*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 streaming services battle it out, technology and strategy consultant Michael Wolf says companies like Amazon and Apple, who can offer cross service bundles, will come out on top.
Cheddar spoke to Mike Massimino, former NASA astronaut and senior advisor for space programs at the Intrepid Museum, to get his take on films such as "Apollo 13" and "Gravity."
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, November 13, 2019.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appear to have made a breakthrough in its investigation of the vaping illness that has sickened more than 2000 and killed almost 40. While the cannabis industry and worried consumers are likely breathing a bit easier, many in the industry recognize the problem is more complicated than it seems.
A new study found that VC investment in startups with at least one female founder more than doubled to $46 billion in 2018 from $21.9 billion in 2017.
Stephanie Bruno, WW member ambassador, joins Cheddar to discuss how she balances raising a family and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The 'What's Your Warrior?' campaign is designed to introduce Generation Z to the diverse range of Army opportunities and build awareness among the country's youth.
Consulting and research firm Magid found people are willing to spend about $42 a month on streaming services, an increase from $36 last year. But they only want four subscriptions on average, down from six in 2018.
New research from the agency, released on Friday, examined lung fluid samples from victims of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) and found vitamin E acetate in 100 percent of samples from 29 patients across 10 states.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Friday, November 8, 2019.
