*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).
As musical numbers keep springing up on TikTok Cheddar's Michelle Castillo talks to the cast and crew behind "For You, Paige," the platform's first-ever commissioned musical play.
PWR WMN's CEO and Co-Founder, Kimberly Borges, and COO and Co-Founder, Miriam McDonald, join ChedHER to discuss how they are building an apparel brand to make women feel confident and powerful, and the latest trends in workplace fashion.
Annie Ryu, Founder & CEO of Jack & Annie's, joins ChedHER to discuss the story behind her meat-alternative brand, the benefits to jackfruit, and how our meat consumption impacts the environment.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 22, 2022, with updates on a new Ukraine aid package, a new missile test by Russia, DOJ announcement of $150 Million in COVID-related fraud, the Florida senate supports Gov. DeSantis in stripping Disney of its special tax district, and more.
As the target of racist attacks in middle school, Destiny Helligar used her experience as a catalyst to make sure these attacks wouldn't happen to other students. The young activist joins Cheddar News to discuss creating safe spaces in schools with her organization the Destiny Education Project.
Save the world this Earth Day, Elon Musk still wants to buy Twitter, and Mike Tyson's plane rage. Here is all the news you Need2Know for Friday, April 22, 2022.
A record number of children got homeschooled during the pandemic, jumping over 60 percent in the 2020-2021 schoolyear compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Andrew Bacher-Hicks, Assistant Professor of Education Policy at Boston University joins Cheddar News to explain why many parents are sticking to home education even after schools reopened their doors.
