GO OUTSIDE MAGAZINE | REPELLENT RADIO | 2012
Just turn on the radio, and the mosquitoes fly away / GO OUTSIDE MAGAZINE "REPELLENT RADIO"
A radio station in São Paulo secretly mixed a 15kHz tone into its music programming from 6 to 8pm. Humans can't hear it. But mosquitoes can. Since it mimics the sound of a dragonfly's wings—a mosquito's natural predator—the mosquitoes flee. Just by having the radio on, you get bug protection.
The problem
GO OUTSIDE is a Brazilian magazine for outdoor lovers. From 6 to 8pm, mosquitoes are at their most active, and getting bitten was always the thing standing in the way of enjoying time outside. The broadcast targeted this exact time window for three weeks.
The insight
No need for bug spray or long sleeves—just turn on the radio. It's the idea of turning radio from something that delivers sound into something that protects your body.
The idea
Simply layer a 15kHz tone—right at the edge of human hearing—onto normal music broadcasts. It doesn't interfere with the program, but to mosquitoes, it sounds like a dragonfly's wings.
What happened
It won the Radio Grand Prix at Cannes Lions 2012. The judging sparked debate over whether it could really repel mosquitoes, but in the end the idea itself was what got recognized. That said, opinions are divided on its scientific effectiveness, and some have pointed out that a dragonfly's wingbeat is actually much lower than 15kHz.
Afterthought
Honestly, whether it actually worked is questionable. But just the leap of imagination—using a radio frequency as bug repellent—is interesting enough on its own. The fact that they actually went and did it is what's impressive.
Awards
- Cannes Lions Grand Prix 2012
