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Hearing of microwave pulses by humans and animals: effects, mechanism, and thresholds

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Authors not listed · 2007

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Microwave pulses can create audible sounds inside your head through tissue heating and pressure waves.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 2007 study explains how humans and animals can actually hear microwave pulses, a phenomenon where electromagnetic waves create audible sounds inside the head. The research shows that pulsed microwaves heat tissue, creating pressure waves that travel through bone to the inner ear, where they're perceived as clicking or buzzing sounds. This finding has important implications for understanding exposure to wireless devices and MRI equipment.

Why This Matters

The microwave auditory effect reveals something profound about how electromagnetic radiation interacts with our bodies in ways we're only beginning to understand. While this phenomenon requires relatively high power levels compared to typical cell phone use, it demonstrates that EMF can create biological effects through mechanisms beyond simple tissue heating. What makes this particularly relevant today is that we're surrounded by pulsed microwave signals from WiFi routers, cell towers, and smart devices operating in similar frequency ranges. The thermoelastic mechanism identified here shows that electromagnetic energy can create physical pressure waves inside our heads, raising questions about what other subtle effects might occur at lower power levels during chronic exposure to our increasingly wireless world.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: hundreds of MHz to tens of GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2007). Hearing of microwave pulses by humans and animals: effects, mechanism, and thresholds.
Show BibTeX
@article{hearing_of_microwave_pulses_by_humans_and_animals_effects_mechanism_and_thresholds_ce1993,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Hearing of microwave pulses by humans and animals: effects, mechanism, and thresholds},
  year = {2007},
  doi = {10.1097/01.HP.0000250644.84530.e2},
  
}
DOI: 10.1097/01.HP.0000250644.84530.e2PubMed: 17495664

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, pulsed microwaves from hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz can create clicking or buzzing sounds that you hear inside your head, not through your ears. This happens when the electromagnetic energy heats tissue and creates pressure waves.
Microwave pulses heat soft tissues in the head, creating thermoelastic pressure waves that travel through bone conduction to the inner ear. These pressure waves activate normal hearing receptors, making you perceive sound from electromagnetic energy.
No, only pulsed microwave radiation creates the auditory effect. Continuous-wave microwave radiation does not produce the rapid heating and cooling cycles needed to generate the thermoelastic pressure waves that create sound perception.
The study specifically mentions wireless communication fields as potential sources, though typical cell phones operate at much lower power levels than those needed for clear auditory perception. However, the mechanism exists across these frequency ranges.
Yes, MRI coils are specifically mentioned as sources that can produce microwave hearing effects. The high-power electromagnetic fields used in magnetic resonance imaging can generate sufficient energy to create audible thermoelastic pressure waves in head tissues.