Natural resonant frequencies amplified from American pop icon Janet Jackson&#8217;s &#8220;Rhythm Nation&#8221; music video released over 30 years ago are too powerful for certain laptop hard drives, Microsoft said last week.
Raymond Chen, a chief software engineer for Microsoft, <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20220816-00/?p=106994/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> a story from one of his colleagues, who said a major computer manufacturer discovered that while playing Jackson&#8217;s 1989 title track from her fourth record, certain laptops crashed.
&#8220;I would not have wanted to be in the laboratory that they must have set up to investigate this problem,&#8221; Chen said in a blog post. &#8220;Not an artistic judgment.&#8221;
During the investigation, they found that by isolating what was crushing the inside of the laptops, the song contained one of the natural resonant frequencies for the model of 5400 rpm hard drives used by the manufacturer.
&#8220;But why this song,&#8221; Chen <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://twitter.com/WindowsDocs/status/1558114944738103297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1558676353196494850%7Ctwgr%5E2a8c3935d511d6cb2e37b0073395a4ac64acd20a%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fnews%2Fjanet-jackson-rhythm-nation-causes-laptops-to-crash-vibration-resonance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Does windows not like this song?&#8221;
Maybe Jackson&#8217;s militant dance choreography, political messaging, and vision for people of the world to unite under a rhythm nation filtered through black and white cinematography were just too much for the hard drive&#8217;s revolutions per minute.
Chen said the investigation turned &#8220;extremely weird&#8221; when they found that the classic 80s pop song crashed its competitor&#8217;s hard drives and other laptops beside the computer playing the track.
&#8220;The reason is that this song contained a frequency that matched the natural resonant frequency of the hard drive that these laptops were using,&#8221; Chen added.
Manufacturers resolved the issue by writing a special audio filter that detects such frequencies by filtering them out before the vibrations are produced and amplified out of the speakers.
&#8220;And I&#8217;m sure they put a digital version of a ‘Do not remove’ sticker on that audio filter,&#8221; Chen said. &#8220;Though I&#8217;m worried that in the many years since the workaround was added, nobody remembers why it&#8217;s there.”
&#8220;Hopefully, their laptops are not still carrying this audio filter to protect against damage to a model of hard drive they are no longer using,&#8221; he added.
Natural resonant frequencies have not only destroyed internal storage systems, but have also been strong enough to collapse bridges.
History <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tacoma-narrows-bridge-collapses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that the Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge in Washington, which stretched the Puget Sound from Gig Harbor to 40 miles south of Seattle, collapsed from vibrations generated by strong winds in 1940. With the winds blowing in a specific direction, the frequency oscillations built up enough to cause an inevitable collapse.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Natural Vibrations From Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ Video Crashed Certain Laptops, Microsoft Says

CONTINUE READING

New Mexico Lawsuit Accuses Meta Platforms Of Enabling Child Sexual Abuse Material, Human Trafficking

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Sex Trafficking, Raping Teenage Girl In Fourth Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Mayorkas Confirms FBI Warning, Says Blinking Red Lights Everywhere On Terror Threats

California Retailers Without ‘Gender Neutral’ Section For Kids Face Fines Up To $500 Under New State Law

WATCH: Top University Presidents Balk When Asked If Genocidal Chants Against Jews Violate Codes Of Conduct

Catholic Leaders Slam FBI Over ‘Illegitimate Targeting” Of Catholics As Bureau Defends Its Investigation

News

Computer

Michael Jackson

Microsoft

Music

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Natural Vibrations From Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ Video Crashed Certain Laptops, Microsoft Says