What would it be like to live in the quietest place in the world?

Theoretically, the limit of human hearing is 0 decibels. So, is the quietest sound in the world 0 decibels? Actually, negative decibels exist in the world record.

We usually use decibels to measure sound, but decibels actually describe energy, not volume. Zero decibels is merely the limit of human hearing, not the limit of energy in nature.

What would a negative decibel environment look like? The Guinness World Record for the quietest place in the world is currently held by a laboratory at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, USA, with a measured value of -20.6 decibels. In such a laboratory, it is a completely "free field" state. Not only is sound reflected, but even the energy of the sound source may be "swallowed" immediately upon being emitted, thus achieving an almost "silent" state.

But what happens when you move around in such an extremely quiet space? Someone once launched a challenge in this anechoic chamber: a 5 million dollar reward for anyone who could stay inside for an hour, but no one succeeded. In absolutely silent spaces, humans are prone to experiencing physiological and psychological discomfort such as claustrophobia, feelings of isolation and loneliness, and a feeling of pressure in the ears, leading them to want to escape.

In other words, a quieter environment isn't necessarily better. What humans seek in life isn't just a "quiet" environment, but a "suitable" quiet environment-that's what constitutes a "comfortable" sound environment. So, what kind of environment is a comfortable acoustic environment?

Through a century of research into human physiology and psychology by physicists and acousticians, suitable sound environment standards for our lives have been established. (These standards may be adjusted according to the specific national circumstances of each country.)

my country's national standard "General Code for Building Environment" stipulates that a noise level of around 40 decibels during the day and around 30 decibels at night is sufficient to meet people's daily needs, while 40 decibels is acceptable for places such as offices and meeting rooms. This essentially represents a "relatively quiet" environment.

In a “relatively quiet” environment, background noise is kept within a reasonable range, and most people can find a sense of balance in such an environment: they can be undisturbed by external noises, while still being able to perceive subtle changes in the environment, and everything is in good order.

For example, the Soundbox silent workspace, a popular choice in open-plan offices, is based on the principle of "relative quiet." Normally, the background noise in our offices is around 65 decibels, but inside the silent workspace, it drops to around 40 decibels. Working in such an environment allows for greater focus and efficiency.

The relative quietness is closer to real-world needs, satisfying the auditory comfort of most people while taking into account differences in sound sensitivity.

The practical significance of architectural acoustics lies in fully considering human auditory characteristics and needs when designing and creating a quiet environment, thereby creating a space that is both practical and comfortable for users.

This article is reprinted from: Dr. Sound