Tyler Wynn
Sound is a vibration that propagates through a medium as a wave. In space, there is no air, and therefore no medium for sound waves to travel through. While space is a vacuum, it is not a perfect one, and some sounds can be detected from extremely low-density matter in deep space. For example, NASA has released audible recordings of black holes stirring up plasma in distant galaxies, and plasma waves can be converted into sound waves. However, these sounds are far too low in frequency for the human ear to hear. Thus, in interplanetary, interstellar, or intergalactic space, there is no sound that humans can hear.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sound in space | No sound in interplanetary, interstellar, or intergalactic space that can be heard by humans |
| Sound waves | Require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel |
| Space | A vacuum lacking the matter to carry sound waves |
| Sound waves | Require atoms or molecules to carry them |
| Space | Contains some particles, but not enough to carry sound waves |
| Sound waves | Can be detected from extremely low-density matter in deep space |
| Sound waves | Can be created by supermassive black holes, but at frequencies too low for humans to hear |
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What You'll Learn
Sound waves need atoms and molecules to travel
Sound waves are caused by vibrations that travel through a medium, such as solid, liquid, or gas. When an object vibrates, it causes the surrounding air molecules to vibrate, which then bump into other molecules, creating a chain reaction that carries the sound wave through the air. This is why sound waves require atoms and molecules to travel.
In space, there are almost no atoms or molecules to carry sound waves, so sound does not exist there. While space is not a perfect vacuum and does contain some particles, the density of these particles is extremely low. For example, in the vast voids between galaxies, there may be a million times fewer particles than in a typical lab vacuum.
However, in certain regions of space, such as nebulas, the density of particles can be higher. In the Orion Nebula, there are around 10,000 particles per cm^3, while in the molecular cloud Barnard 68, there are roughly a million particles per cm^3. Even these low particle densities can still absorb light. However, there are not enough particles to bump into each other and transport sound waves.
Despite the lack of sound in space, it is possible to create audible recordings from space. For example, NASA used X-ray data to create an audible recording of a black hole in the Perseus galaxy cluster, 250 million light years from Earth. The black hole itself does not emit sound, but the diffuse plasma around it carries very long-wavelength sound waves at a frequency far too low for humans to hear. However, when the frequency was raised to the audible range, it produced a chilling sound of a black hole growling in deep space.
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Space is a vacuum, lacking atoms and molecules
Sound is a wave of energy that moves through solids, liquids, or gases. When we speak, our vocal cords vibrate, jostling air molecules in our throat, which then bump into their neighbouring molecules, causing a sound to come out of our mouth.
While there is no sound in space, some sounds can be detected from extremely low-density matter in deep space. In 2022, NASA released an audible recording representing how a massive black hole stirs up plasma in the Perseus galaxy cluster. The black hole itself emits no sound, but the diffuse plasma around it carries very long-wavelength sound waves. After raising the frequency to the audible range, humans can hear the sound of a black hole growling in deep space.
To conclude, space is a vacuum lacking atoms and molecules, which are necessary for sound to travel. While there is no sound in space as we know it, some sounds can be detected from extremely low-density matter, such as the sound of a black hole growling.
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Sound in space is possible with extremely low-density matter
It is often said that sound does not exist in space. This is because sound waves require a medium—such as a solid, liquid, or gas—to travel. As space is a vacuum, lacking the atoms and molecules to carry sound waves, there is no sound.
However, this is not strictly true. While space is a good enough vacuum for normal sound to be unable to travel through it, it is not a perfect vacuum. There are some particles floating through it, mostly hydrogen atoms. In 2022, NASA released an audible recording of sound in space, capturing the way a massive black hole stirs up plasma in the Perseus galaxy cluster. The black hole itself emits no sound, but the diffuse plasma around it carries very long-wavelength sound waves. While the natural sound is far too low a frequency for the human ear to hear, it demonstrates that sound in space is possible under certain conditions.
Sound waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. In space, the matter that exists is in a physical state called a plasma, a gas in which electrons are separated from protons. In a plasma, the physics of sound waves gets complicated. Waves travel much faster in this low-density medium, and their wavelength is much longer.
