Listen To The Universe On Your iPod 227
ptorrone writes "The New York Times had a great story about Dr. Mark Whittle, a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia who has taken the cosmic background radiation of the universe and made a series of sounds. The folks over at Engadget made the sounds available in MP3s so you can listen to them on your computer, iPod or whatever. Also, If you'd like to read more about Dr. Mark Whittle's work visit his site, there are a lot of presentations and information regarding Big Bang Acoustics."
high-school? (Score:5, Funny)
The Universe was created by the big bang in the high-school men's bathroom!
Re:high-school? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:high-school? (Score:4, Funny)
Actually it was Denfender.... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:high-school? (Score:5, Funny)
This only confirms my theory that the Big Bang originated somewhere in the near vicinity of Uranus. Not only was it ridiculously loud, but it also stank to high heaven.
Re:high-school? (Score:2)
Re:high-school? (Score:3, Funny)
Simple - similar to the Fraunhofer pscho-acoustic encoding algorithms, they just deleted the frequencies that the human ear doesn't perceive. Seeing how the human ear didn't exist fourteen billion years ago, most of the sound didn't make it and left us with the sounds of a street preacher screaming that the world's beginning is nigh.
Listen to gravitational waves (Score:5, Interesting)
A few years ago I made an audio file out of the gravitational wave background in our galaxy (from white-dwarf binary stars). It sounded rather like listening to the ocean... I wish I had kept a copy.
Re:Listen to gravitational waves (Score:2)
maybe there is something that sounds like your ocean you mentioned?
Re:Listen to gravitational waves (Score:5, Informative)
The ones I like best are called (humorously) zoom-whirl orbits, because the inspiraling mass makes one or two large orbits [low-frequency]followed by a series of very fast, close orbits [high-frequency] - the result is a kind of funny popping sound superimposed on the more-slowly varying sound. There are more details in this paper by Scott Hughes [arxiv.org]. (See page 37 for a graph of a zoom-whirl orbit.)
Unfortunately I don't have sound on this computer to double-check which of the sound files on his page are the ones I'm thinking of, but try the ones under "Generic Kerr Inspirals, Kludgy Results" with e=0.95 or 0.7 for starters.
Re:I don't get it. (Score:2, Insightful)
No, you don't. Nobody does. The best theory of gravity we have is Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, which most physicists who understand it believe to be incorrect.
But you're right about conversion of gravity waves to sound waves being useless as an aid to comprehension.
Re:I don't get it. (Score:2)
So I would say Einstein's theory of relativity had everything to do with gravity...
Re:I don't get it. (Score:2)
Hmm... Posting bad jokes about women in my thread? I won't forget this, Mr. Maxbang! : P
Re:I don't get it. (Score:5, Interesting)
Yes, exactly. And false-color images are used in astronomy all the time for a very good reason: they take information measured in wavelengths beyond the visual range and present it in a way that can be quickly understood by a human. It's not just about making pretty pictures (although I would say that's a bonus in some cases) - it's about presenting information in a human-understandable form. Of course you could process your IR or X-Ray astronomy pictures in a way that never involves making a visual representation of them, but then you miss out on the insight that comes from processing the image visually, which our brains are designed to do.
Likewise with gravitational waves: we have no biological way of experiencing them directly. We can measure them with sophisticated intstruments like LIGO and LISA (or at least we hope to soon). Any representation of a waveform is artificial, whether it be a plot, a datafile, or and audio file. And each format can be used to emphasize a different aspect of the data. In the case of gravitational waves, some of the frequency bands overlap with the sound frequencies the human ear is sensitive to - no need for artificially tweaking the frequencies to make it audible.
So I would strongly disagree that such representations interfere with understanding. As long as you are not misrepresenting the process you use to make a sound file or false-colour image, I would say they can only enhance our experience and understanding - for scientists as well as the general public.
Re:I don't get it. (Score:3, Funny)
I'm sure the original poster views all his IR astronomy images in their most accurate respresentation.
