*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).
Elise Loehnen, who works with Gwyneth Paltrow on her lifestyle brand, says, "If you want to get something done, you give it to a busy mom."
U.S. Women's Soccer has been plagued by inequities in how athletes are paid compared to their male counterparts. Hope Solo discusses why the disparity exists and what she's doing to change it.
At the helm of the top media outlets in the nation are all men. The Washington Post's Media Columnist Margaret Sullivan explains the conditions facing women in news, and ways to close the gender gap in newsroom mastheads.
LOLA co-founder Alexandra Friedman explains how having a constant conversation with customers helps continue the mission of being a brand by women, for women.
Between Bells: Cheddar turns into #chedHER, with 100% women anchors and guests. We highlight women in business, tech, entertainment, politics, and sports. With Cosmopolitan, EMILY's List, Lea DeLaria, MoveOn.org, THINX, and more!
"Orange Is The New Black" actress Lea DeLaria grades the Trump administration on its handling of LGBTQ issues. Unsurprisingly, she's not a fan.
Lisa Price turned a household hobby into a beauty empire with her company Carol's Daughter. She joins Cheddar to discuss how she did it.
If you're trying to be healthy, you read the labels on the food you eat, but do you ever check the ingredients on your tampon box? LOLA is out to change that with it's 100%-cotton feminine products. Co-Founder Alex Friedman joins Cheddar to discuss how her company is getting rid of the stigma surrounding talking about periods.
California Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D) CA discusses the record number of interest of women possibly seeking campaigns for Congress this year.
Alyssa Julya Smith attends the "Power of Women" event at the Sundance Film Festival. Smith spoke with vice president of Autograph Collection Hotels, Amanda Altree, founder of The Black List, Franklin Leonard, and actress Aisha Tyler.
