Understanding Infrasound: Its Health Impacts, Detection, and Unseen Presence

Summary:

Infrasound, sounds below 20 hertz, is often inaudible but can profoundly impact human health, causing symptoms like headaches, nausea, and mood changes. Research suggests it can even induce feelings of fear or apparitions, as demonstrated in studies like Vic Tandy's "Ghost in the Machine" and a Liverpool Cathedral experiment. The video showcases recordings of these unseen soundscapes from both man-made sources (train yards, airports) and natural phenomena (thunderstorms, Yellowstone geysers), revealing their pervasive nature. The speaker explains that infrasound's long wavelengths allow it to travel vast distances and penetrate buildings due to Helmholtz resonance. Detecting these low frequencies requires specialized equipment like modified seismographs or specific microphones, as conventional microphones filter them out.

A screenshot showing research papers about infrasonic noise and its health effects. [ 00:00:40 ]

Introduction to Infrasound and its Potential Harms [0:00:00]

The video begins by introducing infrasound, frequencies below the human hearing range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Initial observation of unseen sounds [0:00:10]
- The host demonstrates detecting low-frequency sounds in his "quiet" sound stage by recording with a special microphone and speeding up the playback.
- He notes he's unsure of the source but similar sounds likely exist in most urban/suburban environments.
Potential health impacts [0:00:37]
- A meta-analysis suggests infrasound can be harmful to health.
- The host references experiences of discomfort or fear in certain places, which could be attributed to infrasound rather than paranormal activity.
- The video will present previously unheard sounds recorded in familiar (airports, train yards) and natural (super volcano) locations using a modified seismograph.
- It will examine research on how infrasound can negatively affect enjoyment of music, cause illness, and even lead to hallucinations.

The Philosophy of Time and Perception [0:02:07]

The speaker delves into the philosophical concept of time perception, drawing parallels to how we perceive sound and light.

Objective vs. Subjective Time [0:02:07]
- Most measurements exist in a "time series" (Kronos - objective time), but human experience is subjective (Kairos).
- Different species, and even individuals, perceive time differently, emphasizing its abstract nature.
  
  A bust of an ancient Greek philosopher, symbolizing the concepts of Kronos and Kairos. [ 00:03:00 ]
- Ancient Greeks recognized Kronos (objective, measurable) and Kairos (subjective experience).
- A basic DIY water clock is demonstrated as an early method of measuring objective time [0:03:18].
  
  A simple DIY water clock, used to illustrate ancient time-measurement devices. [ 00:03:19 ]
- Ancient water clocks, or "klepsydra," were sophisticated devices that eventually evolved into mechanical clocks [0:03:29].
  
  A diagram illustrating the complex mechanism of an ancient water clock. [ 00:03:29 ]
Perception of invisible phenomena [0:03:54]
- Just as visible light wavelengths are perceived as color, while invisible wavelengths (UV, X-ray, gamma) have observable, often harmful, effects.
  
  A diagram illustrating the electromagnetic spectrum, differentiating visible light from ultraviolet. [ 00:04:09 ]
- Higher frequency invisible light like X-rays and gamma rays can eject electrons from atoms, causing randomization and extensive damage [0:04:19].
  
  A diagram of a boron atom, used to illustrate how high-frequency light can eject electrons. [ 00:04:19 ]
- The risks of ionizing radiation, which operates in invisible light frequencies, are significant [0:04:27].
  
  Warning signs for ionizing radiation, highlighting the dangers of invisible high-frequency energy. [ 00:04:29 ]
- Audible pressure waves are sounds (20-20,000 Hz), while ultrasound (above 20,000 Hz) can cause headaches and hearing damage.
- Infrasound (below 20 Hz) is the focus, with emerging medical research suggesting more "sinister" effects [0:04:47].

Health Effects of Infrasound [0:04:45]

Medical research is revealing a range of adverse health effects associated with exposure to infrasound.

Documented symptoms [0:04:53]
- Strong evidence suggests effects include headaches, fatigue, loss of concentration, mood changes, depression, sleep disorders, panic disorders, nausea, and dizziness [0:05:00].
  
