Science now has a plausible explanation for ghost-sightings, hauntings and the ghoulish work of the evil spirits — a phenomenon called infrasound.

Infrasound is made up of sound waves so low that our human ears cannot detect it, science columnist Torah Kachur told CBC Radio West .

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CBC science columnist Torah Kachur

"But our bodies still interpret it, and it makes that bone-chilling, hair-stand-on-end kind of feeling."

Infrasound has been found to cause physiological effects such as heart palpitations and respiratory change, and can distort the eyeballs to such a degree that "apparitions" can be observed, Kachur says.

She explains how infrasound was discovered, what scientists have learned about it since and how being able to detect infrasound may be an biological adaptation to avoid natural disasters. Also, how it might explain paranormal phenomena.