Hearing Ghosts? The Science of Infrasound and Why a Sound You Cannot Hear Can Make You Feel a Ghostly Presence

Have you ever walked into a room and felt an immediate, unexplainable sense of dread? Perhaps a sudden chill ran down your spine, you felt a pressure on your chest, or you thought you saw a fleeting shadow in the corner of your eye. For centuries, such experiences have been attributed to spirits and specters. But what if the cause wasn't paranormal, but physical? What if the "presence" you felt was caused by a sound so low you couldn't even hear it? This post explores the fascinating science of infrasound, a silent frequency that can physically manipulate our bodies and minds, providing a powerful scientific explanation for many supposedly ghostly encounters.

The Silent Hum: Understanding Infrasound

Our ears are incredible instruments, but they have their limits. The range of human hearing typically falls between 20 hertz (Hz) and 20,000 Hz. Sound waves that have a frequency below 20 Hz are known as infrasound. While we cannot consciously hear these deep, rumbling waves, our bodies can still perceive and react to them.

Infrasound is more common than you might think. It is generated by a wide variety of natural and man-made sources, including:

• Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
• Strong winds and severe weather patterns
• Industrial machinery, large engines, and ventilation systems
• Wind turbines

In most cases, we are exposed to low levels of infrasound without any noticeable effect. However, when the intensity increases, or the frequency hits a very specific note, things can get strange.

Your Body on Infrasound: The "Ghostly" Symptoms

The connection between infrasound and feelings of a "presence" was famously investigated in the 1990s by British engineer Vic Tandy. While working in a laboratory that was rumored to be haunted, Tandy experienced feelings of depression, chills, and even saw a grey apparition in his peripheral vision. Rather than calling a ghost hunter, he called on science. He eventually discovered that a new fan in the lab was emitting a silent, steady frequency of 18.9 Hz.

This frequency is significant because it is very close to the resonant frequency of the human eyeball. This means the sound waves were causing his eyeballs to vibrate, creating optical illusions like the grey figure he "saw." Once the fan was turned off, the ghostly activity ceased.

This discovery opened the door to understanding how infrasound can produce a wide range of physiological and psychological symptoms often associated with hauntings:

• Visual Disturbances: The vibration of the eyeball can cause blurred vision, distorted sight, and the perception of movement or shadowy figures at the edge of your vision.
• Physical Sensations: Infrasound vibrations can be felt in the chest and internal organs, leading to feelings of pressure, anxiety, a racing heart, or shortness of breath.
• Psychological Unease: The body’s physical reaction to these vibrations—the unease, the strange visual and auditory sensations—can trigger a primal fear response. This can manifest as feelings of dread, paranoia, or the distinct sense that you are not alone.

The Science of Spookiness: Infrasound in "Haunted" Locations

This scientific principle provides a compelling explanation for why certain locations are considered "hotbeds" of paranormal activity. Old buildings, with their long, winding corridors, drafty windows, and outdated piping or ventilation systems, are often perfect environments for generating and amplifying infrasound.

A simple draft of wind blowing over the top of a chimney or through a broken window pane can create a low-frequency standing wave that fills an entire room. This could explain why a particular cellar, hallway, or room consistently gives people the creeps. Researchers like psychologist Richard Wiseman have conducted experiments where they secretly introduced infrasound into an environment. A significantly higher percentage of people in the infrasound-filled areas reported experiencing strange sensations, such as feeling cold, nervous, or seeing things that weren't there.

So, while the idea of a ghostly encounter is a chilling one, the reality may be rooted in the simple physics of sound. The unexplainable presence you feel might not be a lingering spirit, but rather your body's physical response to a powerful, silent vibration echoing through the environment. This doesn't disprove the existence of the paranormal, but it provides a rational, testable explanation for experiences that have mystified humanity for ages. The next time you feel a shiver in a supposedly haunted place, listen closely. The ghost you're feeling might just be a sound you can't hear.