Seven Sensational Facts About Sound

Humans
have six basic senses: hearing, smell, taste, touch, sight, and
seeing dead people. We would love to tell you about all of them, but
we’re kind of busy right now. It’s almost naptime, you see. But
let’s do this as a compromise: we will share some amazing facts
about sound that are sure to please and/or damage your eardrums. For
maximum effectiveness, ask a friend or random stranger to read the
article out loud and enjoy the sensation of their rich, deep,
baritone voice vibrating against your cochlea.

Sound
Cannot Be Heard in Space

Remember
near the end of Star Wars Episodes 1, 4, 6, and 7 when the good guys
blow up a Trade Federation Control Ship, Death Star, Death Star 2,
and Planet That Has Been Converted Into a Super Huge Death Star
Thingy, respectively? The sound of the explosions must have been
insane, right? Actually, you were fed a bunch of lies. Yoda is real.
But sounds in space? Not so much. You see, sound is created when air
molecules vibrate into our ears. But since air molecules don’t
exist in space, there can be no sound. So next time you watch a
science fiction movie with friends, demand that it be played on mute.
You might lose your friends forever, but at least the film will gain
scientific accuracy!

A
Whip Crackin’ Good Time

When
a problem comes along, what must you do? Whip it, obviously. And what
should you do before the cream sits out too long? You know the
answer! Whooo-pish!!! Whip it real good! When you bust out a whip –
as you are wont to do – the loud cracking sound is the result of
the tip moving so quickly that it actually breaks the sound barrier!
As for the subsequent sounds of “Thank you, Sir! May I have
another?” we can only speculate. And speculate we will, you kinky
chipmunk you!

The Loudest Natural Sound on Earth Does Not Come From Donald Trump

Once upon a time, back in 1883 – long before TikTok, Impossible Burgers, and sweet n’ juicy Brainberries – the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia erupted, producing the loudest natural sound ever recorded. In fact, it was so loud that the sound ruptured the eardrums of unfortunate folks as far as 40 miles away! So now you know that contrary to popular belief, the current loudmouth occupying the Oval Office does not produce the loudest sounds on earth. But he comes in a close second.

Flies
are Deaf

Whoever
came up with the name “fly” to describe these flying insects must
have been super lazy. Here are some other amazing truths about flies:
They can fly fast. They do their buzzy buzzy thing. They annoy the
hell out of us. Also, they lack the ability to hear. Yes, that’s
right! When you scold flies for invading your personal space, it
literally falls on deaf ears. So when a frustrated Chris Tucker asks,
“Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?” we are
confident that a fly would answer, “Huh?”

Sound Travels Faster in Water Than By Air

Have
you ever tried to talk to somebody but found yourself growing
impatient because it takes so long for the sounds of your voice to
reach their ears? It could be that they’re just ignoring you, but
it’s unlikely
because you’re such an interesting person. If you really want to
make yourself heard, might we suggest talking to them underwater? The
speed of sound travels is more than 4 times faster in water than by
air. So what are you waiting for? Throw an unsuspecting friend or
coworker into a swimming pool and let’s start talkin’!

Along the Same Lines, a Whale’s Song Travels Impossibly Far

When
a whale communicates in the hauntingly beautiful language of weird
screeches and grunts, it can be heard from really, really far
distances in the ocean. Exactly how far seems to be in dispute.
Phys.org says it’s around 600 miles. National Geographic is like,
“thousands of miles” while the renown scientific journal/tabloid
trash publication the Daily Mail claims it’s 4000 miles. On the
other hand, JourneyNorth.org claims it can travel up to 10,000 miles.
So nobody really seems to know exactly. Awkward. Anyway, if you care
to know, here are the lyrics to a whale’s song: ooooooooh,
oooooooh, oooooooooh, wuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!

Cows Love Them Some Good Music

Say, remember back in college when you were playing Disasterpiece on Spotify, your roommate would walk in, just stand there and be completely absorbed by the screams and unintelligible shouting coming out of Slipknot’s mouths? That’s just like cows! Sort of. But not really. A few years ago, researchers at the University of Leicester discovered that when cows listen to relaxing music, they really dig it! In fact, they even produce more milk as they enjoy the soothing sounds of jazz. So next time you’re chugging milk during a long distance race on a hot summer day, you might regret this decision, but in a weird, indirect way you can blame Kenny G.