'Haunted' Houses Give Off Literal Bad Vibes, Scientists Say
By Luis Prada
Published on April 28, 2026.
New research suggests that many "ghostly" experiences in haunted houses may be due to the sound waves below 20 Hz, which are beyond the range of human hearing. These infrasound vibrations can be produced by old plumbing, creaky boilers, dusty ventilation systems, or even a passing breeze. Researchers exposed volunteers to both calming and unsettling music, sometimes overlaying infrasounds through hidden speakers, and found that their body felt more irritated and on edge as soon as the infasounds began. The researchers also found that cortisol levels rose significantly due to stress. These findings support previous studies that found that supposedly haunted locations were influenced by environmental factors such as lighting, magnetic fields, and humidity.
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