Mystery hum 'like a huge engine idling' heard across US as people track source

The US Sun reports a "mystery hum" affecting residents across several states including New Jersey, Connecticut, and Virginia, with many attributing the low-frequency noise to nearby data centers. Residents describe the sound as a "constant buzzing" or "like helicopters hovering," causing sleep deprivation and anxiety among community members. In Vineland, New Jersey, the hum reportedly began after construction started on a 2.4 million-square-foot data center, a project of Data One. Scott Montgomery, who lives near the Vineland site, told ABC6 the noise is "maddening" and "unsettling," fearing it will worsen. While the Cumberland County Health Department is investigating to confirm the source, Data One maintains its site complies with Vineland City noise ordinance limits and is deploying sound reduction measures. Similar complaints have emerged in Ashburn, Loudoun County, Virginia, where residents living miles from CloudHQ data centers report hearing the persistent hum, which NBC4 measured at up to 90 decibels, a level considered potentially dangerous. In West Haven, Connecticut, residents of the West Shore neighborhood have complained about humming and vibrations since 2020. Mayor Dorinda Borer acknowledged the issue's impact on quality of life, and the West Haven City Council unanimously voted to hire a third-party acoustic firm to investigate the noise, suspected to be from a local business, before taking enforcement action.