Sounds of the Universe with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Kimberly Arcand – Cosmic Queries

What does space sound like? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Matt Kirshen explore space sonification projects and Chandra Observatory x-ray data with astronomy visualization expert Kimberly Arcand. Hear what the supermassive black hole at the center of The Milky Way sounds like…

What is sonification? Learn about different ways of presenting and visualizing data and how we can make space images more accessible to blind or low vision people. We talk about Chandra Observatory and the x-ray data it produces into images. Discover the Perseus Galaxy Cluster and the lowest note a galaxy can make. We listen to sonifications of the center of The Milky Way, the black hole M87, and Chandra deep field.

How do they pick which images to sonify? What are other ways you can present the universe? Find out about 3D printing the cosmos and scientists like Wanda Díaz-Merced who use sonifications to study stars. What are the most active wavelengths in the universe?

Why is a pulsar best seen with x-ray and radio waves? Are there sonifications of the planets in our solar system? We listen to a sonification of black holes colliding. Does the universe sound like water because of all the waves? We discuss the five senses, the sonification of Stephan’s Quintet, and translating the sounds of the universe into sheet music. Could someday an orchestra play the universe?

Thanks to our Patrons Brittani Vega, Anish Abraham, Charlie Chapter Zhang, John McCormack, Eugene C Nickel Jr, and Marcus Ruzzon for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.

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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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00:00 - Sonification: What is it?
12:00 - The Sound of Our Black Hole
17:00 - Sonification of M87 & The Lowest Note in the Universe
18:45 - Chandra Deep Field
22:15 - How do you decide what to sonify?
24:10 - 3D Printing the Cosmos
25:59 - Detecting Objects in Space
28:55 - Accessibility in Astronomy
32:38 - Wavelengths in the Universe
37:30 - Pulsars, X Rays, & Radio Waves
41:32 - Telescopes, LIGO, & Gravitational Waves
45:00 - Senses on Other Planets
48:18 - Travelling Light & Mediums in Space
50:55 - Chandra Data
52:58 - Big Bang v. Colliding Black Holes & Playing the Universe

[StarTalk]

Which is your favorite data sonification?

[tamtamtt]

I'm so grateful for star talk with the laughter Neil and Chuck provide.
Sometimes I wouldn't be able to have a good day if I hadn't started it by laughing with them...
Thank you so, so much and, "KEEP LOOKING UP!"
I'd like to add that I always have, since I was a child. I never walk outside in the dark without looking to the stars before I take a step further. It's a reflex, I think🤔 I don't know if there's more to it or not but as long as I can walk outside at night I'll always look up, and now, not without thinking about Neil and Chuck.
❤Love you guys ❤

[tcfwmss]

I'm grateful for all star talk. And Matt is a good co-host. But Chuck and Neil together is MAGIC. I always say to myself, YES its a Chuck co-host episode when he's on. Wish it could be 100% of the shows

[MrZeek]

Kim absolutely NEEDS to sell a "Space Music" Album online. I would totally buy it.

[qgdertyuiojh]

It's NDT time!! The title is "The Sound of Space" and I'm already hooked before having heard one word. NEIL, WE LOVE YOU!!! ❤👍😎

[burtonkevin]

Neil and Chuck together is the whole reason I ended up liking this show so much. Always nice to have a laugh while learning science

[Insomniac]

Lord Nice needs to be permanent co host. He balances out everything.

[crazycherokee]

Can Neil and Chuck make a spinoff of startalk that ONLY has them as the host and co-host, but chuck can smoke on camera and itll cater more to the fans that love his comedic elements and the potheads that love learning while smoking? That'd be amazing.

[RustyChapman]

If you could loop those audio files together, they would make a great soundtrack to play while you sleep.

[phishhead]

Thank you for all the education and entertainment. You are my personal Astrophysicist!

[joeyd.]

Kim! You are such a treat to listen to and watch….and Neil and Matt, as always…thank you again for making my mind twitch. ❤️

[patriciarowan]

What a treat for those of us who are both auditory and visual learners ❤️

[vince]

This channel truly is a public service.

[bigman]

The irony of the sound being messed up is amazing 😂, Great show

[themusicgaragetmg]

Imagine having a track with all these recordings, I'd love sleeping to that! The Actual sounds of our Universe!

[DonBlueberry]

Listening to those sonification sounds was an experience for the mind and soul. I want to be able to listen to the sonification of the universe any time. Would be nice if we had a satellite specifically for this purpose, streaming live data for us all to listen to any time we wish. Here's to dreams. 🎉 This was a beautiful episode.

[jadaeisenbud]

Hi Neil and Matt, AND CHUCK!!!! I am a huge fan of Star Talk! I am wondering, in terms of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), what do you make of and what is the validity to the theory on neutrinos as a form of communication through spacetime for advanced intelligent alien life forms. Are neutrinos found everywhere in the universe naturally? How could we possibly even account for such technology in our search? Hope to get this question answered in a future Cosmic Queries

[sekaramochi]

Love you guys please please please never stop ❤

[mentalllllll]

@startalk Have you ever given thought to the fact that mountains look like giant petrified trees? From the mountain walls looking like tree bark and the roads we drive resemble patterns of the base of a tree? Jagged. Sometimes forming a giant U shape. Hills taking on patterns looking like the veins of a leaf. Or even a shape of the leaf itself?

[stephanienirenberg]

Yeah. A new one. Makes my day so much better.