# No Sound in Space?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-sound-in-space/256385>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 22, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-sound-in-space/256385 "2004-07-22T18:21:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![no\_name\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/77aa72/32.png) [@no\_name\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/no_name_face)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-sound-in-space/256385/1 "2004-07-22T18:21:41Z")

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from [this site](http://www.didyouknow.cd/fastfacts/science.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> Since space is essentially empty it cannot carry sound. Therefor there is no sound in space, \*at least not the sort of sound that we are used to.[i/]

what is meant by the italicized phrase? what _other_ kind of sound is there? is it like the kind dogs hear, or something?

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**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-sound-in-space/256385/2 "2004-07-22T18:58:29Z")

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Perhaps it’s a reference to this story: [Black Hole Sound Waves](http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/09sep_blackholesounds.htm).

There couldn’t be sound waves of any kind in an _absolute_ vacuum, but even outer space isn’t a perfect vacuum; there is dust and gas, in some places dense enough to be seen as nebulae, although even the gaudiest interstellar cloud is still a [pretty good vacuum by Earthly standards](http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/q1696.html). But even that very thin material can still carry sound waves, as detailed in the first article linked to.