Our gigantic universe is home to galaxies, planets, stars, asteroids and other astronomical bodies that we still don’t know about. All of these have lifecycles — from birth through middle age and finally death, which can provide material for the birth of other celestial bodies. While not exactly like the cycle of human lives on Earth, these cosmic cycles follow their own fascinating patterns. It is truly remarkable to note how everything works according to natural laws and cycles.

However, the mysteries of the cosmos are deep and vast. One of the enigmas associated with space is the silence and it is indeed overwhelming. Have you ever wondered if these astronomical bodies produced sounds? If yes, then you’re asking the right scientific question and the answer is: sound can’t travel without any medium like air or water. Since there is no medium for sound to travel, space is considered a vacuum devoid of atmosphere.

Without air or other mediums to carry sound waves, human ears cannot detect the typical noises we associate with sound; however, it doesn’t mean the universe is entirely silent — yes, the astronomical bodies spread throughout our vast universe are quite active regarding energy and waves that they produce!

If you study physics, you’ll probably know that electromagnetic phenomena such as stars, planets and black holes emit various forms of energy and types of waves like radio waves and X-rays. While we can’t hear these waves directly, just as we can’t hear radio waves from our radio stations, scientists, using advanced technology, convert these phenomena into sound waves through a process called sonification, giving us a unique auditory perspective of these celestial bodies. Amazing, isn’t it?

Let’s explore how these space phenomena are detected and converted into something we can........

© Dawn Young Magazine