---
title: "Residents Say Data Centers Are Radiating Bizarre Frequencies"
description: "As the AI boom trundles along, the data centers powering it have quickly become unwelcome neighbors across the country."
date: "2026-05-16"
modified: "2026-05-16"
authors:
  - name: "Krystle Vermes"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kvermes"
url: "https://futurism.com/science-energy/data-centers-noise-pollution-infrasound"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
  - "Brain"
  - "Environment"
  - "Health & Medicine"
  - "Mental Health"
  - "Neuroscience and Brain"
  - "Pollution"
  - "Science & Energy"
---

# Residents Say Data Centers Are Radiating Bizarre Frequencies

![A person is shown clutching their head in distress.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/badvibe.jpg>)
*Getty / Futurism*

As the AI boom trundles along, the data centers powering it have quickly become unwelcome neighbors across the country.

Opponents point to a great range of alleged ills associated with the facilities — from their [immense appetites for electricity](<https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/data-center-atom-bombs>) and [water](<https://futurism.com/ai-data-center-water>) to their [weak track record](<https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/data-center-jobs-ohio>) as local employers — as they seek to push them away.

Now we can add a new gripe to the list: in addition to [just being noisy](<https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/elon-musk-ai-facility-mordor>), a sustainability nonprofit called the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) [is claiming that](<https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/communities-are-raising-noise-pollution-concernsabout-data-centers>) data centers are emitting ultra-low frequencies — think the powerful sub-bass at an EDM festival — that, while not picked up by a conventional decibel meter, cause an unsettling rumble for nearby residents.

As explained [by *Tom's Hardware*](<https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/data-centers-face-increasing-infrasound-complaints-from-neighboring-communities-sounds-do-not-register-on-decibel-meters-but-irritate-local-citizens>), critics say this "infrasound" — supposedly generated by some combination of the facilities' server racks, cooling systems, and power generators — can cause issues ranging from insomnia and nausea to anxiety and headaches.

Is it a legit concern or woo-woo nonsense? It's hard to say. Opponents of renewables have often circulated similar claims about wind turbines, [without much in the way of scientific backing](<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10174642/>). At the same time, there [is some evidence](<https://futurism.com/health-medicine/scientists-explain-ghosts>) for the notion that inaudible sounds can mess with you psychologically. We'll be intrigued to see the research progress.

And regardless of infrasound specifically, data centers *are* loud: a [2025 study](<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12273412/>) published in the journal *Eco-Environment & Health* found they can reach internal noise levels of 96 decibels. Humans begin experiencing hearing damage at a threshold of around 85.

**More on datacenters**: *[Small Towns Are Rising Up Against AI Data Centers](<https://futurism.com/small-towns-ai-data-centers>)*