The Hum: Mystery or Mischief?
by Sufferers of this phenomenon report that they “hear” a low frequency hum. Other symptoms include headaches, anxiety, frequent nosebleeds and a peculiar loss of balance. It is reported to exist just about anywhere, but Taos, New Mexico is especially noteworthy. Is this a man-made creation, a natural phenomenon, or is it some other-worldly manifestation?
Probably the most famous and most often reported location of ‘the hum’ comes from Taos, New Mexico. Beginning around 1990, this sound is a low frequency hum likened to the muffled idling of a diesel engine, or a large fan. Occurring at around 33 to 80 hertz, this sound is just within the threshold of human hearing, although not everyone can hear it. Often it is reported to be louder or more noticeable at night, it has been suggested that the cause of this ranges from mass hysteria to experiments involving electromagnetic warfare weapons or propulsion systems being tested in secret.
It is interesting that not everyone can hear it, and that plugging their ears with cotton or using ear plugs does not make any difference. The sufferer continues to ‘hear’ the sound as if the frequency was not actually coming into senses via the ears, but through the entire body. This could explain the belief that there might be some external force acting upon them like low frequency radio waves which would inundate the entire area in an unfocused manner, similar to the way a megaphone would address sound to a broad and indiscriminate area.
Similar effects can occur with some people when electric motors produce certain frequency hums quite accidentally due to their location, although this does not appear to be the case in Taos, New Mexico. Researchers and investigators have tried to isolate the source of the sound but were unsuccessful. Sound moving through the air or ground loses high frequency waves faster than it loses low frequency, thus it is the low frequency sound that travels the farthest and might be all that is left to hear. It would make identifying the source difficult as it no longer sounds like the original source. A low frequency sound that encounters a solid object such as a building seems to resonate and amplify the sound to anyone inside, which may be why most people who hear the hum claim that it seems loudest indoors, versus outside. This also contributes to the greater suffering of those whom do hear the hum as it interferes with normal sleep as a result because of the confinement. This may be the cause of the dizziness and nausea often said to be the result of The Hum, the interruption and deprivation of normal sleep carried out over the long-term. Here lies some of the basis for the belief that it is a defense weapon being tested, to test the long-term effects this might have upon the enemy forces.
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Post CommentGlynis Smy
On January 29, 2009 at 10:21 am
That was something I had never heard of before, thanks!
Majic
On January 29, 2009 at 10:26 am
I’m late for work because I have to read this interesting article! What if these people actually have special hearing abilities? Then maybe someday we’d be reading about strange smells and strange touches, etc. Just a thought.
CutestPrincess
On January 29, 2009 at 10:51 am
very interesting piece, it worth all the time reading this!
C Jordan
On January 29, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Very well researched and written article.
Gon pincha
On January 29, 2009 at 1:21 pm
GREAT article!
I have heard something about that, but you made it easier
Thanks.
Bren Parks
On January 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm
I am really wondering if this has anything to do with the magnetic waves that fluctuate wildly in some parts of the world….
Katien
On January 29, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Interesting article. I can hear a hum when things are plugged in, which is really annoying when you’re trying to get to sleep, so I sympathize with the people who live in these places.
thestickman
On January 29, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Yeah, but I think it is more to do with some people being more acutely aware of certain low frequency sound waves.
Back when I used to travel interstate, I had Citizen Band radios in the vehicle, and sometime had to take them to the repair shop. Once time while there, I was in the doorway with the proprietor as he was opening his shop for me and I commented on hearing a particular humming sound, like a small motor. He said that nothing was on, but I could hear it. He entered the shop and looked around, and he had left a CB radio on (with speakers disconnected) and that was what I was hearing. He ‘tested’ me by turning this off & on a few times and yeah, that was it.
I have that even now, -can hear noises like footsteps in the carpeted hall outside of the apartment or if the Super is in the basement. His voice is quite distinctive (and, where the bathroom medicine cabinet is installed into the cinder-brick wall, which is hollow. His voice comes thru the medicine cabinet from the basement and WE live on the 4th floor!)
Does not mean that I would hear ‘the hum’ in Taos though. I would like to try & find out someday, though…
Chambo
On January 29, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Very weird indeed. Well researched and written Stickman.
RJ
Lee Altman
On January 29, 2009 at 8:47 pm
great article
James DeVere
On January 29, 2009 at 8:57 pm
I have heard of this phenomena – nice article. I read recently about a group of Scientist who lowered a microphone down a 14km drill shaft that had hit a cavity.
They recorded the sounds of human screams in Hell (so they claim) The microphone melted but the recording survived which is supposed to be the screams of the damned.
Thanks for the read – nice work . j
thestickman
On January 29, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Yeah I read that too! I seriously doubt all the facts of that story which is exactly as you said. It sounds a lot like the ‘creation museum/science’ thing. I just read a web-blog that showed a coprolite (fossilized dinosaur dung) that purportedly is that of a meat-eater, and shows (although I don’t see it from the image used) fossilized carrion in the coprolite. -Fossilized poo of a MEAT-eating dinosaur, showing small bones in the coprolite! This is very rare… for something like >99% (I am guessing) of all fossilized dino-poo is of plant-grazers and leaf-eaters, and the page draws wild conclusions that this dinosaur pooped AFTER the Great Flood (yes, the Biblical Flood, etc) when ‘all flesh became corrupted and the eating of meat started (and gave Bible references to dispensation given to ‘eat flesh,) whereas before, purity blah-blah-blah all creatures ate plants blah blah blah and T-REX ate coconuts that is why they had such big teeth blah blah…..) -Basically, a dinosaur that ate another dino and pooed like 2000+ years ago… um, yeah… Dinos & people walking about at the same time… don’t think so. :- I’m thinking that somebody should call Disney and tell them that Micky Mouse is loose! :-O
I’d like to find that article about the 14km hole and read it again… sounds like a good horror article (though I doubt if I’d ever write about it… too little facts to do anything with…)
Bo Russo
On January 29, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Joel,great piece but my little lady os giving me a time limit right now on the copmuter,so I must get going,but loved the wriute
djonghs
On January 30, 2009 at 12:37 am
This is something new to me….thanks for the info.
jhenz
On January 30, 2009 at 2:12 am
interesting piece here thestickman.
keep it coming!
-jhenz-
Yovita Siswati
On January 30, 2009 at 6:04 am
very interesting! I never knew this phenomenon before. Thanks for sharing!
Peter Cimino
On January 30, 2009 at 9:50 am
Nicely done and pretty interesting. Thanks for the education.
yaffel
On January 30, 2009 at 10:35 am
I have never heard of this before stickman. Its really interesting. Great article
AC Hamilton III
On January 30, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Yeah, great point..so many things have been called hallucination for a period of time before ultimately proved wrong….Great job!
AC
R J Evans
On January 31, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Thought this was going to be about an up and coming band first of all! Thanks for an interesting read. To my relief I am not (yet, not that I am a hypo) a sufferer.
thestickman
On January 31, 2009 at 3:03 pm
“Thought this was going to be about an up and coming band …”
That crossed my mind as well, -made me think of the band “U2″ for some reason… Maybe it was the name of one of their albums for something but it is familiar now that you’ve mentioned it…
Lostash
On February 1, 2009 at 6:01 am
I recall reading about this somewhere in the UK, but the location escapes me as I write? A good read.
J.L. Eck
On March 4, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Many instances of unidentified noise have been noted around the world. You have put an interesting spin on the subject. I would have to say that there are many reasons for the distracting phenomenon.