  An excerpt from a research paper detailing various symptoms like lack of concentration and negative mood caused by noise exposure. [ 00:04:59 ]
- The speaker shares his subjective experience of severe nausea and dizziness when intentionally generating infrasound in his lab [0:05:04].
Impact on the heart [0:05:21]
- A peer-reviewed medical study showed that 100 dB of infrasound (around 10 Hz) significantly decreased the heart's contraction force by 9% [0:05:21].
  
  A graph showing a decrease in heart contraction force (CF) in a treated group exposed to infrasound compared to a control group. [ 00:05:29 ]
- Animal research also suggests negative effects on the heart, liver, nervous system, and lungs [0:05:46].
  
  An excerpt from a study indicating negative effects of infrasound on the heart, liver, nervous system, and lungs from animal tests. [ 00:05:49 ]
Research challenges and bias [0:05:51]
- The list of effects is likely incomplete due to the difficulty and lack of research, as few people volunteer for uncomfortable and potentially damaging experiments.
- Much of the existing research on infrasound's health effects is concentrated on wind turbines [0:06:11].
  
  Google search results for "infrasound wind turbines," showing a high volume of research on this specific topic. [ 00:06:19 ]
- This research is often funded by the fossil fuel industry, raising concerns about bias aimed at discrediting wind energy [0:06:23].
  
  An excerpt from a Wikipedia article on "Wind turbine syndrome," noting fossil fuel industry funding for groups promoting the idea. [ 00:06:28 ]
- In contrast, the infrasound effects of fracking, which causes earthquakes, are far less studied [0:06:39].
  
  $Google search results related to infrasound from fracking, indicating less extensive research compared to wind turbines.$
  Google search results related to infrasound from fracking, indicating less extensive research compared to wind turbines. [ 00:06:48 ]

The Ghost in the Machine: Infrasound and Apparitions [0:06:54]

The video explores the fascinating link between infrasound and experiences typically associated with the paranormal.

Vic Tandy's laboratory experience [0:06:54]
- Engineer Vic Tandy worked in a reportedly haunted lab in Warwick, England, where he felt cold sweats, intense depression, and saw a blurry gray figure [0:06:58].
  
  An interior shot of a laboratory, depicted as potentially "haunted" through lighting and atmosphere. [ 00:06:58 ]
- The figure, seen in his peripheral vision, vanished when he looked directly at it, an experience not unique to that lab [0:07:06].
  
  An illustrative image of a blurry, shadowy figure appearing at the end of a dimly lit hallway. [ 00:07:08 ]
The discovery of infrasound [0:07:17]
- Tandy noticed his fencing foil vibrating like a tuning fork, leading him to discover a large fan emitting infrasonic vibrations at 18.9 Hz [0:07:29].
- This frequency resonates with the human eye, which he attributed to causing the apparition; once the fan was adjusted, paranormal reports ceased.
- This finding was later published in a famous paper titled "The Ghost in the Machine" [0:07:49].
  
  A newspaper headline stating, "That's not a ghost, it's a hum you can't hear," referencing Vic Tandy's findings on infrasound. [ 00:07:48 ]
- Tandy later measured strong 18.9 Hz infrasound in a famously haunted cellar in Coventry [0:07:55].
  
  A newspaper article with the headline "Ghost buster," featuring Vic Tandy investigating a cellar. [ 00:07:58 ]
Concert study at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral [0:18:03]
- Scientists used a 23-foot infrasonic cannon tuned to 17.5 Hz (90 dB) during musical performances, unbeknownst to the audience [0:18:16].
  
  An interior shot of a concert hall with stage lighting, setting the scene for a music performance experiment. [ 00:18:05 ]
- The infrasonic cannon used in the experiment was a large, specialized device designed to emit low-frequency sounds [0:18:16].
  
  A long, tube-like infrasonic cannon, used to generate controlled low-frequency sounds for an experiment. [ 00:18:15 ]
- People were more likely to feel uncomfortable and 22% reported "strange or unexplainable effects" (sadness, chills, fear, anxiety) when the infrasonic tone was playing [0:18:25].
  
  An illustration depicting an audience watching a musical performance on stage, representing the setting of the infrasound experiment. [ 00:18:25 ]
Goldsmith's College "haunted room" experiment [0:18:56]
- Researchers attempted to create a haunted room using various infrasonic frequencies and electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) [0:19:00].
- An experiment group of people is shown, representing participants exposed to infrasound and/or EMF [0:19:05].
  
