Residents of the Scottish Isle of Lewis, located in the picturesque Hebrides, are expressing their concerns about a peculiar humming noise that has been reported by many on the island. The source of this enigmatic sound remains unknown, leading to questions about its reality and impact on daily life. Those who hear the hum are adamant that it is significantly affecting their quality of life, creating disturbances that are hard to ignore.

Lauren-Grace Kirtley, who is the founder of a support group on Facebook called The Hebridean Hum: Low frequency noise disturbance action and support group, shared her experience during an interview with BBC Radios Good Morning Scotland program. Kirtley described the sound as a very low humming, droning, pulsating noise that she finds incredibly intrusive and distressing. She elaborated on its physical toll, saying, Its making it hard to sleep and concentrate. I get a lot of fluttering in my ears; its making me dizzy and giving me headaches, as reported by the BBC.

In an effort to understand the phenomenon better, Kirtleys group has taken the initiative to make spectrograph recordings, which are graphical representations that display sound frequency over time, at various locations where residents have reported hearing the hum. These recordings have uncovered a persistent, recordable 50 Hz signal of variable strength present in all locations. This discovery suggests that the hum is not originating from a central point on the island. The group has ruled out potential sources located on the island itself, including ports, wind turbines, and other infrastructure, and is now investigating the possibility of offshore origins for the sound.

Despite their efforts to seek assistance from various organizations, there remains a lack of consensus on the potential causes of this mysterious noise. Kirtley is convinced that the sound has a human origin rather than a natural one, further complicating the search for answers.

Among the groups members, Pamela Weaver Larson raised an intriguing hypothesis in a Facebook post, suggesting that the odd phenomenon might be linked to otoacoustic emissionslow-intensity sounds generated within the cochlea, a part of the inner ear. Essentially, these hum-hearers could be perceiving sounds that their own ears produce, rather than an external sound. However, Larson herself questioned this theory, noting, But then why wouldnt I hear the hum wherever I go? She pointed out that she did not hear the hum during her travels in Florida or upper Michigan, highlighting the inconsistency of experiences among different individuals.

The reports from the Isle of Lewis add to a growing list of similar mysterious hums reported globally over the past several decades. Notably, there is the World Hum Map and Database Project, established by Glen MacPherson, a former lecturer at the University of British Columbia. This project documents and maps self-reported data on what is often referred to as the Worldwide Hum. According to the projects website, individuals experiencing the hum frequently describe it as resembling a car or truck engine idling outside your home or down the block, or as a low rumbling or droning sound. Interestingly, the noise is often reported to be louder at night than during the day and appears more pronounced indoors compared to outdoors. However, the experience is subjective, and not all sufferers report hearing it consistently wherever they go, which raises further questions about its nature.

In response to the rising concerns, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the local council on the Isle of Lewis, has acknowledged receiving reports from several island residents regarding the low-frequency sounds. The councils environmental health team is currently investigating the matter, as confirmed by the BBC.

Kirtley has expressed a growing belief that whatever is causing this unsettling noise likely has a marine source, which could potentially be affecting local marine wildlife as well. It makes it even more important that the source is traced and the hum is silenced for good, she stated in an interview with The Times.

As the group continues their investigation into the origins of this mysterious hum and seeks expert opinions, the question remains whether they will be able to pinpoint the cause and ultimately find a solution to this perplexing issue.