The Science Behind Ear Popping: Why Your Ears Make That Weird Sound When Pressure Changes cover art

The Science Behind Ear Popping: Why Your Ears Make That Weird Sound When Pressure Changes

The Science Behind Ear Popping: Why Your Ears Make That Weird Sound When Pressure Changes

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 Hey there, it's Jed Why—your friendly neighborhood tinkerer turned audio explorer. Back in my tinkering days, I once tried to build a robot that could make the perfect cup of coffee. Spoiler alert: it ended up short-circuiting the toaster and setting my kitchen on fire. But hey, that's life, right? One big chaotic mess of trial and error. And speaking of life's little mysteries, today we're diving into something that's probably popped into your mind at least once: Why do your ears pop? Huh, that's weird—let's unpack it.Picture this: you're cruising along in your car, and as you climb up that steep hill, you feel that familiar sensation. Pop. Pop. It's like your ears are throwing a tiny party in your head. Ever wonder why that happens? Well, it all boils down to pressure—specifically, the pressure inside your ears trying to match the pressure outside.See, our ears are pretty cool. They've got this thing called the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. It's like a tiny equalizer, opening and closing to balance the pressure on both sides of your eardrum. When you're going up or down in altitude—like in a plane or driving through the mountains—the air pressure outside changes faster than the pressure inside your ears. So, your Eustachian tube does its thing, opening up to let air in or out, and that's when you hear that pop.But here's where it gets even weirder. Did you know that yawning or chewing gum can help your ears pop? It's true. When you yawn or chew, you're actually helping to open up that Eustachian tube, letting the pressure equalize more easily. It's like giving your ears a little nudge, saying, "Hey, it's time to balance out."Now, let's take a quick detour into the land of random facts. Did you know that the world record for the loudest burp is a whopping 109.9 decibels? That's louder than a lawnmower. And while we're on the topic of bodily sounds, did you know that the average person farts about 14 times a day? It's just one of those weird things that our bodies do, like ear popping, reminding us that we're all just a bunch of walking, talking, pressure-balancing machines.But back to the ears. If you've ever had a cold or allergies, you might have noticed that your ears don't pop as easily. That's because those pesky Eustachian tubes can get clogged up with mucus, making it harder for the pressure to equalize. And if you're a diver, you know all about the importance of equalizing your ears. Failing to do so can lead to some seriously painful ear problems.So, what can you do if your ears won't pop? Well, besides the classic yawn and chew trick, you can try the Valsalva maneuver. No, it's not a dance move from the 70s—it's when you pinch your nose and gently blow through it, helping to push air up into your Eustachian tubes. Just be careful not to blow too hard, or you might end up with a burst eardrum. Yikes.Now, let's zoom out for a second and think about why this whole ear-popping thing matters. Sure, it's a quirky little phenomenon, but it's also a reminder of how our bodies are constantly working to keep us in balance—literally. It's like our own internal ecosystem, always striving for homeostasis amidst the chaos of daily life.And speaking of chaos, have you ever noticed how life is just one big series of unpredictable moments? One minute you're sipping your coffee, the next you're dodging a rogue pigeon on your morning commute. It's these little quirks and oddities that make life interesting, don't you think?Take my friend, Sarah, for example. She's a yoga instructor who swears by the power of ear candling to help with her ear pressure. Now, I'm not saying it works—studies are pretty iffy on that—but it's just another example of how we all try to navigate life's little mysteries in our own weird and wonderful ways.As for me, I've always been fascinated by the science behind these everyday puzzles. Maybe it's the tinkerer in me, always trying to take things apart and see how they work. Or maybe it's just the fact that I'm a bit of a nerd at heart, always eager to learn something new and share it with you all.So, the next time your ears pop, take a moment to appreciate the wonder of it all. It's a reminder that our bodies are these incredible machines, constantly adapting and adjusting to the world around us. And hey, if it happens while you're sipping your morning coffee, just think of it as your body's way of saying, "Good morning, let's start the day with a pop!"As we wrap up today's episode, I find myself marveling at how weird life can get. From ear-popping pressures to rogue pigeons, it's all just part of the grand adventure. So, stick around, and we'll crack more of this next time. Thanks for tuning in to Ear Pops: Why Do My Ears Pop? with your host, Jed Why. Don't forget to subscribe for more quirky mysteries and offbeat facts. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

What listeners say about The Science Behind Ear Popping: Why Your Ears Make That Weird Sound When Pressure Changes

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.