For the last 2 months our home which is 10 years old now started popping in the attic / ceiling from sun up to sun down. It sounds like someone thumping on the dry wall. I have checked so many things and cannot get it to stop. Is it just thermal gradients causing things to shift and I'm stuck listening to it until hell summer ends?

No critters of any kind.
No leaky pipes, and all seem to be well secured.
AC condensate draining well.
Plenty of insulation.
Air ducts seems to be tight and secure.

Is it coming from one specific area or multiple places? If multiple, are the pops from different locations in sync. What materials, piping, etc. are in the area near the source of the pops?

Any recent remodels or equipment changes?

Doesn't sound like your issue, but after after a recent remodel, I started hearing popping from inside one of our walls and realized it was when the shower above was being used. I believe it happens when the PEX hot water lines heat up to feed the shower.

We have a large living room space with a gazebo ceiling and it sounds like it is all over the place. No recent remodels of any kind. Have already found all the piping up there and nothing looks like it's loose enough to bang around. Happens frequently even if no water is running.

Happens whether AC is running or off so don't think it's related to cooling from that or from drainage.

I had everything turned off, fans, AC etc and stood in attic and listened and it sounds like it's coming from above me. So I'm wondering if its just hot AF and causing something to shift under the roof.

I'm guessing you have trusses and the popping you're hearing is probably some form of truss uplift. The wood expands/contrasts at different rates with big temperatures swings.

One opinion: framing
http://rb.gy/uy9o4

Another
What animal is most likely in my attic?
The animals that are most likely to be living in your attic are squirrels and raccoons. If you hear noises during the daytime, it is probably a squirrel, since they are only active during the day.
Can animals in attic get into house?
Animals in attics can make entry into the home. Although rare, some species can chew on the drywall to create an opening that would allow entry into the home.
Once under the insulation, one might not ever discover their tell tale signs.

Personal
Birds & squirrels have not only taken out feeders but also gnawed on roof fascias low & high, ridge vents, skylights, etc. to create these sounds.
Of course, tree limbs thought out of reach of roof WILL beat it up in right kind of wind.

Popping inside the house was discovered to be an invasive bug stuck to a glue trap that continued to POP in its escape failures.

Check your water heater(s). They could have buildup and they knock/pop when they do. If so they will likely leak soon and you will need to get a new one. They only pop when the flame is on so after you use hot water

GigEmAgs08 said:

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Check your water heater(s). They could have buildup and they knock/pop when they do. If so they will likely leak soon and you will need to get a new one. They only pop when the flame is on so after you use hot water

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One is less than a year old. Other is less than 3. Both are in good shape and not thumping.

Does the house have a metal roof ?

My metal roofs have ways popped at certain times of the day. Every house I've ever lived in has as well. It's just the heat of the day. Your structure is expanding and contracting. Wood doesn't slide quietly. It sticks and then gives at once which is what you are hearing. Perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

How frequent are these things? My wife told me 3 days ago she heard what sounded like a drip in the wall but there is no water line in the area where the drip is and she couldn't see anything in the attic nor is there a wet spot on amy wall or overhead. No clue what it is and I won't be home for several days to look.

Wait until this winter and then listen again with the hot water running. That noise is you piping expanding against the structure. I don't know what it is about pipes other than uniform expansion long a linear footage, but they do have a nearly Metronomic rhythm for some reason.

Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

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Wait until this winter and then listen again with the hot water running. That noise is you piping expanding against the structure. I don't know what it is about pipes other than uniform expansion long a linear footage, but they do have a nearly Metronomic rhythm for some reason.

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Yeah we've always heard the hot water pipes when water is running. We only occasionally would hear a pop like that in the attic during the summers, but around June it started up this year (after 10 years) and will pop probably 20-30x per hour all ****ing day now when no water is running at all.

I'm guessing your sheetrock was installed with nails.

If it's not anything suggested thus far, then either a builder comes to visit inside & attic
or
submit photos of the popping area ... from all sides might suggest something new.

Otherwise, one could compose a novel that has nothing to do with real life ala
there was a tiny roof leak or high humidity that invaded the un-sealed back sides of the gazebo ceiling "soft wood" planks & framing, making them swell
so that
when Tuscon came to town and never left
all that swelling began to shrink, pop, etc. like never before.

In such a case, back-priming & screws might be prescribed.
The End - A Fantasy

Probably a squirrel dropping pecans on your roof from the tree above you. 99% most likely cause.

Sea Speed said:

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How frequent are these things? My wife told me 3 days ago she heard what sounded like a drip in the wall but there is no water line in the area where the drip is and she couldn't see anything in the attic nor is there a wet spot on amy wall or overhead. No clue what it is and I won't be home for several days to look.

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It could be the condensation drain line for your air conditioner draining into a plumbing pipe in the wall.

That is exactly what I thought it would be and I will check when I get home. Thst was my first thought.

jamesf said:

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Sea Speed said:

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How frequent are these things? My wife told me 3 days ago she heard what sounded like a drip in the wall but there is no water line in the area where the drip is and she couldn't see anything in the attic nor is there a wet spot on amy wall or overhead. No clue what it is and I won't be home for several days to look.

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It could be the condensation drain line for your air conditioner draining into a plumbing pipe in the wall.

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I'm like 99% sure this is what it was.

I'm pretty sure it was water dripping from a partial blockage in the drain line because my wife called me in a panic today that water was leaking from the ceiling.

The drain line was fully blocked and water was leaking from one of the additional plugged outlets of the ac and the pan was pretty full. I'm not sure if the secondary drain was clogged as well or what but ill be home tomorrow tha k goodness and be able to unclog that drain line.