What’s That Hum? Missouri Residents Point to Data Centers

I grew up watching the TV series "Unsolved Mysteries". What a thrill to try and unravel questions that have stumped others. That same principle applies to the ongoing question of a mysterious hum many in Missouri still claim they're hearing and some are pointing at data centers as the reason.

For the past couple of years, I have shared reports from many in Missouri saying they can hear an almost constant hum. A few years ago, I thought that experts had found a solution which is known as gas pipeline syndrome. However, today I came across two reports that say the culprits behind low-frequency hums heard by residents in Missouri and across the country derive from data centers. The New York Times just today shared a story about how 3 small cities have filed lawsuits against nearby data centers because of the noises they create.

How can a data center create a hum that resonates far enough to affect a nearby Missouri community?

Because of all the computer processing power that's needed to drive data centers, massive cooling solutions have to be deployed. Those cooling solutions and generators create a massive "hum" that can travel for miles. The article by The New York Times pointed to a Pew Research study that says new data centers are likely to be located near rural towns.

Anyone hearing a strange hum, especially at night?...
by
u/Wrinklestiltskin in
springfieldMO

Let's do some math. When did the first data centers begin being built in different parts of Missouri? The Missouri Department of Natural Resources say the state started hosting these facilities in the early 2000's. As I recall, some of the first reports of mysterious sounds in Missouri started becoming more common just a few years after data centers became more common. I admit that the evidence is a bit circumstantial, but it's hard not to wonder if the cooling solutions needed for these massive computing operations played a part in some residents hearing this low hum. The truth is out there.