05 January 2023 , 14:21
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Have you ever heard the sound of your heart's valves working? If you've stood inside an anechoic chamber, then the answer might be yes.
Located in Washington, Microsoft's headquarters is home to the quietest place in the world. As confirmed by Guinness World Records, there's nowhere on earth quite like it - and perhaps for good reason.
While the echo-free chamber is useful for testing audio equipment and their varying sounds, it can prove unnerving for anyone who dares to enter.
Inside the quiet room, background noise is so low that levels approach the absolute zero of sound, CNN reports. Accordingly, stepping into the space does not feel as peaceful as you might imagine.
The chamber is made of six layers of steel and concrete (Microsoft/Youtube)"As soon as one enters the room, one immediately feels a strange and unique sensation which is hard to describe," Hundraj Gopal, a speech and hearing scientist and the principal designer of the anechoic chamber at Microsoft, told the publication.
'I don't want children staying up late at weekends - I really need adult time'
He also said that the absence of sound can feel 'deafening', as you may experience a ringing in your ears or a sense of fullness. Turn your head from side to side and you'll also be able to hear the movement.
The impressive results are thanks to the -20.35dBA noise level. For reference, calm breathing measures in at 10dB, and the average threshold of human hearing is 0dB.
Elsewhere in the United States, the creator of Orfield Labs, a similar institution, which held the record prior to Microsoft, reports hearing his mechanical heart valve inside his chamber.
Open to the public, Orfield Labs attracts visitors form around the world, with many keen to try out the experience for themselves, according to CNN.
It's become something of a tourist attraction, even though people have been known to leave anechoic chambers after just a few seconds - not wanting or not being able to stand the sensory deprivation.
For the fullest experience, Mr Orfield recommends turning off the lights, though you should be warned it's difficult to keep your balance under such circumstances.
This side of the pond, South Bank University boasts its own impressive anechoic chamber, where both a journalist and a YouTuber have previously put themselves to the test - keen to see how long they could last inside.
Back in 2019, Callux managed one hour and 26 minutes, but not without reporting disturbing side effects. The musician claimed he could see lights dancing around him and that he could hear his bloodstream.
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