After analysing more than 1,000 conversations, including exchanges between strangers, friends and speed-dating participants, they have found that the most satisfying ones followed a pattern of ebb and flow.There must be listening, curiosity, a drink or two, if the occasion calls for it; and no compulsion to fill every silence.AI Narration Listen 00:000.5x0.75x1x1.25x1.5x2x2 min readNov 13, 2026 06:15 AM IST First published on: Nov 13, 2026 at 06:15 AM ISTThe fine art of a good conversation, it seems, is a skill only a few are in possession of. Or, as Oscar Wilde had put it, “Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” A good conversation begins with the ability to make exchanges feel effortless, especially when some can turn it into an endurance test, and the dexterity to know when to stay with a thought and when to let it wander. It needs a little structure, a little spontaneity and, above all, room to breathe.Researchers at Dartmouth College, US, have termed this pink noise. After analysing more than 1,000 conversations, including exchanges between strangers, friends and speed-dating participants, they have found that the most satisfying ones followed a pattern of ebb and flow. Pink noise describes the sweet spot between two extremes: White noise, where thoughts scatter without much connection, and red/brown noise, where the conversation goes round in circles. The ideal exchange moves between the familiar and the unexpected. People settle into a subject, build on each other’s thoughts, introduce new ideas before finding common ground again. This rhythm was associated with greater enjoyment, a stronger sense of connection.AdvertisementAnd yet, no scientific paper can quite prescribe the ingredients of a memorable conversation. For that, a few old-fashioned essentials still hold their own. There must be listening, curiosity, a drink or two, if the occasion calls for it; and no compulsion to fill every silence. Sprinkle in some disagreement, a dose of laughter, and one has what can be termed as a cracker of a chinwag.© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebook