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Unexplainable

The Sound Barrier #1: The myth of hearing

Unexplainable

Vox

Science, Natural Sciences, Life Sciences

4.62.4K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Just like optical illusions trick our eyes, audio illusions can trick our ears. It makes scientists wonder: What exactly are we hearing, when we're hearing? This is the first episode of our new four-part series, The Sound Barrier. Guests: Diana Deutsch, emeritus professor at the University of California, San Diego; Matthew Winn, professor at the University of Minnesota; Michael Chorost, science writer You can find more of Diana Deutsch’s auditory illusions at https://bit.ly/3Mdh6H4 For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unexplainable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And please email us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠unexplainable@vox.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We read every email. Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/members⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Support for the show comes from the Audible original The Downloaded 2, Ghosts in the Machine.

0:06.0

Earth's final days are near, and the clock is ticking for members of the Phoenix colony.

0:11.0

All they need to do is upload their minds back into the quantum computer.

0:15.0

Simple enough, but their plan is disrupted by digital duplicates of their own minds

0:20.0

that could destroy their stored

0:21.7

consciousness forever. Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Roscoe Cadulian

0:27.7

in this follow-up to the audible hit sci-fi thriller The Downloaded by Canada's most

0:32.4

decorated sci-fi author Robert J. Sawyer. What are you willing to lose to save the ones you love?

0:38.5

Find out in the thought-provoking sequel that downloaded two, Ghosts in the Machine.

0:42.5

Available now, only from Audible.

0:47.5

It's time for Black Friday at Dell Technologies.

0:50.3

Save big on PCs like the Dell 16 Plus featuring Intelcore Ultra Processors.

0:55.0

Shop now at Dell.com.E.K. forward slash Black Friday.

1:02.3

It's unexplainable. I'm Noam Hassanfeld.

1:05.4

For a lot of people figuring out what you're meant to do with your life is a long, drawn-out process.

1:11.7

But for some lucky ones, a career path becomes clear in an instant.

1:16.5

Well, I've always been very interested in music. I spent all my time playing the piano and composing and so on.

1:23.9

For Diana Deutsch, that moment happened back in the 50s.

1:26.5

But it didn't go exactly how she imagined it.

1:32.0

My music teacher performed at the BBC third program in the mornings.

1:39.3

She was playing piano in a trio.

1:41.3

And I was asked to be a page turner. Essentially, she'd be turning the pages of the sheet music, so her teacher wouldn't have to stop playing.

...

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