Tyler Wynn
The idea that no one can hear you scream in space is a famous tagline from the 1979 film Alien. But is it true? Sound travels as molecules bump into each other, but in space, there is no air or water, meaning there is no medium for sound to move through. Space is a vacuum, lacking the matter to carry sound waves. However, space is not a perfect vacuum, and some sounds can be detected from extremely low-density matter in deep space. For example, in 2022, NASA released an audible recording of a black hole in the Perseus galaxy cluster, 250 million lightyears from Earth. The sound was far too low a frequency for the human ear to hear, but after raising the frequency to the audible range, the result was the sound of a black hole growling in deep space. So, while sound can travel in space, it is not in a way that humans can perceive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sound travel in space | No sound can travel in space as it is a vacuum with almost no matter and no medium for sound to travel through |
| Sound in space | Sound can be detected from extremely low-density matter in deep space but cannot be heard by humans |
| Sound in space heard by humans | Sound can be heard by humans in space if the sound is powerful enough, for example, an explosion |
| Sound of stars and planets | Scientists refer to electromagnetic radiation or data sonification when talking about the sound of stars and planets |
| Sound of black holes | Sound of black holes can be heard by raising the frequency to the audible range |
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What You'll Learn
Sound waves need a medium to travel through
Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium to travel through. This can be a solid, liquid, or gas. In the case of sound waves on Earth, the medium is usually air. Air molecules near the source of the sound bump into their neighbours, which then bump into their neighbours, and so on, causing the sound to travel through the air. This is why sound can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, as they are all composed of particles that can vibrate and transmit these vibrations.
However, in space, there is no air or other matter for sound waves to travel through. Space is a vacuum, which means it contains almost no matter. While it is not a perfect vacuum and does contain some particles, they are too spread out to transmit sound waves. The density of particles in space is around 1 particle per cubic centimetre, compared to the air on Earth, which has a density of 10^25 particles per cubic centimetre. This lack of matter means there is nothing for the sound waves to vibrate and propagate through, so they do not travel at all.
It is important to note that while sound waves cannot travel through the vacuum of space, they can travel through plasmas. Plasma is a state of matter composed of electrons and ions that can transmit sound waves. In 2022, NASA released an audible recording of sound waves from a black hole in the Perseus galaxy cluster. The black hole itself did not emit sound, but the diffuse plasma around it carried very long-wavelength sound waves.
Additionally, while sound waves typically require a medium to travel through, there are some exceptions. For example, electromagnetic waves, such as light waves, do not require a medium and can propagate through a vacuum. This is because electromagnetic waves are generated by oscillating electric and magnetic fields, which do not depend on the presence of particles to exist.
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Space is a vacuum, lacking a medium for sound to travel
Sound waves are produced when air molecules near the source of the sound bump into their neighbours, which in turn bump into their neighbours, and so on, causing the sound to move through the air. These waves travel at about 760 miles per hour (1,223 kilometres per hour), faster than a commercial jet.
However, sound waves cannot travel through vacuums like space because there is no medium for them to vibrate across. Space is a vacuum, which means it contains almost no matter. The word "vacuum" comes from the Latin word for "empty". While space is not a perfect vacuum and does contain some particles, these are surrounded by vast swathes of emptiness.
Sound waves need a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel. They are carried by atoms and molecules, and in space, there are no atoms or molecules to carry sound waves. Therefore, there is no sound in space, and also no echo. An echo occurs when a sound wave hits a hard, flat surface and bounces back in the direction it came from.
However, scientists have recently shown that sound can travel through a vacuum under specific circumstances, but only across extremely small distances. In 2023, researchers transmitted sound waves across small distances between two crystals in a vacuum. This works because zinc oxide crystals are piezoelectric, meaning that when sound is applied to one of the crystals, it creates an electrical charge that disrupts nearby electric fields. If the crystal shares an electric field with another crystal, the magnetic disruption can travel from one to the other across a vacuum. The disruptions mirror the frequency of the sound waves, so the receiving crystal can turn the disruption back into a sound on the other side of the vacuum.
Additionally, 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. While the black hole itself emits no sound, the diffuse plasma around it carries very long-wavelength sound waves. After raising the frequency to the audible range, the result is the sound of a black hole growling in deep space.
