There's something eerily calming about walking outside after a fresh snow and feeling like the world has quieted down.

It's not your imagination — it's a bit of snowflake science. The secret lies within the shape.

The most common type of snowflake is called a dendrite. That flake's shape is likely familiar to you because it's used widely in holiday decor.

Dendrites have six "arms" that extend out from the center, as shown in the image below. These act as their superpower against sound.

So what exactly causes the snowy silence?

While the snowflakes fall from the sky, the little gaps between their arms capture and dampen sound waves before they can reach your ears. And this doesn't stop once they reach the ground.

The snowflakes continue to soften the sounds, acting like Mother Nature's sound booth by preventing the sound waves from bouncing around.

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This is why noises like traffic, talking or dogs barking may seem muffled while you have a fresh layer of the white, fluffy stuff.

If you've never experienced this firsthand, it's like putting on a thick pair of headphones or ear muffs before heading outside.

But it doesn't last long

As time passes, the blanket of snow on the ground will melt and refreeze.

This process causes snowflakes to lose their distinct shape, including those important gaps between their arms.

Since those spaces trapping the sound waves are no longer there, we lose that unique soundproofing quality.

We're left with a compacted, dense layer of snow that reflects sound much better than the freshly fallen stuff. So cue up all the extraneous outdoor noises.

This is your sign to get out and enjoy the snow right when it falls because that peaceful winter wonderland is fleeting.

Caitlin Kaiser graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences before starting her career as a digital meteorologist with weather.com.