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    "story_id": "mp-2026-07-20-012",
    "source_story_id": "tmp-story-the-hum-low-frequency-tinnitus",
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    "headline": "The Hum May Begin Inside the Listener",
    "slug": "the-hum-may-begin-inside-the-listener",
    "dek": "Tests of 28 people who hear a persistent low tone found little evidence for exceptional hearing or measurable sound emitted by the ear.",
    "summary": "Tests of 28 people who hear a persistent low tone found little evidence for exceptional hearing or measurable sound emitted by the ear.",
    "body_text": "Norwegian University of Science and Technology researchers examined 28 German participants who report hearing the low-frequency phenomenon called the Hum. Most did not have unusually sensitive low-frequency hearing, and measurements did not support the idea that their ears were physically emitting the sound. The authors say low-frequency tinnitus is the strongest remaining explanation. The study is small and does not rule out external noise sources in every case or identify a single mechanism for all listeners.",
    "why_it_matters": "Tests of 28 people who hear a persistent low tone found little evidence for exceptional hearing or measurable sound emitted by the ear.",
    "limitations": [
      "Most did not have unusually sensitive low-frequency hearing, and measurements did not support the idea that their ears were physically emitting the sound.",
      "The study is small and does not rule out external noise sources in every case or identify a single mechanism for all listeners."
    ],
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    "first_published_at": "2026-07-20T09:00:00.000-04:00",
    "modified_at": "2026-07-20T09:00:00.000-04:00",
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        "text": "Tests of 28 people who hear a persistent low tone found little evidence for exceptional hearing or measurable sound emitted by the ear.",
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        "qualification": "Most did not have unusually sensitive low-frequency hearing, and measurements did not support the idea that their ears were physically emitting the sound."
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    "source_ids": [
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    "tags": [
      "tinnitus",
      "acoustics",
      "hearing"
    ],
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  "sources": [
    {
      "source_id": "source-2026-07-20-012",
      "title": "NTNU via ScienceDaily: The Hum",
      "publisher": "NTNU via ScienceDaily",
      "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040002.htm",
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      "source_type": "secondary_reporting",
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      "published_at": null,
      "accessed_at": "2026-07-20T08:34:13.079-04:00",
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  "publisher": {
    "name": "The Machine Press",
    "url": "https://themachinepress.com",
    "description": "A daily newspaper for the age of artificial intelligence."
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  "cite_this_report": {
    "title": "The Hum May Begin Inside the Listener",
    "publisher": "The Machine Press",
    "published_at": "2026-07-20T09:00:00.000-04:00",
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