  An illustration depicting a group of diverse individuals, representing the participants in the "haunted room" study. [ 00:19:05 ]
- A visual representation of the control group from the "haunted room" study, emphasizing a smaller subset.
  
  A smaller illustration of the participant group, suggesting the proportion of a control group within the study. [ 00:19:24 ]
- Roughly 80% of participants exposed to infrasound or EMF felt dizzy, odd, tingled, had out-of-body experiences, or felt a "presence" [0:19:37].
  
  An excerpt from a study describing symptoms like "tingling sensations," "out-of-body experience," and "feeling a presence." [ 00:19:44 ]
- The speaker notes the study's organization and conclusiveness were debatable but encouraged further research.

Showcase of Unheard Sounds [0:08:09]

The video presents actual recordings of infrasound from various environments, both human-made and natural.

Home recordings [0:08:09]
- A microphone recording outside the speaker's house captures infrasound in a seemingly quiet environment [0:08:11].
  
  A microphone setup recording outdoors near a house, capturing ambient sounds. [ 00:08:18 ]
- A spectrogram from a 24-hour recording reveals rumbles and drones, some appearing on a consistent schedule [0:08:47].
  
  A spectrogram showing sound frequencies over time, with strong red rumbles visible and a time point highlighted at 3:30 AM. [ 00:08:48 ]
- The spectrogram further highlights strong, consistent rumbles lasting for nearly two hours around 3 AM, whose cause remains unknown [0:08:58].
  
  A spectrogram with time labels on the left, emphasizing a period of strong, unexplained rumbles between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM. [ 00:08:58 ]
Man-made sources [0:09:24]
- A microphone is placed near a train engine to capture its infrasound emissions [0:09:26].
  
  A microphone placed on the ground near the front of a train engine in a rail yard. [ 00:09:28 ]
- An overview of a busy airport, a significant source of noise and infrasound pollution [0:09:47].
  
  An aerial view of a large, busy airport terminal and its surrounding infrastructure. [ 00:09:47 ]
- A wind turbine, a well-known source of infrasound, is shown, though the recorded infrasound was less extreme than often portrayed [0:10:11].
  
  A wind turbine towering over a field, representing a source of infrasound. [ 00:10:07 ]
Natural sources in remote areas [0:10:26]
- Bison graze in a vast landscape near Badlands National Park, a remote area where infrasound was recorded [0:10:37].
  
  A herd of bison grazing in a large, open field under a partly cloudy sky. [ 00:10:37 ]
- The rugged landscape of the Badlands from an elevated viewpoint, demonstrating the remote recording location [0:10:57].
  
  The vast, rugged landscape of Badlands National Park, characterized by eroded buttes and canyons. [ 00:10:57 ]
- Distant thunderstorms are shown, which produce powerful natural infrasound [0:11:46].
  
  A wide shot of a stormy sky over a flat landscape, indicating a distant thunderstorm. [ 00:11:47 ]
- Yellowstone's super volcano caldera, a site of significant geothermal activity, is a source of natural infrasound [0:12:19].
  
  A panoramic view of the Yellowstone National Park landscape, featuring a river and geothermal activity. [ 00:12:17 ]
- A microphone is placed near a geyser, with an overlay indicating "tonal" infrasound [0:12:59].
  
  A digital thermometer next to a steaming geyser, with text indicating "Sometimes, infrasound sounds 'Tonal'". [ 00:12:56 ]
- A thermal image capturing the intense heat emanating from a geyser eruption [0:13:22].
  
  A thermal imaging shot of a geyser, highlighting the intense heat in vibrant colors. [ 00:13:26 ]
- A bubbling hot spring at Yellowstone, emitting infrasound from its geothermal activity [0:13:55].
  
  A close-up of a bubbling hot spring, with steam rising from its surface. [ 00:13:56 ]
- The iconic Old Faithful geyser erupts, a consistent natural source of infrasound [0:14:05].
  
  Old Faithful geyser erupting in Yellowstone National Park under a blue sky with scattered clouds. [ 00:14:06 ]
- An industrial plant, such as the one investigated for "the hum" phenomenon, is shown as a potential source of consistent infrasound [0:24:42].
  
  An aerial view of an industrial power plant with multiple buildings and pipelines in a desert landscape. [ 00:24:43 ]

The Physics of Infrasound Travel and Detection [0:14:37]

The speaker explains the physical properties that allow infrasound to travel extensively and how it interacts with environments.

