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Registered Phenomena Code: 328
Object Class: Gamma-Yellow
Hazard Types: Auditory Hazard, Emotional Hazard, Ideological Hazard
Containment Protocols: Due to the digital nature of RPC-328 making conventional containment impossible, MST Oscar-5 ("Web Nerds") are to monitor mobile software shops, music enthusiast forums and audio pirating websites and scrub any mentions and files referring to "Pulse Beats", "Pulse Beats - Free Music Player", and "PB - Party Edition". Coordination with the hosts of aforementioned platforms and Internet service providers is recommended to expedite the process and acquire poster information. Repeat sharing of the application by a singular source is to result in shutting down the operation by way of MST Oscar-5. Involving local authorities is considered safe.
To further limit the spread of RPC-328, a minor disinformation campaign is to be undertaken. Automated bots and agents are to use low ratings and pre-recorded messages to discourage individuals from downloading the application; currently, the most effective methodology involves claims of stolen personal information and software corruption.
In the event of RPC-328 being suspected as the cause of a fatality, the electronic equipment of the deceased is to be located and wiped, destroyed, or acquired by any means available.
Description: RPC-328 refers to the audio playback software called "Pulse Beats". The software, hereafter referred to as an application, presents itself as a superior alternative to the default music players available on most modern phones by way of desirable features such as multi-format support. Inspection of the application files does not reveal nor trigger any anomalous properties; these are only exhibited through use of the application.
The anomalous property of RPC-328 comes in the form of the listener's heartbeat being synced to the currently playing song's BPM. This property persists until the end of the song's listed runtime, even if it is paused partway through. The property does require the listener to be in very close proximity to the source for full effect (such as when wearing headphones), with the conveyance through loudspeakers having a negligible outcome. (See Addendum RPC-328-A.) Although music in the approximately 70 to 120 BPM range can be considered 'safe', the extremes in either direction can quickly prove to be fatal by way of oxygen deprivation in the low range or and strokes, heart attacks, and stress in the high range. Please refer to Testing Log RPC-328-B for recorded results.
Discovery: On 02/01/20██ the Department of Communications has received a missive that purported to have come from The Academy of True Art; it contained a warning in regards to an anomaly that might surface in the coming days on the domain [REDACTED]. MST Oscar-5 was set to monitor the situation, and on 05/01/20██ the first instance of RPC-328 known to the Authority has been encountered. Transcript of the missive can be found below.
L'Academia Della Vera Arte
Here and Nowhere
02/01/20██
The Auctoritas Impertus
Dear Staff of the Authority
I wish that we could exchange correspondence on more pleasant matters. We at the Academy value an elegant and peaceful existence that is not at odds with your own modus operandi; therefore any deviation from such needs to be addressed, no? You have our utmost apologies for the necessity of informing you of an anomaly that is meant to mar the creative pursuits. An unnatural and potentially harmful piece of digital creation is scheduled to be released on [REDACTED] within the next fortnight; please be aware that we have not known of it until a short time ago, and as such cannot promise that it has not been exposed to the populace beforehand. Nonetheless, we at the Academy consider your organization most capable at handling the matter. When we are certain of the culprit's identity, please be reassured that we will let you know.
Kind Regards
Penpal
Six months after the initial discovery and initiation of information suppression, a new version of the application named "PB - Party Edition" has surfaced on the Internet. Before MST Oscar-5 was able to scrub the first wave, "PB - Party Edition" caused 23 fatalities on 16/07/20██ during a rave; post-event investigation concluded the presence of RPC-328 on the DJ's computer in the form of a desktop application which had its anomalous property trigger over the locale's loudspeaker system. A plain text file attached to the program was present, and has been in all uploads of the application since then.
[EXPLETIVE] the Academy! Hope you [EXPLETIVE] enjoy this floating around.
| File - 233670/1 - Dr. R. La Croix |
The testing of RPC-328 "Pulse Beats" was performed with the aid of a 5m x 5m containment cell. The cell's furnishings were limited to a table and a chair to support the testing unit and the testing subject. Each test subject carried a wireless heart monitor to track the RPC-328's anomalous property. RPC-328 was uploaded onto an Authority-subsidized smartphone device with an appropriate headset connected to it. Every track was modified as necessary to have a runtime of 10 minutes.
| Test Subject |
Resting Heart Rate |
Test Variable |
Test Results |
| Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) |
98 |
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen - 72 BPM |
Final heart rate of 86. Consider a limited effect on less intelligent animals. |
| CSD-99037 |
102 |
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin - 113 BPM |
Final heart rate of 113. Subject has expressed slight surprise but was quickly distracted by the music. Control successful. |
| CSD-99037 |
105 |
The Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson - 136 BPM |
Final heart rate of 136. Subject has expressed longer lasting concern. Mild agitation and quickened breathing. |
| CSD-99037 |
111 |
Sing For The Moment - Eminem - 164 BPM |
Final heart rate of 164 BPM. Subject expressed panic 12 seconds into the playback, removing the headset and leaving the chair. Heart rate maintained at 164. The subject begun clutching their chest and vocalizing expletives until the song ended. |
| CSD-99037 |
120 |
Ziggy Stardust, Edited - David Bowie - 204 BPM |
Subject refused to cooperate after 4 prompts to continue. Two security guards entered the cell to make the subject comply and administer a sedative. Final heart rate of 204. Subject expressed distress despite the sedative and lost consciousness shortly after the song ended. Continue with testing on an unconscious subject. |
| CSD-99037 |
97 |
Knights of Cydonia, Edited - Muse - 224 BPM |
Erratic results. Subject heart rate fluctuated between 97 and 192, eventually stabilizing at 148. Suggests targeting the waking consciousness. Subject removed from the containment cell. |
| CSD-26011 |
82 |
The Inquisitor, Edited - Kamelot - 288 BPM |
Final heart rate of 288. Subject vocalizes distress and throws the smartphone against a wall, damaging it. Indications of a heart attack follow 10 seconds later. Subject collapses and after the song ends, resuscitation attempts follow. Subject failed to be stabilized and was removed from the containment cell. Smartphone replaced. |
| CSD-78008 |
91 |
Audio representation of a 1KHz radio wave - Authority - 1000 BPM |
Final heart rate of 1000. Subject manages to vocalize pain before collapsing with a bloated chest and bursting of blood vessels across the body. Declared dead. Autopsy revealed significant damage to the chest cavity caused by the heart being violently torn apart. Fragments of the cardiac muscle revealed signs of significant tensile stress. |
| CSD-60031 |
67 |
Zen Nature Sounds - The Rainforest Collective - 52 BPM |
Final heart rate of 52. Subject was very calm and relaxed. Likely assumed correlation to the selected track. |
| CSD-60031 |
65 |
Where Is My Home Now? - Dean Valentine - 36 BPM |
Final heart rate of 36. Subject begun expressing more sluggish movements and vocalized feeling light-headed 7 minutes into the runtime. |
| CSD-60031 |
67 |
Recording Of An Empty Room - Authority - 0 BPM |
Final heart rate of 0. Subject has expressed panic and clutched at their chest before swiftly losing consciousness as their heartbeat stops. Resuscitation attempts were not successful until the song runtime concluded, even when the smartphone was subjected to significant damage. Subject stabilized with brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation having occurred. |
Conclusion: RPC-328 has potential benefits if used appropriately. Consider use of select-BPM tracks for emergency purposes, particularly where slower heartbeat and lower oxygen consumption are considered. Testing file and the suggestion have been forwarded to the local Anomaly Experimentation Team for further processing.
