3 ms·
For coastal city dwellers, I think it's likely that marine traffic is a major source of the hum, but the world hum map has a lot of reports from far inland that
by lph 6y ago
For coastal city dwellers, I think it's likely that marine traffic is a major source of the hum, but the world hum map has a lot of reports from far inland that aren't explained by that.
I used to live in a place that overlooked a shipping channel. I could perfectly tell you when a tug boat was near based on the low, resonating hum of its engines. I confirmed that theory with marinetraffic.com, and it was a relief to know I wasn't hallucinating.
I have since moved, and started hearing "the hum" in March. I'm now about five miles inland from that port, but I hear the hum louder than I ever did from passing boats. I can't match it to any specific marine traffic, although the sound is nearly identical. It could be nautical, or it could be some other industrial noise, or it could be something like tinnitus.
My wife can't either either sound.
- withinboredom 6y agoI’m curious, can you hear electronics? I can hear a CRT TV from almost 100ft away (the TV being muted, of course) and can tell you when it’s off and on without seeing it (it used to be a fun party trick back in the day). I can also hear capacitors in general if I try (but I just tune it out or I would go insane). Those “how old is your hearing” sites peg me at 14 though I’m actually double the age and then some.
- lph 6y agoYes, I can hear the high-pitched CRT TV noise. And also the high-pitched squeal that some CFL-backlit LCD monitors used to make. I'm not sure if it's that my ears are better, or if I'm just hyper-sensitive to sounds that other people filter out subconsciously.