The Hum – A Global Low-Frequency Mystery Sound

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The Hum is a persistent low-frequency sound heard by a small percentage of people in specific locations worldwide, often strongest at night and indoors.

The Hum is one of the most persistent acoustic mysteries of modern life — a deep, low-frequency vibration heard by only a small percentage of people, yet reported consistently across the world for decades. For those who perceive it, the sound is inescapable: a distant diesel engine idling, a transformer buzz coming from nowhere, or a slow helicopter droning just beyond the edge of hearing. It is strongest at night, often indoors, and famously difficult — sometimes impossible — to record.

Unlike short-lived sky booms or atmospheric explosions, The Hum is a chronic phenomenon. It can last days, weeks, months, or years. Entire towns have documented outbreaks: the Taos Hum in New Mexico, the Windsor Hum in Ontario, the Bristol Hum in the UK, and dozens more in North America, Europe, and Oceania. No single cause has ever been universally identified, yet the reports share striking similarities: a frequency range typically between 30–80 Hz, a geographic clustering, and a strong psychological impact on those affected.

Scientists and engineers have proposed multiple explanations — some mundane, some extraordinary. Potential sources include industrial motors, ventilation systems, power distribution lines, gas pipelines, distant mining activity, ocean microseisms, or atmospheric resonance. Others point to infrasound, geological vibrations, or environmental standing waves that selectively affect certain dwellings or regions. A minority of cases may stem from otoacoustic emissions, in which the ear itself generates internal low-frequency noise.

Despite many investigations, The Hum remains unresolved. In some cases it may be linked to external low-frequency energy in a specific location; in others it may overlap with tinnitus or other internal ear phenomena. That mix of acoustics, geology, infrastructure, and perception is exactly why The Hum is so hard to “solve.”

This hub brings together the world’s best-documented Hum events, scientific theories, eyewitness reports, and investigative tools. Whether you are trying to identify a hum in your own home or exploring global patterns behind this unusual acoustic anomaly, this page provides the core research and resources you need.


The Hum phenomenon – mysterious low-frequency sound only some people can hear, title graphic for Strange Sounds article.
The Hum is a mysterious low-frequency noise reported worldwide. Only a small percentage of people can hear it, making it one of the strangest unexplained sounds.

Key facts (TL;DR)

  • The Hum = real reports + (in some hotspots) real low-frequency measurements; no universal source.
  • Typical features: low drone (often 30–80 Hz), louder at night/indoors, strongest in quiet suburbs, hard to record on phones.
  • Who hears it: only a small % of people in “Hum zones” (often middle-aged/older)—neighbors may hear nothing.
  • Suspects: industrial LFN, building/room resonance, micro-seismic coupling, power infrastructure, psychoacoustics, EM hypotheses.
  • What to do: time it, map it, test power-off indoors, record with a good mic, check our case guides, and send us a report.

❓ What Is “The Hum”?

A persistent low-frequency droning heard by some—but not all—people in specific areas.
Many report it’s stronger at night, indoors, and in certain rooms or vehicles.
It may fade for months, then return without warning.

🔊 How It Sounds & Feels

  • Like a distant idling engine, transformer buzz, or slow helicopter heard through walls.
  • More noticeable in quiet rooms, at night, and when trying to sleep.
  • Some perceive vibration/pressure (chest, ears, skull) as much as sound.
  • Phone mics often miss it; better captured with dedicated low-frequency recorders.

👂 Who Can Hear It?

  • Only a small percentage in affected zones—often estimated around ~2%.
  • Reported more by adults 55–70+, but younger hearers exist.
  • Two people in the same house may disagree: one tormented, the other hears nothing.

🗺️ Where It’s Reported (Selected Cases)

🧠 Possible Causes (None Explain All)

  • Industrial low-frequency noise (LFN): compressors, fans, pumps, pipelines, transformers; sometimes intermittent or night-shift only.
  • Building & room resonance: structures can amplify bass, turning faint outdoor energy into an indoor drone.
  • Micro-seismic & environmental coupling: distant surf, wind farms, or micro-tremor transferring energy into cavities/rooms.
  • Power & infrastructure: substations, HV lines, ground loops, or poorly isolated equipment.
  • Psychoacoustics/tinnitus: in some cases an internal origin; however, external LFN has been recorded at documented hotspots.
  • EM hypotheses: controversial ideas about electromagnetic exposure interacting with biology—unproven but frequently discussed.

