*By Alisha Haridasani*
It’s the most divisive question since the blue and black dress (or was it white and gold?!): Do you hear Yanny or Laurel?
Technically, the answer is "Laurel." But some people swear it's "Yanny."
The question, which is ripping the internet apart, revolves around an audio clip [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/15/science/yanny-laurel.html) posted on Reddit by a student who found it on a vocabulary website when researching a school project under the word "laurel." The clip went viral, leaving many listeners questioning what they heard ー and maybe their sanity.
The discrepancy in what people hear could be due to circumstance, said Brad Story, professor of speech, language, and hearing at the University of Arizona.
“It really is going to depend on the information that you have in terms of your bias toward listening to it at that moment in time," said Story. "That’s what we call ‘top-down information’ ー trying to make sense of any kind of pattern that's present.”
The two words share very similar acoustic characteristics that your brain could selectively hear it one way or the other, he said.
The bass, frequency, and volume of the audio clip can also influence what someone hears. Some people posted videos on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/JFLivesay/status/996585941241401346) where the audio levels were adjusted, changing how the clip could be heard.
So, whatever the *technical* answer to the question is, in reality, it can be both.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/yanny-vs-laurel).
A country singer named Andy Stone is contesting the copyright of Mariah Carey’s hit "All I Want For Christmas Is You." The songwriting plaintiff is positing that the pop singer's hit caused brand confusion with a song he co-wrote prior to the release of her holiday favorite — though the songs share very little in common other than the title. Stone is seeking $20 million in damages from the pop icon, a fraction of the $60 million Carey reportedly has made of the song.
U.S. stocks close Monday's session slight higher Monday as investors continue to monitor whether the economy will successfully avoid a recession. For many, fears over inflation and rising interest rates. Tommy Mancuso, president and co-founder of the Bad Investment Company, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Babylist is an online baby registry for expecting and new parents, who can use the platform to share what they would like to receive as gifts to celebrate their baby's birth. The company also operates as an e-commerce and content platform for baby products, saying it aims to be a one-stop solution for parents, family, and friends to buy best-in-class baby products at what is a critical and deeply personal moment in their lives. Natalie Gordon, founder and CEO of Babylist. joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Cheddar's Michelle Castillo sits down with Jane Danger, national mixologist with Pernod Ricard, to talk all about the top summer cocktails to try with friends.
