The creepy feeling in old buildings might have a surprising cause

The creepy feeling in old buildings might have a surprising cause | ScienceDaily Science News from research organizations The creepy feeling in old buildings might have a surprising cause A sound you can’t hear might still be stressing you out—and you’d never know it. Date: May 3, 2026 Source: Frontiers Summary: A hidden force may be quietly shaping how you feel—and you’d never even know it. Infrasound, an ultra-low-frequency vibration below the range of human hearing, is everywhere from traffic to old buildings. In a small experiment, people exposed to it became more irritable, less engaged, and even showed higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol—despite having no idea it was present. The findings suggest our bodies can “sense” these vibrations without conscious awareness, potentially explaining eerie sensations in places like basements or supposedly haunted buildings. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY You might not hear it, but your body could still react to it. Researchers found that infrasound—low-frequency vibrations common in everyday environments—can increase irritability and stress hormone levels without people realizing it’s there. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com Infrasound refers to extremely low-frequency sound waves, below 20 Hertz (Hz), which are generally beyond the range of human hearing. These vibrations can arise from natural events such as storms, as well as human-made sources like traffic and industrial equipment. In the animal world, some species rely on infrasound to communicate, while others actively avoid it. When scientists examined whether people can perceive infrasound, they found that we are not consciously aware of it. However, our bodies still react. Exposure has been associated with increased irritability and higher levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. "Infrasound is pervasive in everyday environments, appearing near ventilation systems, traffic, and industrial machinery," said Prof Rodney