Bottom line: multiple mechanisms likely; “The Hum” is a syndrome, not one sound.
Learn here why sounds can travel so far.

🕵️ How We Investigate a Suspected Hum

  1. Time & pattern: log hh:mm:ss, day of week, weather, and room/position. Is it night-only?
  2. Power test: safely flip mains off (if possible) for 2–3 minutes—does it vanish? Try circuits/appliances one by one.
  3. Move & map: different rooms, car, outside, other addresses. Note where it’s strongest/weakest.
  4. Record: use a recorder with good low-end response (phones often roll off < 50–80 Hz).
  5. Check context: industrial hours, HVAC cycles, nearby substations, construction, shipping/rail corridors.
  6. Report it: share time/location/recordings via our contact form.

🧰 Coping Tips (Practical, Not Perfect)

  • Sound masking: broadband/“brown noise,” fan or air purifier, low-volume music.
  • Isolation: seal gaps, add soft furnishings, decouple bed from walls/floor, experiment with room changes.
  • HVAC & appliances: locate and damp home sources; service/noise-isolate vibrating units.
  • Health check: if constant, rule out tinnitus or medical causes with a clinician.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hum

Is The Hum a real phenomenon?

Yes. While only a small percentage of people hear it, The Hum has been documented in dozens of locations worldwide and studied by acoustic engineers, governments, and universities.

What does The Hum typically sound like?

Most describe it as a distant engine, low-frequency drone, electrical transformer buzz, or pulsing vibration. It is usually strongest indoors and at night.

Why can only some people hear The Hum?

The leading theories include individual sensitivity to low-frequency sound, ear-generated sounds (otoacoustic emissions), or the possibility that only certain homes resonate at the right frequency.

Can The Hum be recorded?

Often, no. Many reports fall below the threshold of typical microphones, but some cases have produced measurable low-frequency data using specialized equipment.

Is The Hum dangerous?

There is no evidence of physical harm, but the constant vibration can cause sleep disruption, anxiety, or stress for some people.

What causes The Hum?

Multiple factors may contribute: industrial equipment, gas pipelines, atmospheric resonance, geological vibrations, infrasound, or even biological mechanisms inside the ear. No single explanation covers all cases.

Sources & Further Reading

Latest Hum Reports

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36 Comments

  1. I believe it is demonic in origin. No, I’m not crazy I just believe it is supernatural ultimately. I have experienced it along with poltergeist activity. Sometimes I can’t hear it, other times it is there along with a hissing tinnitus. I accept many reading this will dismiss this out of hand but this is my honest conclusion after many years of understanding and experiencing demonic activity. I’m also a practising Christian.

  2. You are completely wrong when you keep chiming in with your “its in your head” BS. That got debunked a very long time ago. You are free to believe what you want but your personal belief in this matter is disinformation that doesn’t cross paths with reality.

  3. Up until a month ago, I had never heard this constant, never wavering, hum. My partner had been complaining of it for many months, but I simply kept missing it until very recently. And just like that, one early morning, I heard it. I was on the brink of waking, and my mind was not active yet, and suddenly it was coming into both my ears (or at least that’s how I perceived it). Here’s the strange part. When I concentrated on where it was coming from it would suddenly stop. Sitting up, I looked around the room and no hum. I laid back and thought I was imagining it, and after a minute it resumed after I relaxed. Once again, I concentrate on it, it goes away. When I relax my mind, it returns.
    I stopped noticing it for a couple of weeks, and it resumed again, with the same parameters. If I concentrate on the sound it would stop. If I relax my mind, and think about nothing, it would resume at the same intensity. I know of the Global phenomena, but I never got the impression it would come and go like I’m experiencing.

  4. Well I do believe its subduction. tectonic plates slipping one under the other that’s what makes the noise and it has something to do with the earthquakes…. nobody thought of that yet did they?
    The ⭐ Star Wizard man knows what some do not.

