COVID-19 lockdowns accidentally created a rare real-world experiment for scientists, as human activity suddenly dropped while roads, buildings and cities remained unchanged. Studies from the US and India found that wildlife responded to the change in human presence in different ways, while researchers also recorded sharp drops in urban noise and seismic activity.