Long-distance propagation [0:14:37]
- Lower frequencies have longer wavelengths, resulting in less interaction with the atmosphere, less entropy, and thus travel farther before dissipating.
- A diagram illustrates how high-frequency ultrasound waves dissipate relatively quickly over a city [0:14:45].
  
  A map of a city showing small, tightly packed waves emanating from a source, representing ultrasound propagation. [ 00:14:46 ]
- In contrast, low-frequency infrasound waves travel much farther, covering larger areas before losing energy [0:14:56].
  
  A map of a city showing large, widely spaced waves emanating from a source, representing infrasound propagation. [ 00:14:56 ]
- A pendulum experiment demonstrates that shorter chains (higher frequency) stop moving faster (more entropy) compared to longer chains [0:15:17].
  
  A simple pendulum setup, illustrating how the length of the pendulum affects its oscillation frequency and dampening. [ 00:15:16 ]
Detecting infrasound over vast distances [0:15:28]
- Open databases from Earthscope, Sage, Raspberry Shake, and USGS provide real-time seismographic data across the US [0:15:33].
  
  A map of the United States displaying numerous seismograph stations across different states. [ 00:15:36 ]
- Seismograph data appears as complex waveforms, which are analyzed to detect seismic events and infrasound [0:15:45].
  
  A display of seismograph data, showing waveforms and associated numerical readings. [ 00:15:46 ]
- The speaker converted 3D mini-seed vibration data into Pascals (atmospheric pressure oscillations) to create audible infrasound recordings. A Pascal measurement tool is shown [0:16:06].
  
  A digital gauge indicating "Pascal" measurements, used for converting vibration data into units of atmospheric pressure. [ 00:16:06 ]
- The launch of a SpaceX satellite near Lampoc, California, provided a significant infrasound event for analysis [0:16:14].
  
  A SpaceX rocket launching, surrounded by bright exhaust fumes and smoke. [ 00:16:15 ]
- A spectrogram captures the infrasound of the SpaceX launch from 3 miles away [0:16:35].
  
  A spectrogram showing a sudden, intense burst of low-frequency sound, recorded 3 miles from a SpaceX launch site. [ 00:16:35 ]
- The spectrogram also shows the launch's infrasound detected 6 miles away, demonstrating its reach [0:16:44].
  
  A spectrogram illustrating the sound signature of a SpaceX launch recorded from a distance of 6 miles. [ 00:16:45 ]
- Maps of California illustrate the incredible distances infrasound travels, from the launch site to locations over 142 miles away [0:16:51].
  
  A map of California showing towns and highways, with annotations for distances from the SpaceX launch. [ 00:16:55 ]
- The map further highlights locations like Santa Barbara and West Hollywood, where infrasound from the launch was detected over 60 and 142 miles away, respectively [0:17:05].
  
  A detailed map of Southern California, indicating the widespread detection of infrasound from the SpaceX launch as far as West Hollywood. [ 00:17:05 ]
Helmholtz resonance [0:17:17]
- Infrasound can be louder indoors than outdoors due to Helmholtz resonance, creating uncomfortable throbbing, like when a single car window is open while driving fast [0:17:35].
  
  A person sitting in a car with a single rear window open, illustrating the phenomenon of Helmholtz resonance. [ 00:17:35 ]
- An experiment demonstrating Helmholtz resonance involves a fan and a Christmas ornament to extract energy from sound waves, although with insignificant results [0:17:45].
  
  A close-up of a small fan blowing air onto a Christmas ornament attached to wires, illustrating a Helmholtz resonance experiment. [ 00:17:45 ]

Methods for Recording Infrasound [0:20:16]

The video details the specialized equipment and techniques required to accurately record infrasound.

Microphone limitations [0:20:16]
- Microphones receive signals from pressure changes on a diaphragm, with an air cavity and venting path influencing sound [0:20:25].
  
  A cross-section diagram of a microphone capsule, highlighting the diaphragm, air cavity, backplate, and venting path. [ 00:20:24 ]
- A FEM simulation illustrates how a diaphragm vibrates in response to sound pressure [0:20:34].
  
