The World’s Quietest Place: Why No One Can Last More Than 55 Minutes

Imagine a place so quiet that the sound of your heartbeat becomes deafening. Where the absence of noise is not just eerie but physically palpable. This is the reality inside the world’s quietest room, an anechoic chamber that has achieved decibels well below the threshold of human hearing.

While it may seem like a serene escape, the room’s unnatural silence proves more unsettling than calming. In fact, no one has managed to endure the disorienting quiet for more than an hour.

A Room That Absorbs Sound

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The anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories is no ordinary room. It is designed to absorb 99.99% of all sound, resulting in an eerie silence that registers at -24.9 decibels. To put that into perspective, a typical quiet bedroom at night measures about 30 decibels

The room achieves this feat through the use of 3.3-foot-thick fiberglass acoustic wedges and double walls of insulated steel and foot-thick concrete.

According to Orfield Labs, the chamber is so quiet that the background noise is measured in negative decibels, meaning it’s below the threshold of human hearing. In 2004, the room clocked in at -9.4 A-weighted decibels (dBA), and after improvements in 2012, it reached -13 dBA

The lab temporarily lost the record in 2015 to a chamber in Washington at -20.35 dBA, but reclaimed it in 2021 with an astounding -24.9 dBA.(ref)

Testing Products in Silence

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So why would anyone need such a quiet room? Turns out, it’s incredibly useful for manufacturers looking to test product volume and sound quality.

Companies like Harley Davidson use the lab to create quieter bikes that still maintain their signature sound. Other products, like LED displays, are tested to ensure their volume is not too loud. Even NASA uses similar labs to test their astronauts, as space is essentially one giant anechoic chamber.

The unique properties of the chamber allow Orfield Labs to conduct tests on products that surpass what most facilities in the United States can offer. This includes examining switches on car dashboards and testing hearing aids

The lab is actively engaged in acoustic research that could potentially benefit individuals with conditions like autism, dementia, and PTSD.

The Maddening Silence

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While the room is undoubtedly impressive from a scientific standpoint, it can also be a bit unsettling for those who enter. In the absence of outside noise, the sounds of your own body become your only reference point.

Visitors have reported hearing their heartbeat, stomach, and lungs with startling clarity. Some even say the silence can drive a person mad.

According to the lab’s website, only members of the media are permitted to stay in the chamber alone for prolonged periods, while members of the public can book supervised tours. One reporter lasted 45 minutes, while most people leave after just half that time. Steven Orfield, president of Orfield Labs, explains that the only way to stay in the room for an extended period is to sit down, as our orientation is largely secured by the sounds made when walking or standing.(ref)

Deprived of familiar ambient noises, individuals often experience a sense of fear in the chamber, shedding light on why sensory deprivation is utilized as a form of torment. Rumors circulate that spending more than 15 minutes inside can trigger severe symptoms ranging from claustrophobia to aural hallucinations

The profound silence proves paradoxically unsettling for many, rather than serene.

A Place of Research & Innovation

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Beyond its status as a tourist attraction, Orfield Laboratories is at the forefront of acoustic research. The lab is actively engaged in studies that could potentially benefit individuals with conditions like autism, dementia, and PTSD. Their work not only explores the science of silence but also aims to address real-world challenges with innovative solutions.

In addition to the anechoic chamber, the laboratory houses a unique space known as the “five-second reverberation chamber,” where sound properties of various materials are tested, measuring factors like impact noise and sound decay over time. The lab has a vision to transition into a non-profit organization to further its research endeavors.

The building itself has a rich history, originally constructed in 1970 as Sound 80 Studios. Musical legends like Bob Dylan and Prince kickstarted their careers within its walls before it underwent a remarkable transformation into the research facility it is today.(ref)

So, the next time you find yourself craving a moment of absolute quiet, the world’s quietest room is just a short drive away in Minneapolis. Just be prepared for an experience that is both fascinating and potentially unsettling.

Martha A. Lavallie
Martha A. Lavallie
Author & Editor | + posts

Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.