Due to limitations of slashdot, I'm unable to present such an image here, but I can show you the negative of such a photo:
--begin--
--end--
The problem is... (Score:2, Interesting)
With this data, the temporality of it renders it pretty much worthless to the human ear. Anything you can detect by ear will very easily be seen in a simple Fourier transform or similar technique. A Fourier transform and a plot again
Re:The problem is... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm always torn about trying to explain science to the masses, since they're clearly too dumb/uninterested to ever truly understand.
Have you ever considered that few people would want to listen to someone who starts out with that attitude about them?
I work with a project that places cosmic ray detectors in schools. The goals are both scientific and educational. I have had school security people drop by after their shift to talk and learn more about what we're doing. This - making science accessible and interesting to people - is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. You might be surprised how much "the average joe" can grasp, given the opportunity and the right resources.
Is it worth it to only give them half the facts?
No one is dishing out half-truths. All the relevant information is there. In the original article it clearly states:
I have never seen a similar presentation that didn't include some explanation of how it was done and what the relationship to the original data is.
It seems to me like you are asking, "Is it worth trying to disseminate interesting science even though it might be only partially understood?" To that my answer is that getting some of the information across is enough to make science outreach a worthwhile excercise.
I think it is more important to find creative and interesting ways of engaging people in science than making sure they've got all the facts straight right away. After all, if they you can get someone's interest, they will be motivated to learn more, and then any original misconceptions can be disspelled. If you start out expecting people to learn science by picking up the nearest Astrophysical Journal, it just won't happen.
Don't forget, it's legislators who only understand half the facts that cause most of the problems that
Again - more information, not less, is the answer. There's nothing wrong with presenting data any way you feel like it, as long as you explain what you did. If more scientists were working to publicize their research like this guy is, maybe everyone, politicians included, would realize that science is not something which is the exclusive domain of the specialists in ivory towers. When science is accessible, I think people are more likely to feel that it is of true value, and hence more willing to fund it with their tax dollars.
Re:I don't get it. (Score:3, Insightful)
The same could be said about numbers. They are arbitrarily scaled and spaced, arbitrary names, arbitrary symbols.
What they are is a model of what is being observed or described. Same with false color images or sounds of the cosmos.
What does 2kg mean? What does the evenly spaced clunk, clunk, clunk of a pulsar mean?
Granted, numbers and math work better for proper scientific understanding, but sound
Re:I don't get it. (Score:2, Insightful)
You can't just slap on a header (Score:2)
A Better way [homeip.net] to do it, is to read in the file as tones. DeCSS.mp3 actually has a deep base beat and repeating melody that's able to be listened to. I ran two versions of DeCSS C code through it and it's very easy to recognize when it gets to the key.
The way it works is that the forumla for piano key frequencies is used and on
Re:I don't get it. (Score:2)
that's because you forgot who funds your research (Score:3, Interesting)
I am perfectly happy with hanging shiny objects to the public. If they are interested, they'll ask more questions, and who knows, the younger ones might get excited enough to want to find out more (and pursue a career in science). If they don't bother to find out more, then fine with me, someone got to keep things like the water supply running.
So, all the p
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Review Of The Universe (Score:4, Funny)
Radiation - Music? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Radiation - Music? (Score:2, Insightful)
In fact, there was no reason to mentio the iPod at all.
Re:Radiation - Music? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Radiation - Music? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Radiation - Music? (Score:2)
I can't be anything but skeptical with a blatant iPod plug in the days when "research" is presented about topics that directly correlated with up-in-coming movie releases.
I listened to the MP3s... (Score:2)
"You're listening to this on an iPod!"
Re:Radiation - Music? (Score:3, Insightful)
LS
Come Over to My Place Tonight... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Come Over to My Place Tonight... (Score:3, Funny)
what you meant to say is (Score:4, Insightful)
or
"listen to the universo on your MP3-player"
There is nothing in this story that requires mentioning an iPod. And frankly all the plugs on slashdot are getting a bit tiring.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:2)
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:2)
*clicks link to NYT article* Ctrl-F "iPod" -- no results.
*clicks link to lead Ph.D's site* Ctrl-F "iPod" -- no results.
*clicks link to cheesy gadget site* -- no crap? All kinds of iPod stuff there. At a gadget and portable audio site? Wow... I'm now incredibly enlightened.
