*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).
Professional dancer Sharna Burgess paired up with Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman for the new "Dancing With the Stars: Athletes." Having sports stars in the mix increases the competition level because they're "used to winning at what they do," says Burgess. The new season premieres Monday on ABC.
Samantha Barry, the magazine's new editor-in-chief, devotes her first issue at the helm to money matters and how women can bridge the pay gap.
Men not only buy essentials like shampoo or soap at the beauty retailer, but also makeup. "The reason is that men are understanding now that looking good extends beyond having great apparel and a nice watch," says Barry Beck, co-founder and COO of Bluemercury, which was bought by Macy's in 2015.
The crowdfunded stoner film released on 4/20 made around $18 million at the box office, proving that, 15 years after the original, perception of marijuana culture has changed drastically.
The movie, which brings various Marvel characters' plotlines to a conclusion, could break box office records, says Umberto Gonzalez, film reporter at The Wrap. "Two thousand theaters have already sold out," he tells Cheddar.
The company has shifted to a marketing strategy that is inclusive, socially conscious, and engaging with pizza lovers. "We want to have a conversation with consumers," says Zipporah Allen, Chief Marketing Officer at the chain.
The series not only stars Latino actors but also has Latino writers, producers, and department heads. This kind of crew makes filming a show "so authentic," says Melissa Barrera, one of the lead actresses in "Vida."
The actor and his best-selling author wife say "being able to laugh" is the secret to matrimonial success. They are the hosts of a new game show on Lifetime, "My Partner Knows Best," which pits couples against each other.
How well do you know your partner? Well enough to win a game show? "My Partner Knows Best," on Lifetime, pits couples against each other as they take on challenges based on real-life relationship obstacles. The show's co-hosts, Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen, share what viewers can expect.
Gmail is getting a makeover. On Wednesday, Google introduced a redesign of its hugely popular email platform. The new features include confidentiality mode and smart reply. Google is rolling out the update starting today, but it won't be immediately available to all 1.4 billion users worldwide.
Twitter reported earnings before the bell Wednesday, beating expectations on earnings and revenue. This marks the second profitable quarter in a row for the social media company. Cheddar senior reporter Alex Heath joins Kristen Scholer and Tim Stenovec to discuss what's in store for the rest of the year.
And we talk to comedian Rob Schneider about his Netflix show, "Real Rob." The show is loosely based on Schneider's life. He says the dynamic between him and his wife on the show is similar to Lucy and Ricky from "I Love Lucy." He also tells us what stocks he's most excited about.
