Yes, sound exists independent of living things. Sound is a mechanical wave that propagates through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. It is generated by the vibration or disturbance of particles in the medium, which creates changes in pressure that propagate as waves.
Living things, including humans and animals, have the ability to perceive and interpret sound waves using their auditory systems. They have specialized organs like ears that detect these waves and convert them into electrical signals, which are then processed by the brain to perceive sound.
However, the existence of sound does not depend on the presence of living things. Sound waves can still propagate through the medium even if there are no organisms around to perceive them. For example, in the absence of humans or animals, sound waves can still travel through the air and water, and they can interact with objects, causing vibrations or other effects.
In summary, sound is a physical phenomenon that exists independently of living things. It is the interpretation and perception of sound that require the presence of organisms with auditory capabilities.