Though an anechoic chamber may resemble a form of medieval torture device, these scientific facilities perform a role that is quite benign. Sound waves in the chamber are trapped between the surfaces of spiked foam or fibreglass baffles lining the walls. This creates an endless rebounding effect until the waves are absorbed, eliminating echo and sound decay to produce an environment ideal for recording and testing sound equipment. The resulting silence is so profound that minute bodily noises become intensified – a heartbeat, the sound of swallowing, the rustling of clothing and the movement of bone and muscle suddenly seem deafening. While some describe experiencing the dead silence as tranquil, others can feel panicked and even nauseated, or report hallucinations. In these spaces there’s nothing to hear but yourself. I (ssl)
Anechoic chambers register at about -9 decibels, whereas the human ear can only register sounds above 0. Alastair Philip Wiper photographed the anechoic chambers of Denmark’s Technical University for a series on the beauty of scientific research facilities.
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