Summary
In this captivating episode of StarTalk, host Neil deGrasse Tyson, co-host Matt Kirshen, and guest Kim Arcand explore the fascinating concept of sonification – converting cosmic data into sound. Aimed at increasing accessibility for the visually impaired, the sonification project emerged from an earlier endeavor to create 3D tactile models of space data.
Arcand explains the process of turning data sets into sound waves through mathematical mappings and imparts how different instruments and sounds can represent various types of data. She demonstrates three examples, including the Milky Way's center and an X-ray image of black holes and galaxies. The podcast also celebrates the importance of understanding the cosmos through a multisensory approach.
Listeners learn about the connections between X-ray and radio wave data in understanding cosmic phenomena like pulsars, as well as how Chandra data and Webb data reveal complementary information about galaxies. Despite sound not traveling through the vacuum of space, there are instances of sound waves occurring through other mediums, such as particles around stars.
Throughout the discussion, the hosts and guest emphasize transcending human vision and probing the universe through different means, including X-rays, gamma rays, infrared, ultraviolet rays, and more. The podcast concludes with the intriguing fusion of science and music, as artists turn sonified data into musical compositions played by human instruments – a beautiful blend of art and scientific exploration.