In regions of space with higher densities, such as nebulas and other celestial regions, matter is thicker. For example, the Orion Nebula has around 10,000 particles per cm3, while Barnard 68, a small, cold, dense molecular cloud, has roughly a million particles per cm3. These densities are much lower than in a lab-grade vacuum, yet they are enough to sustain sound waves.
Therefore, while space is mostly devoid of sound due to its low-density vacuum, under specific conditions, sound in space is possible with extremely low-density matter.
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Sound waves can be detected from plasma in space
Sound is carried by atoms and molecules. In space, with no atoms or molecules to carry a sound wave, there is no sound. Beyond the Earth and its atmosphere, there are five particles in a typical cubic centimetre. By contrast, the air we breathe is 10 billion billion times denser. The density goes down with distance from the Sun. In the vast voids between galaxies, it is a million times lower. The voids of space are kept very hot by radiation from stars. The very spread-out matter found there is in a physical state called plasma.
A plasma is a gas in which electrons are separated from protons. In a plasma, the physics of sound waves gets complicated. While space is a good enough vacuum that normal sound can't travel through it, it's not a perfect vacuum, and it does have some particles floating through it. The matter in deep space is spread out, which makes it impossible for any sound waves to travel. However, some sounds can be detected from extremely low-density matter in deep space.
In 2022, NASA released an audible recording representing the way a massive black hole stirs up plasma in the Perseus galaxy cluster, 250 million light years from Earth. The black hole itself emits no sound, but the diffuse plasma around it carries very long-wavelength sound waves. The natural sound is far too low a frequency for the human ear to hear, 57 octaves below middle C. However, after raising the frequency to the audible range, the result is the sound of a black hole growling in deep space.
NASA's Van Allen Probe spacecraft use an instrument called EMFISIS (Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science) to measure electric and magnetic waves as they circle the Earth. As the spacecraft encounter a wave, sensors record the changes in the frequency of the electric and magnetic fields. The scientists shift the frequencies to the audible range so that we can listen to the sounds of space. Whistler-mode waves travelling inside the plasmasphere are called plasmaspheric hiss and sound a lot like radio station static.
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Sound in space may be audible after raising the frequency
It is a common misconception that sound does not exist in space. While it is true that sound cannot travel through a perfect vacuum, space is not a perfect vacuum. It contains some particles, mostly hydrogen atoms, and some regions of space, such as nebulas, have a much higher density of particles.
Sound is carried by atoms and molecules. It travels through different substances or mediums, such as solids, liquids, or gases, by causing the atoms or molecules in them to successively bump into each other. While the density of particles in space is extremely low compared to that of the Earth's atmosphere, it is not zero. Therefore, it is theoretically possible for sound to exist in space, but the sound waves would be spread out and very weak.
In 2022, NASA released an audible recording of sound in space. The recording represents the way a massive black hole stirs up plasma in the Perseus galaxy cluster, 250 million light years from Earth. The black hole itself emits no sound, but the diffuse plasma around it carries very long-wavelength sound waves. These sound waves are far too low in frequency for the human ear to hear—57 octaves below middle C, which is the middle note on a piano and in the middle of the range of sound people can hear. However, when the frequency is raised to the audible range, the result is a deep, chilling growl.
This example demonstrates that sound in space may be audible to humans under certain conditions. While the natural sounds produced in space may be too low in frequency for human ears, raising the frequency can make them audible. It is important to note that the sound waves in space are still very weak and spread out due to the low density of particles. Therefore, even with the frequency adjustment, the sound may only be audible if the listening equipment is extremely sensitive or if the source of the sound is powerful enough.
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Frequently asked questions
No, in interplanetary, interstellar, or intergalactic space there is no sound that humans can hear. Sound is carried by atoms and molecules, and in space, there are no atoms or molecules to carry a sound wave.
While space is a vacuum devoid of matter, it is not a perfect vacuum. There are some particles floating through it, and sound waves can be detected from extremely low-density matter in deep space. For instance, NASA released an audible recording of sound in space that represents the way a massive black hole stirs up plasma in the Perseus galaxy cluster.
Acoustic waves travel through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) by causing atoms or molecules to successively bump into each other.
A sound wave from Earth ceases to exist when it reaches the edge of the atmosphere because there are no molecules to bump into. However, the molecules still have their kinetic energy, which eventually dissipates as heat.
