Is that spooky old house full of ghosts, or just infrasound?
Summary
Dr. Rodney Schmaltz explains how infrasound from old boilers may cause the eerie feelings associated with haunted houses by raising stress levels. Later, Dr. Milton Garces discusses detecting natural infrasound from volcanoes and asteroids to provide early warnings for eruptions and tsunamis. The episode explores how these inaudible low-frequency sounds impact human perception and serve as vital tools for monitoring global geological events.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: NYSCI, Progressive, and Alienware
Why old houses feel creepy: Introduction to Dr. Rodney Schmaltz
Infrasound study: Effects on stress and mood
Measuring infrasound in haunted locations and urban environments
Filling the cognitive gap: Explaining paranormal experiences
Sponsor: Con Edison energy tips
Infrasound in nature: The Tonga eruption and sonic unicorns
Sources of natural infrasound: Volcanoes, oceans, and animals
Applications: Early warning systems for eruptions and tsunamis
Global monitoring network and insonifying infrasound
Kilauea volcano recordings and the art of sound compression
The elusive Lamb wave from the Tonga eruption
Listener call-in request and episode credits
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