You’ve probably heard of the concerns voiced in the 1980s that rock bands could corrupt youth, by recording their songs so that if you played them backwards, the words would turn into a message from satan.
It sounds ridiculous (and it is) but this demonstration shows how such an idea could spread.
It comes from well-known science educator and journalist, Simon Singh, who uses it to make a point about the Big Bang, but in the process, it adds to our reasons for concern with the handling of indistinct covert recordings in the legal system.
Thanks to Steve Bosi and Ron Bradbury, both of the School of Science and Technology, University of New England, for bringing this one to my attention.
Note: the original video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bG7EFhMw8w) is no longer available, but this one covers similar information and references the Simon Singh presentation.
Please note again – while these demonstrations are highly useful in giving experiences relevant to forensic transcription, the explanations offered are not ones I endorse for forensic speech perception.