The mere thought of fingernails scratching a chalkboard can be enough to set some people on edge. Now, a new study may help explain why. Researchers say the shape of the human ear may amplify certain ...

Ever wonder why the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard drives you crazy? It's not just because it triggers bad memories of your grade-school days. Blame your primal instincts: The high-pitched sound ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Most people associate this cringe-worthy noise with words like ...

SccrreeEechh. This and other kinds of excruciating noise make us shudder, but we’ve never really known why. Knowing what makes certain sounds painful could help engineers figure out the frequencies to ...

Remember that absolutely soul-crippiling sound of fingernails scraping a chalkboard? Of course you do. Unless you’re young enough to have had whiteboards at school, that is. But while it seems obvious ...

There are certain sounds that drive us batty. For many people, it's nails on a chalkboard. For me, it's the squeaking sound of styrofoam. What causes this reaction? —Brepark, via the Straight Dope ...

The fingernails scratching the chalkboard produce sound in the frequency range between 2000 and 4000 hertz. Human ear is more sensitive to sounds in this pitch range. Moreover, the anatomy of ear ...