The Aztec skull whistle produces a shrill, screaming sound. A study shows that these whistles have a disturbing effect on the human brain. The Aztecs may have deliberately used this effect in ...

It’s the sound no one warns you about – but once you hear it, you never forget it. Known as the “death rattle,” the sound is a “biological lullaby” – a sign that within 23 hours, the body will fall ...

Archaeologists have discovered numerous ceramic or clay whistles at Aztec sites, dubbed “death whistles” because of their distinctive skull shapes. A new paper published in the journal Communications ...

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The parents of a young California ...

Said to mimic the cries of the dead, the Aztec Death Whistle unleashes a sound so horrifying it chills the soul. Its role in rituals and sacrifice remains one of history’s darkest mysteries.

When the Aztecs dominated central Mexico, a blood-curdling sound like a human scream played through a small whistle. Luis Aceves via Unsplash In cultures around the world, instruments have brought ...