First recorded music of the sun

Astrophysicists from the University of Sheffield were able to recreate the sounds that are generated in the turbulent convective zone on the surface of the Sun. They were recorded thanks to the transformation of the vibrations of the coronal loops (pictured). These beautiful and well-structured objects up to 100,000 km in size appear in the lower part of the solar corona under the influence of a magnetic field.

Having looked closely at the loops, astronomers discovered a clear vibration, similar to the vibration of the strings of musical instruments. This led them to the idea of ​​generating sounds that could correspond to such vibrations.



So that sounds could be heard by the ear, the frequency of vibrations was increased and a very harmonious hum was produced, which really looked like music. Of course, such manipulations with astronomical data are more likely to relate to art than to science. They are as scientific as the visualization of photographs taken in the infrared spectrum.

This is not the first attempt by scientists to add sound to silent space. Two years ago, a group of French astroseismologists voiced oscillations of several stars and published an almost entire musical album similar in style to Aphex Twin. And Professor Tim O'Brien from the University of Manchester collects a collection of his favorite space “sounds” and publishes monthly releases of the “astronomical podcast” Jodcast .