No, sound cannot travel through a vacuum or empty space. Sound waves require a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to propagate. In these mediums, sound waves transmit energy through the vibration and interaction of particles.
In a vacuum or space where there is no matter, there are no particles for sound waves to interact with and transmit energy. Therefore, sound cannot propagate in the absence of a medium.
Regarding the maximum possible speed of sound, it depends on the properties of the medium through which it travels. In general, the speed of sound is determined by the density, elasticity, and temperature of the medium. In ideal conditions at sea level, the speed of sound in dry air is approximately 343 meters per second (about 1,125 feet per second or roughly 767 miles per hour). However, the speed of sound can vary significantly in different materials or conditions. For example, sound travels faster in denser mediums like water or solids compared to air.
In space, where there is a vacuum, sound cannot propagate, so there is no speed of sound to consider. Instead, other forms of energy, such as electromagnetic waves, are the means by which information travels over vast distances.