Wanda Diaz Merced studies the light emitted by gamma-ray bursts, the most energetic events in the universe. When she lost her sight and was left without a way to do her science, she had a revelatory insight: the light curves she could no longer see could be translated into sound. Through sonification, she regained mastery over her work, and now she's advocating for a more inclusive scientific community. "Science is for everyone," she says. "It has to be available to everyone, because we are all natural explorers."

Wanda Diaz Merced: How a blind astronomer found a way to hear the stars

How a blind astronomer found a way to hear the stars

The heart of a dying star outshines our galaxy, releasing the energy of 10 days' sun in one second, evolving into a magnetar.

Transforming star data into sound, a blind astronomer breaks barriers, proving science's inclusivity and humanity's innate curiosity.

Sonification of celestial data unveils hidden patterns, enhancing astronomical research and democratizing access to cosmic mysteries.