The anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the quietest room on Earth, registering a staggering sound level of –24.9 decibels. This extreme silence can quickly shift from a soothing experience to a disorienting challenge, with visitors typically unable to endure more than 45 minutes before succumbing to the effects of absolute quiet.
Inside this chamber, individuals experience an unusual phenomenon. As Steven Orfield, the founder of the lab, explained to Hearing Aid Know, “When it’s quiet, ears will adapt. The quieter the room, the more things you hear.” In this unique environment, visitors often report hearing their own heartbeat and the sound of blood flowing through their veins, leading to a heightened awareness of internal bodily functions. Many individuals also struggle with balance, as the lack of ambient sound cues can create a sense of disorientation. According to Orfield, “How you orient yourself is through sounds you hear when you walk. In the anechoic chamber, you don’t have any cues.”
The chamber has various applications beyond mere curiosity. For instance, NASA utilizes it to help astronauts prepare for the sensory deprivation they may encounter in space. Some visitors seek out the silence for deep meditation, while others come with friends, treating their experience like a challenge. Regardless of the intent, the room’s profound silence tends to prevail, often leaving participants overwhelmed.
Microsoft operates a competing anechoic chamber in Redmond, Washington, which previously held the title of the world’s quietest place. This chamber is designed with multiple layers to block external noise, yet visitors there also find that tolerating the silence is a formidable task, usually lasting around 55 minutes. Hundraj Gopal, a senior engineer at Microsoft, stated to CNN that the constant pressure from everyday noise dissipates in these chambers, leaving the body suspended in an unfamiliar sensory void.
Philosophers often claim that silence is not merely an absence of sound, but in these anechoic chambers, that idea becomes palpable. Visitors confront an unexpected intimacy with their own bodies, a sensation that many do not anticipate.
Orfield Laboratories offers “private sessions of silence” for those who wish to explore this unique experience. For individuals who have found meditation apps ineffective in the past, this might represent a compelling alternative. However, participants should be prepared for the fact that remaining in this extreme quiet for an extended period is unlikely.
