When a Bitcoin mine comes to town

Next month, TIME’sAndrew Chowwill publish his first book,Cryptomania. In it, he chronicles the rise and fall of FTX’s billion-dollar empire. ForTIME, Andrew writes about the intersection of technology and culture, with an eye toward how people shape technology and how we are shaped by it. Covering the tumultuouscryptocurrencystory over the last few years has brought him to many places, most recently: Granbury, Texas. There, followingthe arrival of a Bitcoin mine, residents noticed that a hum had crept into their lives, and many said they were suffering health consequences because of it.

Andrew spoke to more than 40 people in the area who reported a medical ailment that they believe is connected to the mine. A local doctor says he sees patients with symptoms possibly stemming from the mine’s noise nearly every week. A representative for the company that operates the mine says that they are currently working to reduce the sound and comply with all state noise ordinances.

Through reporting this story, Andrew chases the unintended consequences of technological progress. The story is accompanied by photographs by Jake Dockins anda short filmcreated by TIME’s Joey Lautrup, Brian Braganza, and Justine Simons.

Please read Andrew’s piece and let me know what you think at sam@time.com. And don’t forget tobuy his book, out in the U.S. on Aug. 6.