The Taos Hum

Since the early 1990s, some residents of Taos, New Mexico, and surrounding areas have reported hearing a persistent low-frequency humming sound that others cannot detect. The “Taos Hum” has been the subject of scientific investigation, Congressional interest, and ongoing debate about its origin.

The Phenomenon

Those who hear the Hum describe it as a low-frequency droning or rumbling sound, similar to a distant diesel engine. The sound is most noticeable indoors, at night, and in quiet environments. It has been described as maddening for those who perceive it, interfering with sleep and concentration.

Approximately 2-4% of residents in affected areas report hearing the Hum. The ability to perceive it does not correlate with hearing sensitivity—some people with excellent hearing cannot detect it, while some with hearing impairment can.

Investigation

In 1993, the U.S. Congress directed several research agencies to investigate the Taos Hum. Researchers from the University of New Mexico, Sandia National Laboratories, and other institutions conducted studies.

The investigations found no unusual acoustic or electromagnetic signals in the environment that could explain the Hum. Sensitive microphones and detection equipment found nothing that matched what hearers described.

Despite extensive testing, no external source for the Hum was identified. The phenomenon remained unexplained.

Proposed Explanations

Various theories have been proposed:

Industrial sources such as natural gas pipelines, electrical substations, or military installations might produce low-frequency sounds that some people can perceive.

The sound might be internal—tinnitus or other auditory phenomena generated within the hearer’s own ear or brain.

Electromagnetic sensitivity might cause some individuals to perceive radio or other electromagnetic signals as sound.

Geological activity, including microseismic events or volcanic activity, might produce sounds below normal hearing thresholds that some people can detect.

The Global Hum

Taos is not unique. Similar persistent low-frequency sounds have been reported in locations around the world, including Bristol and other British cities, Windsor in Ontario, and numerous other locations. This global distribution suggests either a common cause or a common human susceptibility.

Assessment

The Taos Hum represents a genuine mystery. Those who hear it are not imagining—they experience real discomfort from a sound they perceive consistently over time. Yet scientific investigation has failed to identify any external source.

Whether the Hum originates in the environment and is perceived by a sensitive subset of the population, or whether it is generated internally by hearers’ own neurology, or whether some other explanation applies, the residents of Taos continue to hear something that science cannot find.