An unexplained auditory phenomenon known as The Hum has been reported by an estimated 2-4 percent of people worldwide, with experiences ranging from mild annoyance to physical discomfort. The sound typically manifests as a deep buzzing or humming noise that is often more noticeable indoors and at night, yet remains inaudible to others in the same space. Reports of the phenomenon first gained public attention in Bristol, England during the mid-1970s, with the Bristol Evening Post receiving numerous resident inquiries about the mysterious sound. Despite investigations pointing to industrial equipment, similar accounts persisted even after proposed sources ceased operation.
The phenomenon has since been documented across multiple continents, including North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and various European locations, typically concentrated in densely populated areas. Canadian teacher Glen MacPherson established The World Hum Map and Database Project in 2012 to collect reports and location data from affected individuals worldwide. Proposed explanations for The Hum have ranged from acoustic pollution generated by human infrastructure and technology to naturally occurring environmental sounds, alongside various conspiracy theories.
Research conducted by Markus Drexl and colleagues at Norway’s NTNU examined 28 German residents reporting unexplained humming or buzzing sensations. The team investigated whether participants possessed exceptional sensitivity to measurable low-frequency sounds, finding that most showed no unusually sensitive hearing in this range, with only two individuals displaying better-than-average perception at certain frequencies. The researchers also tested whether participants could produce oto-acoustic emissions—naturally occurring faint sounds generated by the inner ear during its sound amplification process—but found no evidence of this in the study group.
Based on their findings, Drexl and his team propose that The Hum phenomenon likely results from two sources. A small subset of people may genuinely possess unusually sensitive low-frequency hearing that allows them to detect external sounds others cannot perceive. However, for the majority of cases, the researchers believe the experience represents a form of low-frequency tinnitus—sounds perceived within the auditory system itself despite no external source. Drexl emphasized the need for expanded scientific understanding of how the human auditory system processes low-frequency sound and infrasound, noting that current knowledge remains limited compared to understanding of higher-frequency hearing.
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