*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).
Melissa Eamer, founder and CEO of aging wellness brand Modern Age, joins Cheddar News to discuss the recent launch of its digital experience and flagship in New York City.
Danny Trejo is teaming up with Tostitos the once again for Cinco de Mayo. The actor and restaurateur is starring in the tortilla chip brand's commercial with Sofia Reyes to inspire others on how to celebrate the holiday. The "Machete" star joined Cheddar News to talk about the campaign. "I only do things I like, and I like Tostitos," he said. "You know, I love their Scoops. They don't break in the guacamole."
Award-winning chef and television host, Aarón Sánchez is hosting a new Spanish language cooking competition series El Sabor de Aarón. For the first time ever and entirely in Spanish, Aarón has recruited 20 professional chefs who will attempt to concoct the quintessential Hispanic "sabor" across every type of Hispanic cuisine. Chef Sánchez joined Cheddar News to talk about the new series dropping on Hogar de HGTV.
Every April 27th, we celebrate the treat that could be sweet but also be salty and has an array of dips to choose from. This National Pretzel Day, Philip Given, co-founder of The Pretzel Company, joined News Wrap's Food Stand to tell us all about the knotty treats.
After Thai rapper Milli took the Coachella stage to perform her hit single 'Mango Sticky Rice,' while simultaneously eating the dish, she unknowingly created the latest food craze. Eve Mokkarat, co-founder, and Bia Nattapatch, manager of NYC Thai restaurant Soothr, joined News Wrap's Food Stand to break down the dish!
New York City’s geography makes it particularly at risk to the impacts of climate change - like rising seas and subsequent flooding. The city has already experienced the effects of increasingly severe weather. In response, the city is building a plan to protect itself, from flood walls, to levees, to redesigning its coast.
Daisy Pitkin, author of "On The Line: A Story of Class, Solidarity, and Two Women's Epic Fight to Build a Union," joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss her work as a union organizer at Workers United, helping Starbucks workers to organize. Pitkin expressed her enthusiasm for the recent labor push across the country, and explained how the movement can gain even more momentum in the future.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 27, 2022, with Tesla stocks absorbing an initial hit following Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, Russia pausing its natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 mission taking off, and more.
Members-only home swapping network Kindred recently announced its launch alongside a $7.75 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Homeowners and renters can exchange homes on Kindred's platform, which the company says allows members to travel and take advantage of remote-work flexibility at the fraction of the cost of a hotel or rental home. Justin Palefsky and Tas Amina, co-founders of Kindred, join Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
