Oldest Human Voice

Enthusiasts recently gathered to listen to a recently discovered French recording, which scientists claim is the oldest know recorded human voice. It is a 10-second clip from 1860 of a woman singing a section of the song Au Clair de la Lune (By the Light of the Moon). The recording predates Thomas Edison's Mary Had A Little Lamb by 17 years. The sounds were captured using the device shown above, known as a phonautograph.

To add a comedic spin on the story, listen to the audio below. It was recorded from BBC Radio 4, when Charlotte Green giggles uncontrollably after the human voice recording was played. "I'm afraid I just lost it, I was completely ambushed by the giggles," said Green.