Can Our Voices Really Be Stored in the Atmosphere?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the idea of whether human voices can be stored in the atmosphere, exploring the implications of sound propagation and the mixing of air molecules over time. Participants engage in both humorous and serious exchanges about the nature of sound and the air we breathe, touching on concepts from physics and biology.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the claim that voices can be stored in the atmosphere, suggesting it may be a misunderstanding or a joke.
  • One participant explains that while every breath contains atoms from past living beings, sound waves dissipate and do not remain in the atmosphere.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that voices are stored in a fictional file path, indicating skepticism about the original claim.
  • There is a discussion about the mixing of air molecules over time, with some participants noting that it takes a long time for air to mix thoroughly across the globe.
  • Concerns are raised about the validity of the claim regarding breathing in molecules from historical figures, with some participants expressing doubt about the longevity of air molecules in the atmosphere.
  • One participant references a thought experiment related to the number of air molecules and their mixing, suggesting that while it is theoretically possible to breathe in molecules exhaled by humans from centuries ago, the practicalities are uncertain.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the original claim about voices being stored in the atmosphere. There are competing views regarding the mixing of air molecules and the nature of sound propagation, with some participants expressing skepticism and others providing explanations based on their understanding of physics.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the mixing of air molecules takes a significant amount of time, and there is uncertainty about the exact time frame required for complete mixing. The discussion includes speculative elements regarding the sources of air molecules and the nature of sound waves.

EngWiPy
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Hello,

I heard someone talking about something that our voice is stored somewhere in the atmosphere? Is this true?

Regards
 
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S_David said:
Hello,

I heard someone talking about something that our voice is stored somewhere in the atmosphere? Is this true?

Regards

Sounds like a crackpot, or they are pulling your leg. Can you post a link to some credible information?
 
No, not our voice. Every breath you take will contain some of the atoms and molecules exhaled by every person and animal that ever lived*.

*Sort of. It takes 1000 to 2000 years to be assured that all the air of the planet has been thoroughly mixed. But pretty much, every exhaled breath from every living creature prior to that time has been mixed completely and evenly across the globe, and therefore, with every breath we are breathing what they breathed out in every breath.

But the voices are waves through the air, and this energy dissipates completely into chaotic random motions of molecules.
 
Yes it is stored under

C://Atmosphere/Creatures/Platypuses and Humans/Humans/Voices_all(TechnoRemix).mp3

Hope that helps.
 
protonchain said:
Yes it is stored under

C://Atmosphere/Creatures/Platypuses and Humans/Humans/Voices_all(TechnoRemix).mp3

Hope that helps.

Platypuses and Humans! Damn! I knew it was one of those...

And here I was looking through /Hippos and Rhinos...

And also:


Chi Meson said:
No, not our voice. Every breath you take will contain some of the atoms and molecules exhaled by every person and animal that ever lived*.

*Sort of. It takes 1000 to 2000 years to be assured that all the air of the planet has been thoroughly mixed. But pretty much, every exhaled breath from every living creature prior to that time has been mixed completely and evenly across the globe, and therefore, with every breath we are breathing what they breathed out in every breath.

But the voices are waves through the air, and this energy dissipates completely into chaotic random motions of molecules.

I did not know that.. That's actually a pretty, well, disturbing fact there. Thanks Chi lol
 
protonchain said:
Yes it is stored under

C://Atmosphere/Creatures/Platypuses and Humans/Humans/Voices_all(TechnoRemix).mp3

Hope that helps.

It's stored in a file on your local hard drive. Okay, give me a minute...
 
protonchain said:
Yes it is stored under

C://Atmosphere/Creatures/Platypuses and Humans/Humans/Voices_all(TechnoRemix).mp3

Hope that helps.


It's actually C:\Atmosphere\Creatures\Platypuses and Humans\Humans\Voices_all(TechnoRemix).mp3
 
Chi Meson said:
No, not our voice. Every breath you take will contain some of the atoms and molecules exhaled by every person and animal that ever lived*.

*Sort of. It takes 1000 to 2000 years to be assured that all the air of the planet has been thoroughly mixed. But pretty much, every exhaled breath from every living creature prior to that time has been mixed completely and evenly across the globe, and therefore, with every breath we are breathing what they breathed out in every breath.

But the voices are waves through the air, and this energy dissipates completely into chaotic random motions of molecules.

When I first heard this, I immediately said that the voice fades with distance. But do you have a source about this subject?
 
S_David said:
When I first heard this, I immediately said that the voice fades with distance. But do you have a source about this subject?

A source for the breath thing, or for the sound propagation thing? Hopefully you're asking about the former.
 
  • #10
berkeman said:
A source for the breath thing, or for the sound propagation thing? Hopefully you're asking about the former.

I need a reference about the whole subject, wether it is true or not.
 
  • #11
S_David said:
I need a reference about the whole subject, wether it is true or not.

The sound propagation thing is definitely not true. You can use google or wikipedia or any simple intro physics text to find explanations of how sound works and propagates. To believe otherwise is nonsensical.

On our breathing pterodactyl bad breath, well, Chi is going to provide you with that link.
 
  • #12
I think Chi is pulling your leg a little bit. Afterall, air molecules don't always stay in the air over such long periods of time, and other molecules can get added. So, it's really just as possible that you're breathing molecules formed from pterodactyl poop as from pterodactyl bad breath. :wink:
 
  • #14
Moonbear said:
I think Chi is pulling your leg a little bit. After all, air molecules don't always stay in the air over such long periods of time, and other molecules can get added. So, it's really just as possible that you're breathing molecules formed from pterodactyl poop as from pterodactyl bad breath. :wink:

The idea was a thought experiment I got from Paul Hewitt, the Teacher's Teacher. This was a simple demonstration of orders of magnitudes, really. There are about as many molecules in one lung-full of air as there are lung-fulls of air in the atmosphere (about 10^21, or 10^22, depending on who's lung you use.)

When you exhale, the molecules begin mixing and recombining. Give it enough time (is 1000 years enough? I don't really know) and all the atoms/molecules will be evenly mixed throughout the entire atmosphere, and the probabilities approach 1:1 that you will inhale at least one atom that was exhaled by any human of 2000 years ago.

It will take some time before I have this verified. Just started my control group of CO2 yesterday. A heck of time tagging those suckers.

Edit: just saw OS's link. They had 10^23. Whatever.
 

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