Silence

Minnesota is home to the quietest place on Earth. Orfield Labs is a research facility in south Minneapolis that shares space with Sound 80 recording studios. Sound 80 isn't as heavily used for recording as it was in the past, when albums such as Bob Dylan's Blood on The Tracks were recorded. Today, the building is home to an anechoic chamber, used for research on various sound pressure level affected devices. Guinness Book of World Records cites the facility as "the quietest place on Earth," and home of the first ever digital recording studio. I've been in there, and let me tell you, negative sound pressure levels are weird. Ever hear your heart beat...from inside of you?

photo courtesy of Tate Carlson at metromag.com

So the next time you are faced with an awkward/eerie/peaceful quiet, remember that Minnesota has taught the world about perfect silence.

You're welcome.

Love,

Minnesota.