  6. it may be somebody far away who is listening to music with the base turned way up. Even if they are a mile away this sound will carry. it sends vibrations into the ground which amplifies into your house. as, I think it causes global warming too! there are so many inconsiderate people who play music in vehicles which the base really high. they just dont care.

  7. Probably one of your neighbours who dont like you shooting you with sound/radiation its been happening to me. i made a fuss and they just turned it down but i have sensitive hearing and the punks think its funny….what should i do???

  8. Same here in Arizona heard it for two weeks loud one day at 5:30 am tell about 8 am it woke me up that day and nothing wakes me up, it stopped just be for the quakes in cali, then started back up a couple of days ago, for about a day, I have not heard it since. on an interesting note, I don’t hear it after 9 pm or so, I really think it has to do with Earthquakes myself? Just a thought.

  10. It not man made, it’s something else. I’m in Bakersfield CA. I’ve heard it in several states. I have known people that have gone in to deep salt mines and it’s even worse in there. What ever the cause, it’s not good.

  11. The reason you can’t find it on electronic instruments is because it’s in your head. I’ve been dealing with this for 27 years. I had found 26 pieces of fiber optic in this apartment I use to live in. I’ve been a electronics technician for 32 years. And from my experience the gov. does not have the technology to run this stuff in our homes. You’ll hear snaps and pops in your walls and ceilings. It was so bad here in the early 90’s the sheriff’s office started calling it attic people

  12. is the hum real ? is it a man ? Please e-mail me if you know … i Live in belgium so i wont hear it but can it be possible thats the sound will be here in a couple years ? …

    • I agree with you on HAARP. I think it is GWEN Towers and HAARP together. It sometimes sounds like it is coming from above but then it sounds like it is below. I think they are bouncing signals off of each other. Also something to do with electromagnetics. Sick of it.

  14. I have lived in, and heard this noise in, various small communities in rural Alberta, but one place I never, ever heard it was in Ft. McMurray in NE Alberta. Perhaps because FtM is sitting on an ocean of oil in the form of oil sands/shale.

  15. Iam from Karachi, Pakistan and me and my wife hear the hum with regular intervals. Sometimes it goes up and is off abruptly.

  16. I have heard it many times. I live in south Texas and to me it sounds more like a plane flying right over me, but it is strange because the sound suddenly starts and suddenly stops. The noise does not fade away like how an airplane would. Here I was going crazy thinking that the noise could be cause by ufos, but other people’s comments sound more logical.

  17. I hear this every night in phoenix S.E.
    it will sound for a good 5-10mins then mysteriously disappear.
    no cell towers in my area.

    • It’s in your head, that’s why they can’t pick it up on electronics.ive been dealing with this for 27 years. I’ve been a electronics technician for 32 years. I also have found over 26 pieces of fiber optic in a apartment I had lived in in the past

  18. i heard the hum. i was living in maple ridge, bc, just an hour east of vancouver. it didnt start until i was there for about 4 months. i heard it for about 6 months, then it stopped. i dont recall if it is because i was travelling and out of the area or not.. but then it started again, stopped again. i had no idea what was happening and was tested by a dr., but all he told me was to ‘take a vacation and relax’. i have since moved and have never heard it again. its very real and extremely hard to deal with. i couldnt hear anything out of that ear except the super loud HUM. i was basically reading lips. if a helicopter flew by the house it felt as if my head would explode. same sound also as when the fridge would come on.

  19. I am surprised in reading the theories that no one has mentioned the most probable cause to a low frequency hum that many people hear. It occurs in different parts of the world. This has been going on for decades in the US. I think it is probably Tunnel Boring Machines boring underground bases and tunnels. The Government and the mainstream media ignore it to maintain secrecy. There is a ton of information available on the machines and the DUMBS (Deep Underground Military Bases).

  20. Dee
    I live in SW Missouri also and if I recall correctly it was around Thanksgiving that I too was experiencing this low motor running type hearing anomaly . It went on for several days and was very noticeable because iI am hard of hearing and remember thinking …wth is happening now. All is quiet here now.

