Did you know that certain sound waves circulate all around us without us being able to hear them? These inaudible vibrations, known as infrasound, move through our environment without us even noticing. If this topic intrigues you, an excellent article published by Le Journal du CNRS offers a captivating dive into this little-known phenomenon.
What is infrasound?
Infrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies below 20 Hz, below the threshold of human hearing. Despite our inability to perceive them, these waves can travel over long distances and pass through massive obstacles like mountains, oceans, and even buildings.
Infrasound is present in natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and ocean waves. They are also produced by human activities, like jet planes or the explosion of weapons.
Unexpected Impacts
What makes these waves fascinating is their varied and sometimes mysterious effects. Some studies suggest they may play a role in unexplained physical or emotional sensations, or even discomfort in the absence of any perceptible sound. But their role doesn’t stop there: infrasound is also used in scientific fields such as disaster detection, providing a valuable tool for anticipating and understanding these events.
A Must-Read Article
The CNRS article not only explores the characteristics of infrasound but also current research on its uses, potential dangers, and its omnipresence in our daily lives. Whether you're passionate about science, sound, or nature, this article will shed light on these mysterious waves traveling below our sensory radar.
Read the full article here, in french.
Have you ever experienced effects attributed to infrasound, or do you think they influence our lives more than we realize? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments!
