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The ability of light to travel through a vacuum, such as outer space, while sound cannot, is due to their fundamentally different natures and the mediums through which they propagate.

Light is an electromagnetic wave, consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. These fields can propagate through a vacuum without the need for a physical medium because they are self-sustaining. In other words, light does not require particles or molecules to transmit its energy. This is why light can travel through the vacuum of outer space.

On the other hand, sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to propagate. Sound waves are created by the vibration or disturbance of particles in the medium. As the particles collide with each other, they transfer energy and compressions (regions of increased pressure) and rarefactions (regions of decreased pressure) are formed, resulting in the propagation of sound.

In a vacuum, there are no particles or molecules to transmit and propagate the mechanical vibrations of sound waves. Therefore, sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum. Without a medium to transmit the vibrations, sound simply does not have the means to propagate.

It's important to note that sound can travel through different mediums, such as air, water, or solids, because these materials have particles that can interact and transmit the mechanical vibrations of the sound waves. But in the absence of a medium, like in outer space, there is no material for sound to travel through, hence it cannot propagate.

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