The Mysterious Hum in Joshua Tree — Am I the Only One Hearing This?

 I wanted to get this in writing in case anyone else out there has experienced something similar. I’m writing this from Joshua Tree, California — so whether you’ve heard this hum here in the high desert or anywhere else in the world, just know you’re not alone. Someone in this little desert town is hearing it too.

For the past eight years, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve turned to my wife and asked, “Did you hear that sound?”
And without fail, she’ll deadpan back:
“For the umpteenth time… that’s the fridge compressor, right?”

Every time I doubt myself.
Every time I shrug it off.
“Yeah, you’re probably right… must’ve been the fridge.”

But this week felt different.

I was doomscrolling Facebook when someone on our local town page mentioned the hum. That stopped me cold. I commented that I always assumed it was my fridge. He dismissed it immediately and told me:

“Next time you hear it, flip your breaker. You’ll know real quick.”

Fair enough.
I haven’t had the chance to test his theory yet, but when I do, I’ll update this post.

Back to the hum itself:
It’s a deep, machine-like vibration.
Not small machinery — this sounds like something big, distant, and constant. Along with the sound, there’s a physical sensation, like a soft wave of pressure rolling through the room. Not violent, not rattling… more like a heavy soundwave you can feel in your chest. It gives me a mild headache and a touch of nausea when it lingers.

My wife hears something too, but she sticks to her theory that it’s the fridge doing what fridges do. And maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m overthinking it. But I can’t ignore that other people in town are posting about this now.

So I’m putting it out there.
If you’ve heard something similar — here or anywhere else — drop a comment. I’d love to know.

Joshua Tree has long been rumored to be full of vortices. Sedona, Arizona has its share too, and people there report strange sounds, pressures, and sensations they can’t explain. Maybe there’s a connection. Maybe not.

All I know is… the hum is real enough that I’m finally writing about it.

Updates coming when I run the breaker test.