  A 3D simulation of a circular diaphragm vibrating in various modal shapes, indicating pressure distribution. [ 00:20:34 ]
- Most professional microphones include a high-pass filter to remove unwanted infrasound, cutting off frequencies below 20 Hz [0:20:45].
  
  A circuit diagram illustrating a high-pass filter stage and an amplification stage in an audio circuit. [ 00:20:44 ]
- A frequency response graph for a microphone typically shows a steep drop-off below 20 Hz, indicating limited infrasound capture [0:22:13].
  
  A microphone and its frequency response graph, showing a sharp roll-off of signal below 20 Hz. [ 00:22:14 ]
- A list of microphones, including the Earthworks Audio M23R, shows their frequency ranges, with most having a steep cutoff below 18 Hz [0:22:34].
  
  A screenshot showing a list of microphones with their specifications, including frequency range and directional characteristics. [ 00:22:34 ]
Recommended equipment [0:20:51]
- To record frequencies below 5 Hz or 3 Hz, a seismograph is necessary.
- The Earthworks measurement microphone is pictured alongside a spectrogram, showing its capability to pick up frequencies in the infrasonic range [0:20:54].
  
  An Earthworks measurement microphone positioned next to a spectrogram, illustrating its low-frequency detection. [ 00:20:54 ]
- The Raspberry Shake 3D is highlighted as a convenient seismograph capable of accurate measurements down to 0.5 Hz [0:21:03].
  
  A Raspberry Shake 3D seismograph, a compact device used for measuring ground vibrations. [ 00:21:04 ]
- Raw seismograph data is displayed in a numerical format, indicating the detailed information collected by the device [0:21:13].
  
  A screen displaying raw numerical data from a seismograph, illustrating the detailed sensor readings. [ 00:21:14 ]
- The speaker is shown setting up a seismograph in the field, emphasizing the practical aspect of data collection [0:21:24].
  
  The speaker setting up a seismograph outdoors on a wooden walkway near a geothermal feature. [ 00:21:24 ]
- The Earthworks M23R is recommended as the best microphone under $1,000, with a frequency response from 3 to 30 Hz [0:22:52]. Its specification sheet shows detailed performance data [0:22:52].
  
  A specification sheet for the Earthworks M23R microphone, detailing its frequency response, sensitivity, and other technical data. [ 00:22:53 ]
- The speaker demonstrates attaching a "deadcat" wind filter to an infrasonic-capable microphone to reduce wind noise [0:23:02].
  
  The speaker attaching a deadcat wind filter onto a microphone, demonstrating best practices for outdoor recording. [ 00:23:03 ]
- The speaker illustrates using a plate with skin cream and a rubber mat to isolate the microphone from ground vibrations [0:23:18].
  
  The speaker demonstrates using a plate to isolate a microphone from vibrations, placed on a rubber mat. [ 00:23:13 ]
DIY and cheaper alternatives [0:23:29]
- A "Frankensteined seismometer" using plastic tubes spread out to use the ground as a membrane was used in a previous video for "the hum" phenomenon [0:23:32].
  
  Plastic tubes laid out on the ground, forming part of a "Frankensteined" seismometer setup. [ 00:23:33 ]
- A Wit Motion accelerometer, a $40 Bluetooth/USB gadget, can be used for industrial equipment monitoring or DIY infrasound detection [0:23:49].
  
  A small Wit Motion accelerometer, a portable device for measuring motion and vibration. [ 00:23:43 ]
- A DIY accelerometer setup involves wrapping a non-lubricated condom around a steel cup to act as a membrane, with the accelerometer placed inside, to detect frequencies below 1 Hz [0:23:57].
  
  A close-up shot of a steel cup with a stretched condom over it, creating a membrane for a DIY accelerometer setup. [ 00:23:53 ]
- SeismoCloud, a free app and project, allows building a low-cost sensor using a $7 NodeMCU Wi-Fi board and a $10 MCU5060 accelerometer [0:24:10].
  
  Electronic components for the SeismoCloud DIY sensor: a NodeMCU Wi-Fi board and an MCU5060 accelerometer. [ 00:24:13 ]
Future aspirations [0:24:44]
- The speaker plans to combine the Raspberry Shake system with GPS and a persistent battery and a pressure transducer to easily measure infrasound across large areas.
- Machine learning could then be used to triangulate sources of phenomena like "the hum."