The Hum is a generic name for a series of phenomena involving a persistent and invasive low-frequency humming noise not audible to all people. Hums have been reported in various geographical locations. A Hum on the Big Island of Hawaii, typically related to volcanic action, is heard in locations dozens of miles apart where local Hawaiians say it is most often heard by men. The Hum is most often described as sounding somewhat like a distant idling diesel engine. Typically the Hum is difficult to detect with microphones, and its source and nature are hard to localize. (via antimeria)
True Story:
When I was a kid, I used to hear a noise that I can only imagine is what they refer to when they talk about “the Hum,” except that I am still not 100% sure, because the noise that I heard I heard everywhere…and only late at night. I first noticed it when we lived in Colorado Springs…I was probably 7 or 8. I remember thinking that it was strange that the same helicopter was always in the sky at night. But, it was Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy and NORAD, and sometimes weird military things go on there, so I think at first I wrote it off as that.
I realized that wasn’t it one trip back to Arkansas to visit my grandparents..when that same noise constantly buzzed over their skies as well.
Of course, when I tried to tell anyone about it they looked at me like I was crazy. They couldn’t hear it, obviously, and I couldn’t even really describe it…because to say that it sounds like a diesel truck as described above is really not doing it justice. There really isn’t a comparison..I mean, imagine the world “humming” for you.
After awhile, because I was a child with an over-active imagination, I made myself believe that it was aliens. I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights that one caused.
At some point, I stopped hearing it. But I know the sound, and I know how annoying and frustrating it is, so I really feel for anyone who can still hear it.