  21. I just started hearing this about a week or so ago. I have lived here 12 years and never heard this before. It does sound like a very faint motor running and there is a sound vibration to it. Only hear it late at night when everything is quiet. I live in a small rural town in southeast missouri, and there is no answer as to what it is. My theory is one of two things, either its the earth its self from the core that we are picking up amplified through the foundation and walls of our buildings. Or its because of all the data lines and cell towers,if you look at the map of this phenomena you see its absent where there is no heavy data or tower use. Im sure its in big cities too, its just that cities have a constant background noise that drowns it out.

    We recently had our areas dsl upgraded to 50/100 I really think that dsl over telephone lines is whats causing a lot of this in conjunction with cell towers. Thats a ton of frequency being pushed around the country and the world. Look at the map notice in places like interior Africa and south america there are no reports. They dont have the power lines and cell towers like the rest of us. Same thing with places in remote siberia and other places. Someone in a science field needs to investigate if dsl and cell towers are causing this problem, we know electric lines can hum. Imagine the overload of electric dsl/phone lines and cell towers. All that noise they would emit, this is dangerous because at certain frequencies it can cause health issues.

    • SO HELPFUL. THE WORLD NEEDS TO HEAR THIS. if i may use this information with your name because this sounds the most logic.

  22. Hello

    Please reflect!

    Today 29th Aug. 2017
    A strange sound have been heared in the sky of north of Iran, Astara,Darband villey…you can find it by search in the net

  23. I hear the hummmmm. Sure wish I didn’t. running a fan at night to drown it out helps some. Pretty sure EMFs are part of the cause, as we have symptoms that align with high EMF exposure. We’re having an assessment of our home and surroundings done and hope to get some good info on how to mitigate it.

    • I had a noisy fan that just broke. We have an ambient low freq hum. I think it’s my neighbors. They have 4 ham antenae, and a loop antena. They hate me too.

      You should see these inbred heathens. It’s like Norman Bates and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre family. Everybody says they’re weirdos.

      Anyways, the fan I had was on top of a cedar chest. It was making enough of a vibration to blot out their hum. Now, I have to buy another one. It broke.

  24. Definitely microwave communications phenomenon. You get massive, cranked repeating signals carry data payloads in the microwave bands and you WILL get this anomaly. Start lining up everyone who uses these massive microwave networks everywhere, esp. service providers. Chances are they already have the data and field reports that will stand up in court which is why you’ll NEVER hear them peep anything about any “humming” except to smile and say put yer tin foil on. They make billions off you, as does the government w/ these microwave communication networks, plus it’s all “the internet”. You don’t think because it keeps half the population up, drives them insane and is probably slowing killing everyone that they’d kill the golden goose do ya? No chance in hell, so you’ll have to take your own field readings and sue them in court……GOOD LUCK!

  26. similar to when the airco in the office switchess off… only then you realize there was a noise… this sound is cancelled by the brain and causing the perception of sound.

  27. The hum is set to a low frequency, that they use to control you humans. It makes you mean, negative and control you.
    It’s to keep you from waking up to the real truth about Earth, you are all slaves and food to the beings that control Earth.
    Wake up and stay positive. They can’t freed off you if your positive and full of love.

    • I had humming and had not for a decade, on a building, at 9th floor, also on a single floor house, 500 miles away. It persecutes me. I think is a big bank in Br that I made it to pay 2 indemnizations for my family. I believe, that the bank family owner called (“Are all Baals”, in french) that pays for some kind of private or military satelite, to harass me. The bank simbol is the Black Stone Block of Meca. Got 1 year truce but it came back last month, when I won another judiciary battle against with such bank. That´s electronic part on gangstalking.

  28. The proper frequency for the hum listed in the following sentence should be 10 hertz (Hz), not 10 MHz (which is in the normal hearing range for people).
    Ear plugs or hearing protectors do not help and in fact only seem to exaggerate the problem, suggesting that the source possibly makes the whole body vibrate at a frequency of around 10 MHz upwards, which is lower than the average person can hear.

  29. Do you have the ELF TOWERS nearby? I would guess it is the phony cell towers they put up around the country and THEY are testing them.

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