*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).
The author and travel expert is a proponent of ending the ban on marijuana. He pointed out that in Europe, where "a joint is about as exciting as a can of beer," regulators take a much more compassionate tone.
President Trump doubles down on tariffs, saying a trade war doesn't hurt us. Blackberry is suing Facebook. Amazon Prime's former Vice President is heading to Airbnb. Plus, we take a look at the business of marijuana on Cheddar's Cannabiz.
Cheddar's CannaBiz explores the latest trends, politics, and market opportunity in this space. Cheddar Anchor's Brad Smith, Hope King and Alyssa Julya Smith speak with legislators and start-up founders in this emerging market.
Montage International has luxury hotels all over the U.S. and recently announced it will be opening its first international location in Cabo, Mexico. Montage International CEO & Founder, Alan Fuerstman sits down with Alyssa Julya Smith to talk about the brand's growth over 15 years and how they ensure luxury across all properties.
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman stars on Lifetime's popular show "UnREAL," which just returned for a fourth season. He sits down with Alyssa Julya Smith to talk about his role on the show, as well as his many other projects.
Based on his hugely popular podcast "Edumacation," Andy McElfresh decided to turn the fun fact podcast into a book. McElfresh, who is a science aficionado, sits down with Alyssa Julya Smith to talk about some of the most interesting facts in the book and why he decided to put it on the printed page.
2018 was initially anticipated to be a "monster" IPO year. However, some of the companies investors were most excited to have go public like Uber, AirBnB, and Pintrest, have already announced they will not go public in 2018. But not all hope is lost. Spotify and Dropbox have filed to go public. How will 2018 measure up to 2017 for IPOs?
Dania Ramirez plays Cinderella on ABC's "Once Upon a Time." She sits down with Alyssa Julya Smith in Los Angeles to talk about what its like to play a Dominican Cinderella and what that means for diversity on the screen.
Marijuana businesses have undergone quite a makeover as more states adopt laws to allow medicinal and recreational use. Support to legalize marijuana is at record highs with 64 percent of Americans in support of legalization according to a Gallup poll. Cannabrand's Founder and CEO Olivia Mannix explains how the perception of this market has evolved.
Host of Paramount TV’s hugely popular Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer has made a living gives struggling bars one last chance to succeed with a mixture of business acumen and tough love. He sits down with Alyssa Julya Smith in Los Angeles to talk about season 6 of his hit show and talk about his new book "Don't Bullsh*t Yourself!: Crush the Excuses That Are Holding You Back"
