*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).
When U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions moved to undermine Obama-era marijuana industry protections in January, there was little indication how pivotal 2018 would prove to be for the cannabis industry. As 2019 approaches, Cheddar is now looking ahead to next year and forecasting what's in store for the U.S. marijuana industry.
Reports that signal the death of the American shopping center have been greatly exaggerated ー if the latest statistics from the holiday shopping season are to be believed ー but the mall of tomorrow is increasingly becoming a new kind of innovation hub for brands, and offering an altogether different experience for shoppers.
Markets whipsawed Thursday as the Dow reversed course twice to erase a more than 600-point loss and end the day up 260 points. It was the largest swing since 2008 and follows another day of record volatility on Wednesday, when the Dow swung 1,000 points to book the largest single-day point gain in its history.
As 2018 draws to a close, we're taking a look at the year's best Wall Street comeback stories. That is, the stocks that that took a beating in 2017, but bounced back with a strong 2018.
Body-care brand Busy Beauty wants over-taxed women to spend less time on primping. "We developed a full line of products that let women completely skip the shower if they either don't feel like it or don't have the time," said Jamie Steenbakkers, the company's co-founder and COO.
For many of us, the impact of the tax overhaul that went into effect a year ago won't be felt until we file our 2018 returns. Here are some things to remember as tax season approaches (W-2s should start appearing in mailboxes in a month), courtesy of Katelynn Minott, a CPA at Bright!Tax:
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018.
Roughly five years ago, Detroit made history as the largest city to ever file for municipal bankruptcy. But in 2018, the Motor City is teaching itself how to transform from America's factory into an engine for innovation. According to start-up incubator TechTown CEO and president Ned Staebler, adjustments to the city's economy and the value of its labor supply could begin a tech-based rebirth, a future when automobiles are not just considered vessels of transportation, but rather as pieces of the revolution.
What this drink lacks in booze, it makes up in bud. Former Blue Moon brewmaster Keith Villa has entered the marijuana industry by creating a cannabis-crafted beer. "An opportunity like this only comes around once in a blue moon," Villa joked to Cheddar Wednesday.
Now that avocado toast has lost its luster and bacon is going back in the frying pan where it belongs, some new food trends are dominating. Here are the flavors and fads of 2018 that captured our appetites.
