The Science of Para-acoustics: Ghostly Voices & Infrasound Explained
There are moments when silence isn’t truly silent.
A faint knock in an empty room.
A whisper caught on tape that no one remembers speaking.
A melody that seems to come from nowhere — yet feels impossibly familiar.
These are the sounds that live between worlds.
And it is here that the science of Paracoustics begins.
Coined by researchers Steve Parsons and Dr. Cal Cooper, Paracoustics explores the strange frontier where sound, psychology, and the paranormal intertwine.
It asks a question that has haunted humanity for centuries:
Are these sounds messages from beyond — or echoes of our own perception?
What Is Paracoustics?
Paracoustics is the study of anomalous sounds — noises that defy conventional explanation.
It combines the logic of science with the wonder of the unknown, drawing from:
Acoustics: the physical behavior of sound and vibration
Psychoacoustics: how the human brain interprets what it hears
Parapsychology: the study of experiences that challenge scientific boundaries
While skeptics see paracoustics as a tool to debunk myths, others view it as a new way to listen to the invisible — to understand the frequencies where science and spirit might overlap.
Echoes from the Past
Long before digital recorders and spectral analyzers, sound was already a bridge to the unseen.
In the candlelit rooms of Victorian séances, participants heard knocks, footsteps, and ghostly voices answering questions from the beyond.
Today, paracoustics revisits those same mysteries — but with microphones instead of mediums.
Researchers now analyze these phenomena using modern sound equipment, searching for patterns hidden beneath static, resonance, and silence itself.
Three Pillars of the Paracoustic Mystery
1. The Voices That Shouldn’t Exist (EVP)
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) are recordings containing mysterious voices or phrases that weren’t heard during the session.
Some claim they are messages from the dead; others insist they are audio illusions — random noise shaped by expectation.
Researchers like Dr. Cal Cooper study these anomalies using frequency analysis, testing whether the voices are psychological constructions or acoustic coincidences.
2. The Power of Infrasound
Infrasound is low‑frequency sound below 20 Hz — too deep for the human ear, but powerful enough to make the body tremble.
It can cause dizziness, unease, and even hallucinations.
Many “haunted” places register strong infrasound vibrations, suggesting that what feels supernatural may, in fact, be the Earth itself humming beneath us.
3. The Mind’s Trickery
The human brain is a storyteller — it fills the silence with meaning.
In moments of fear or anticipation, we often hear what we expect to hear.
Paracoustics explores how emotion, memory, and context shape our perception of sound — turning random noise into whispers, or wind into words.
Where Science Meets the Supernatural
Paracoustics stands between two worlds — not to prove one or the other, but to listen carefully to both.
It bridges:
The measurable: frequencies, vibrations, resonance
The perceptual: emotion, suggestion, expectation
The mysterious: experiences that science cannot yet explain
In this space, the unknown becomes data — and data becomes mystery again.
Why Paracoustics Matters
It helps scientists understand how sound environments affect human psychology.
It gives parapsychologists tools to study haunted locations with precision.
It allows skeptics to test claims under controlled conditions.
And it invites believers to explore the possibility that sound might be the most subtle bridge between worlds.
Whether you call it science or spirit, paracoustics reminds us that sound is never just sound — it’s memory, meaning, and mystery intertwined.
Conclusion
Paracoustics doesn’t claim to prove the existence of ghosts.
It proves something far more fascinating — that the boundary between perception and reality is thinner than we imagine.
Every whisper, every echo, every unexplained vibration is a question waiting to be answered.
And sometimes, the answer is not supernatural at all…
but the sound of our own curiosity, calling back from the dark.
FAQs
1. What is paracoustics?
Paracoustics is the scientific and psychological study of unexplained or anomalous sounds that seem to defy normal explanation.
2. What are Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)?
EVPs are mysterious voices or phrases captured on recordings that were not audible during the session.
3. Can infrasound cause paranormal sensations?
Yes. Low‑frequency vibrations can trigger unease, fear, and hallucinations — sensations often mistaken for hauntings.
4. Who developed the concept of paracoustics?
British researchers Steve Parsons and Dr. Cal Cooper introduced it to bridge acoustics and paranormal research.
5. Is paracoustics accepted in mainstream science?
It’s an emerging interdisciplinary field — scientifically grounded but still exploring uncharted territory.
📕 Guest: Cal Cooper
Cal is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Northampton, UK. Internationally recognized for his work in parapsychology, bereavement, and anomalous experiences, he has authored multiple books including Telephone Calls from the Dead. He lectures widely, appears in media, and contributes to research on topics such as after‑death communication, mediumship, and thanatology.
🌍 Website: https://www.callumecooper.com/
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/CallumECooper
📚 Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Callum-E.-Cooper/author/B00EEC0QCM
