# Mystery sound with strange properties **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546 "2014-04-07T12:27:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/1 "2014-04-07T12:27:23Z")
Lately I have been hearing a sound at certain times; mostly late at night, sometimes in the day. It is something like the sound that speakers make when they’re on, but much lower in pitch. It is really more like, uh… like feedback from a giant bass guitar. But lower. Well anyway, I don’t expect any of you to be able to diagnose it, but here’s what I don’t understand: The sound gives all appearances of being to the left of me, no matter where or how I stand. It’s like I only hear it in my left ear. BUT when I cover my right ear, it goes away. If I cover my left ear, it also goes away. If it’s a three-dimensional actual sound, I should have to cover both ears for it to go away. If it were somehow self-generated, then covering the opposite ear shouldn’t make it go away. Can anyone explain this? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/2 "2014-04-07T15:27:40Z")
Perhaps this: [The Hum - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hum) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/3 "2014-04-07T15:34:24Z")
Low frequency tinnitus? > **[Tinnitus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus)** > > Tinnitus is a variety of sound that is heard when no corresponding external sound is present. Nearly everyone experiences faint "normal tinnitus" in a completely quiet room; but it is of concern only if it is bothersome, interferes with normal hearing, or is associated with other problems. The word tinnitus comes from the Latin tinnire, "to ring". In some people, it interferes with concentration, and can be associated with anxiety and depression. > Tinnitus is usually associated with hearing l... ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/4 "2014-04-07T18:10:03Z")
Hey, thanks. Both pages fascinating reads. But I’m most curious about why covering only one ear will make it go away. Could it be that the sound is the result of a vibration that is causing one eardrum to vibrate sympathetically with the other one? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/5 "2014-04-07T22:08:35Z")
When I cover one ear, I hear a low-pitched sound, probably the blood in my head or hand. Maybe that is enough noise to cover up or interfere with what you’re hearing? ---
**Author:** ![wbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19adc/32.png) [@wbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wbuff)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/6 "2014-04-07T22:14:56Z")
Look up “Skyquakes”. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/7 "2014-04-07T23:10:07Z")
The Bristol hum was eventually attributed to some industrial fans. It has recently (last December) been reported again and locals are blaming a nearby wind farm. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/8 "2014-04-08T06:30:15Z")
Matches to a low frequency hum. Covering EITHER ear makes more noise (“the sound of the sea” effect ) that blocks you from hearing _the hum_… seems like. Either that or the hand over your ear causes your disbelief to kick in and you stop imagining things. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/9 "2014-04-08T09:05:31Z")
Are you near any elephants? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/10 "2014-04-08T11:37:29Z")
I had something like this - turned out to be an extractor fan in the adjoining house - but (probably because of some resonation or interference wave pattern) the sound was most audible at the opposite side of the room from the sound source. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-sound-with-strange-properties/685546/11 "2014-04-09T15:51:45Z")
Can anyone else hear the sound?