Media: Earth’s natural “hum” shows unusual spikes

Earth’s natural electromagnetic vibration — known as the Schumann Resonance — has shown several elevated readings in recent weeks, prompting discussion about whether such changes could affect human wellbeing.

The resonance is a steady background frequency generated by global lightning activity and sustained between Earth’s surface and the ionosphere, normally centred around 7.83 Hz, according to recent analysis by The Daily Mail.

Monitoring data throughout February recorded higher-than-usual activity, partly linked to space weather events such as solar flares and geomagnetic disturbances, which can temporarily disrupt Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists measure these disturbances using the K-index, where values above 5 indicate geomagnetic storms capable of affecting satellites, communications, and power systems. Recent readings reached elevated but moderate levels, remaining below severe storm conditions.

Some researchers and wellness advocates suggest the resonance overlaps with human brainwave ranges associated with sleep and relaxation, raising speculation that spikes could influence mood, sleep, or concentration. However, mainstream scientific consensus holds that evidence for direct biological effects remains inconclusive, and reported symptoms such as fatigue or ringing in the ears lack clinical confirmation.

Physically, the resonance forms when electromagnetic waves from lightning strikes bounce between Earth and the ionosphere, creating a continuous global signal. Solar activity — including solar wind and flares — can intensify these waves by altering the ionosphere’s electrical properties.

While any direct impact on human health is unproven, strong geomagnetic events are known to pose technological risks, potentially disrupting aviation systems, communications, and electrical infrastructure, as demonstrated in recent space-weather simulations showing possible large-scale power and network failures during extreme solar storms.

By Tamilla Hasanova