There is a place quieter than silence itself

Anechoic rooms are places designed to muffle sound as much as possible, to the point that its relative measurement in decibels is negative.

Is there a quieter place than you? silence? Well, according to the decibel scale, used by science to evaluate the relative intensity of sound, yes, and there is even a competition to see which position “wins”. The current record holder, also according to the Guinness Book, is the anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories, in the United States.

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Anechoic means “without echo”, and in the case of the American test site, considered the quietest in the world, the audio level is -24.9 decibels: correct, negative. For comparison purposes, a human whisper is about 30 decibels. The quietest sound our ears can perceive is around 0 decibels, which is why the scale “resets” at this level.

The sound of silence

Getting negative numbers requires some engineering. In the room in question, various fiberglass wedges are positioned on all the walls, ceiling and floor, with the aim of cushioning any sound wave that could arise.

Furthermore, thick layers of brick and steel fill the walls and numerous springs separate the chamber from the rest of the building, preventing external vibrations from penetrating. This ensures the silent aspect of the environment.

You can even feel your heart

According to the account of designer Steven J. Orfield and people who have visited the place, you can feel the beating of your heart, the functioning of your internal organs, your eyelids and even the flow of blood rising through your neck.

The lack of echo within four walls causes cognitive dissonance, that is, the brain becomes confused, expecting physical effects that are not seen. This can cause loss of balance and intense general discomfort. Turn on the Portuguese subtitles and check out some experiences in the video below:

According to Orfield, it is impossible to stay in the room for more than half an hour without feeling the need to sit down, and even with the help of a chair, few can stay in the room longer than that.

A similar room is located at the headquarters of Microsoft, again in the United States, with -20.6 decibels. She was the previous record holder, until she was ousted by Orfield. Continuous renovations have meant that both locations have alternated over the years.

But anechoic chambers don’t exist just out of curiosity: they are useful for a variety of studies and analyses. Many manufacturers use them to test their products in the absence of background noise, ensuring accurate readings of the sound produced. Even astronauts often prepare for silence sound of space in places like these, the only ones comparable to the rarefied air outside the Earth.

Source: Smithsonian magazine

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Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.