Unexplainable Your moments of silence (The Sound Barrier #5)
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Dec 15, 2025 Dan Polley, a tinnitus researcher at Mass Eye and Ear and a professor associated with Harvard Medical School, dives deep into the intricacies of sound and silence. He discusses how tinnitus creates a persistent noise that influences daily life and shares insights on the brain's construction of sound perception. Polley also sheds light on misophonia, explaining its emotional connections, and offers strategies for coping with tinnitus, balancing acceptance with the quest for silence. Listeners' intimate sound stories add a poignant dimension to the conversation.
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Kitchen Sounds During Shared Silence
- A listener recorded silence while cooking and heard eggs cracking, a mixer, and headphone electronic noise.
- They felt goosebumps and found shared silent listening unexpectedly powerful.
Morning City Sliver Of Sound
- Daniel in suburban Melbourne described an early morning soundscape: partner in bed, dog on balcony, and city sunrise.
- He framed those small sounds as the intimate sound of his morning.
Backyard Bird Band And Mosquitoes
- Dan Shepard from San Dimas recorded post-rain mosquitoes, hummingbird arguments, goldfinches, and neighbor doves.
- He added human detail, like slapping his leg and the neighbor's history as a magician's assistant.