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Sound waves can travel through stars
Sound waves cannot travel through space because space is a vacuum, lacking the matter to carry sound waves. Sound waves require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel. However, while space is a good enough vacuum that normal sound can't travel through it, it is not a perfect vacuum and does have some particles floating through it.
Sound waves can also travel through the plasma around black holes, though the frequency is far too low for the human ear to hear. NASA has raised the frequency of these sound waves to the audible range, allowing us to hear the sound of a black hole growling in deep space.
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Gravitational waves allow us to hear space
Sound does not travel in space as it is a vacuum with almost no matter. Sound waves need a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel, and in space, there are no atoms or molecules to carry sound waves. However, gravitational waves have provided a way to "hear" space.
Gravitational waves are waves of oscillating spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects. These waves carry information about the motion and properties of these objects, allowing scientists to "listen" to the universe and gain insights into phenomena such as black hole mergers and neutron star collisions.
The detection of gravitational waves has revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos. In 2015, the first direct detection of gravitational waves was made, confirming a key prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity. This groundbreaking discovery opened a new era of astrophysics, allowing scientists to observe the universe in a completely new way.
Gravitational wave detectors, such as the LIGO and Virgo observatories, use advanced technologies like laser interferometry and cryogenically cooled antennas to detect these incredibly faint signals. By analyzing the characteristics of gravitational waves, scientists can determine the masses, speeds, and distances of the objects that generated them.
While the human ear cannot directly perceive gravitational waves, advanced detectors can translate these waves into audible sound. By speeding up or slowing down the playback of recorded gravitational waves, scientists can create audible representations of these cosmic events, allowing us to "hear" the music of the spheres.
In conclusion, while sound does not travel forever in space due to the absence of a medium, gravitational waves provide a remarkable way to listen to the universe. Through the detection and translation of these waves, we gain a deeper understanding of the cosmos and expand our senses beyond the limits of human hearing. Gravitational waves truly represent a new sense for humanity, allowing us to hear the sounds of space.
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Human hearing range is limited
Sound cannot travel in space because it is a vacuum devoid of matter. Sound waves require atoms and molecules to travel through, and in space, there are none to carry sound waves.
However, in 2022, NASA released an audible recording of a massive black hole in the Perseus galaxy cluster, 250 million light-years away. The black hole itself does not emit sound, but the plasma surrounding 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. But when the frequency was raised to the audible range, humans could hear the sound of a black hole growling in deep space.
The human hearing range is generally between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, although there is variation among individuals, especially at high frequencies. The upper limit for most adults is 20,000 Hz, but it can be as low as 15,000 to 17,000 Hz. The human ear's sensitivity to higher frequencies decreases with age, and the upper limit can drop to around 14,000 Hz or lower.
Under ideal laboratory conditions, humans can hear sound as low as 12 Hz and as high as 28,000 Hz, although the threshold increases sharply at 15,000 Hz, corresponding to the last auditory channel of the cochlea. The human auditory system is most sensitive to frequencies between 2,000 and 5,000 Hz.
The human brain has developed an audible frequency range to register sounds within specific frequencies. This range varies depending on age, exposure to loud noises, and other hearing loss risk factors. Women tend to experience hearing loss less frequently than men, but when it occurs, it is more pronounced at low and medium frequencies.
In summary, while sound does not travel in space due to the absence of atoms and molecules, NASA has found ways to create audible representations of astronomical data, allowing humans to experience the sounds of deep space, such as black holes and nebulae. Meanwhile, the human hearing range is typically between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, but it can vary significantly between individuals and is subject to changes throughout one's lifetime.
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Frequently asked questions
No, sound does not travel in space as it is a vacuum with almost no matter. Sound waves need a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel.
Space is a vacuum, which means it has no air or molecules for sound waves to travel through.
While humans cannot hear any sounds in space, there are some instances where astronomers have studied sound waves in space. For example, sound waves can travel through stars and encode themselves in the light that we see from stars. This is called astroseismology.
Gravitational waves are how we hear sounds in space. These waves move space and everything in it back and forth by a tiny amount. If you were close enough and had sensitive ears, you could feel these vibrations in your eardrum.
