Name: A history of the universe in sound
Uploaded: 2011-06-23T16:03:00Z
Duration: 10 min 59 s
Description: Artist-technologist Honor Harger listens to the weird and wonderful noises of stars and planets and pulsars. In her work, she tracks the radio waves emitted by ancient celestial objects and turns them into sound, including "the oldest song you will ever hear," the sound of cosmic rays left over from the Big Bang.

Artist-technologist Honor Harger listens to the weird and wonderful noises of stars and planets and pulsars. In her work, she tracks the radio waves emitted by ancient celestial objects and turns them into sound, including "the oldest song you will ever hear," the sound of cosmic rays left over from the Big Bang.

Honor Harger: A history of the universe in sound

A history of the universe in sound

Exploring the universe through sound reveals its scale, composition, and age, unlocking cosmic secrets via radio astronomy.

Accidental discoveries, from telephone wires to radio antennae, have historically advanced our understanding of celestial phenomena.

The persistent noise heard by Penzias and Wilson, identified as cosmic microwave background radiation, confirmed the Big Bang theory.