Saturday, March 26, 2005

Sounds of Space

Most people think of Space as a vast sea of nothing. An endless silence filled void.
There is no atmosphere, nothing for sound to stick to once it's created, so it usually just ends.
I've heard it said, there's little interest for people to colonize space because it's so empty and lonely-- and quiet.
But what if it isn't? What if Space is really just a vast ocean, teeming with islands of life, or even some life that "swims" in the vacuum? And what if sound is simply harder to find. Or perhaps open to interpretation.

Check out this site from Prof. Don Gurnett, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa. http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/space-audio/
He has a collection of space sounds unlike any you have ever heard. Granted some are simply computerized interpretations of sound, and others are Earth-bound noises, they are still sounds derived from Space or space-based objects.
As posted on the site: " We can hear the sounds OF space by using scientific instruments on spacecraft as our 'ears.' Scientific instruments detect and record radio waves, then transmit the recorded information to Earth. Once the transmitted information has been received at Earth, the data are processed for use in scientific studies. This processing also allows data to be converted or translated into sounds."
Whatever. The point is, it's cool! They are the sort of sounds you might hear watching an episode of Star Trek, only these are for real.
I look forward to the day someone will listen to the winds whistle through the trees of an alien world. But today I will settle for something other than silence. Even a few alien beeps, whistles and white noise are better than that.
Thanks Prof. Gurnett!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hey--Glad to have you...let's see...I think the answer is:

1. Armageddon (1998)
Harry Stamper: AJ, I have only five words for you: Damn glad to see you boy!
See for yourself:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120591/quotes

Damn glad to see you too!--Spread the word...Space Ace is back in town.