Is it “laurel,” or is it “yanny?” That’s the question that’s haunted the internet and beyond all week, and there’s no definitive answer. Well, actually, there is, sort of: The confusing audio clip is confirmedOpens in a new tab to be of a person saying the word “laurel,” and yet, due to some sonic weirdness, a good amount of people are still legitimately hearing “yanny.”
It seemed for a minute that it was time to move on from this debate. We’ve all had our fun, the meme made its way to talk shows and has been turned into EDM remixesOpens in a new tab, and there’s even a new version of the aural illusion already, via “brainstorm vs. green needleOpens in a new tab.” It turns out, however, that we’re not done with yanny/laurel just yet, as the meme has now been made into an optical illusion.
https://twitter.com/AriadneRem/status/996609946228703232
An image created by Ariadne RemoundakisOpens in a new tab (which blew up thanks to a post on the PenmanshipPorn subredditOpens in a new tab) shows a word written in fancy cursive, and the caption asks the question: Is it “laurel,” or is it “yanny”? Thanks to calligraphic flourishes and the relatively similar construction of the two words, the person who made this image has crafted a continuation of what was already a heated debate.
The difference with this one, though, it seems, is that you have more choice over how it’s perceived. I personally am able to see it as either “laurel” or “yanny” just by changing my mental approach, and I imagine that’s the case for most of you as well.
What do you see? Also, what did you hear in the original yanny/laurel illusion? Let us know how much your brain hurts down in the comments!
Featured image: Warner Bros
More oddities!
- The Boston Dynamics robots are getting smarterOpens in a new tab…
- Could you really slice bullets in halfOpens in a new tab like Deadpool?
- Scientists trained a spider to jump on commandOpens in a new tab
