What Does the Universe Sound Like? - Instant Egghead #49

With sensitive instruments and some creative translations, astronomers can derive the sounds of a silent universe. Scientific American contributor Sophie Bushwick explains.

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More to explore:

NASA Spacecraft Records 'Earthsong' (NASA)

Thomas Ashcraft - Heliotown

John G. Cramer - The Sound of the Big Bang

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[TheNerdReport]

It's unreal to me how few views these videos get. Instant Egghead is incredible! Keep it up Scientific American, just know that us true science lovers really appreciate the work that you do.

[mordernphysicsspshukla]

For your more knowledge: the sound of the universe is om or aum

[radial]

1:07 sounds like somebody is trying to talk

[Space-Audio]

Actually, sound, that is, pressure waves do exist in space, but only at ultra low frequencies.  However, space is filled with a thin gas of charged particles called plasma, and since these particles are charged, they can interact at a distance via electric and magnetic fields and can propagate audible-frequency waves without the need to collide.  These are known as plasma waves.  The chorus waves mentioned in this video, measured in situ by the Van Allen Probes spacecraft, are not radio waves, but are plasma waves, which, considering that they involve oscillating particles and occur at audible frequencies are also just a bit like sound in space, although far too quiet for a human ear to hear.

Intrigued?  I'll give you one guess where you might find more information . . .

[zigaxyon]

1:07 Sounds like a gamer raging in another language.

[TheTwittered]

I'm wondering why this doesn't have 2.7 billion views myself.

[Lennart]

Actually sound DOES exist in space, because space is never completely empty. Some googling indicates that the sound speed in interstellar clouds (where stars come from..) is about 0.2 km/s. However the gas is very thin, so the sound would be very difficult to detect without a really, really, REALLY good amplifier.

[johngraves]

2:26 ....so the universe is constantly farting

[afterprtynxtdoor]

tbh this is the only topic that i cared about in my science class

[JustMarioBros]

Agreed, such quality content going unnoticed. Maybe Scientific American has to do a better job promoting this channel.

[taumpytears]

:11 <--- theres an air in space museum though, so theres which is nice

[jonnoble]

Hahahah I wonder if she ever looks at these comments

[jetunknownactor]

it sounds like we live in a "GIANT COMPUTERGAME" ;-D
very cool video ;-)

[mattnobrega]

THX or Dolby digital sound is what it reminds me of

[MrBGeonzon]

Cause World Internet User Stats only show that 2.4 Billion people have internet connection. Would be kinda hard for people with no internet to watch it.

[sanchayitasarkarmaity]

This sound is om.Proud to be a Hindu 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

[kinglaserna]

I thought the universe made the AUM or OM sound.

[vkaush]

Where can I download those sounds? Would be a kewl nerd ringtone.

[daniellehayes]

Jokes on you egghead, at that point in the universe normal empty space was more dense than the air we breathe now. So it actually was sound waves traveling back and forth at that point

[chowing]

so turns out all the 60s sound effects in star trek were indeed scientifically