# Want to have a better chat? Scientists say the secret is ‘pink noise’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/want-to-have-a-better-chat-scientists-say-the-secret-is-pink-noise/
- Published: 2026-11-06T19:00:49+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T19:21:59+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/nov/06/better-conversation-study-pink-noise
- Topics: Research, Science, World

## Key points

- Good chats balance exploring a topic with fresh ideas.
- Researchers call that conversational pattern pink noise.
- More pink noise predicted second dates.

## Summary

Researchers have found that conversations are more enjoyable when they balance staying with a topic and bringing in new ideas. They describe this pattern as “pink noise”, and say it was linked to greater connection and interest in continuing a chat, including among strangers and friends.

The team analysed more than 1,000 conversations between strangers, chats between friends and speed dates. They used an AI system to assess each speaker’s turns across 768 criteria; more pink noise also predicted which speed-dating pairs met again. The researchers say conversational skill may be learnable, though a conversation analyst cautioned that enjoyment alone may not capture what makes an exchange valuable.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.