Scientists Say They've Figured Out What Causes "Ghosts"

Key Points:

• New research indicates that inaudible infrasound waves emitted by old building infrastructure like boilers and pipes can negatively affect mood, potentially causing feelings of unease that may be mistaken for ghostly presence.
• Infrasound, sound below 20 Hz, is typically inaudible to humans but can subconsciously influence emotions and physiological stress responses, as shown by increased cortisol levels in study participants exposed to it.
• Experiments demonstrated that participants exposed to infrasound felt more irritated and unsettled, regardless of whether they were listening to calming or unsettling music, suggesting a direct impact on mood.
• While infrasound may contribute to sensations associated with haunted locations, it does not fully explain ghost sightings or visual apparitions, and further research is needed to confirm its presence in reputedly haunted buildings.
• Psychologist Rodney Schmaltz emphasizes that infrasound might create bodily discomfort that people inclined to believe in the supernatural interpret as evidence of spirits, but the eerie feeling likely results from multiple factors.