This news item is covering some cheesy site's WAV->mp3 conversion as much as the research. Just because some pro-iPod dumbarse gadget site feels the need to plug iPods (look at that, correct place and time) doesn't me
Re: (Score:2)
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:3, Informative)
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:2)
Right. I first thought by reading just the headline that it was about a new cool hack that enables your iPod to listen to some E.T. radio station or something..
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:2, Funny)
perhaps they only wanted to emphasize that these were not
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:2)
I wish the slashdot editors in general didn't sell out to Apple. But its pretty hard to mention anything remotely anti-apple being that all the pro Apple folks will jump on you ASAP.
Sunny Dubey
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:2)
Far from it
Sunny Dubey
Re:what you meant to say is (Score:5, Informative)
The title of THEIR article is:
"Listen to the sound of the Universe on your iPod"
and there's even a picture of an iPod there.
Now everyone just take a deep breath, Slashdot and Apple are not out to get you.
How long... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:How long... (Score:2)
Re:How long... (Score:2)
Bling bling, bitches.
Big bang accoustics? (Score:2, Redundant)
Let me konw when someone makes a techno tune out of it, and adds the lyrics "Let there be light!"
iPod? WTF is the relevance? (Score:3, Funny)
I think the
Damnit, knew I shouldn't have left the tinfoil hat at home today.
Re:iPod? WTF is the relevance? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:iPod? WTF is the relevance? (Score:4, Insightful)
I can see it now... "Listen to the universe on your Rio Cali 128, Rio Cali 256, Rio Chiba 128, Rio Chiba 256, Rio Nitrus 128..."
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re:iPod? WTF is the relevance? (Score:2)
As I said before, Keep up the good work. All of this pimping of apple has made my apple stock rise from 19 to 29.
Keep pimping apple. You are making me a happy camper.
Re: (Score:2)
Bittorrent (Score:3, Insightful)
-Jesse
Re:Bittorrent (Score:2)
-Jesse
Re:Bittorrent (Score:2)
-Jesse
What it sounds like in Western New York (Score:2)
Boy, that oughta drive the RIAA nuts (Score:5, Funny)
Teenager 2: The universe, man, the universe.
Vonnegut story (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Vonnegut story (Score:3, Informative)
The entire book is excellent, and I can't recommend it strongly enough.
Re:Vonnegut story (Score:2)
that's kinda.. strange.
Been doing for quite some time (Score:3, Funny)
Just what I need to spend 300 bucks or more on an electronic device to hear the universe.
I have been doing this with a Sea Shell for decades
Some massaging (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't know much about sound, but this seems odd to me...if he's editing it this much, at what point is the guy just making his own music?
Hey, I hear it! (Score:4, Funny)
I'm going to wait for the video iPod... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I'm going to wait for the video iPod... (Score:2)
I recommend mushrooms.
Re:I'm going to wait for the video iPod... (Score:2)
What the (Score:2, Funny)
Better download it now... (Score:4, Funny)
You can see remnants of the big bang (Score:2, Interesting)
2. Turn the brightness all the way up
3. Turn the contrast all the way down
4. ????
5. 1% of the dots are energy left over from the big bang. (PROFIT!)
mod parent up (Score:2)
Big Bang Acoustics (Score:3, Funny)
the AC
Some slight hearing loss may occur. Don't try this at home, go to a friends house.
Re:Big Bang Acoustics (Score:2)
I blame the beer.
the AC
I even got the joke backwards. It should have been "Crank your gain to 10 billion Bels. Even better if your amp goes all the way to 11 billion Bels.
Sounds of Jupiter (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Sounds of Jupiter (Score:2)
I remember listening to a clip that was the sound of wind on Io or some such; it was freaky. That's the best way I can describe it; freaky.
RIAA? (Score:2)
Since when does mp3 MEAN iPod... (Score:2, Informative)
I don't understand why the headline had to read iPod instead of mp3. Why not just say you can listen to the mp3? I think more people listen to mp3's from other players (be it computer or a Creative product, etc...) than the iPod.
Perhaps I'm just silly, but I don't think of the iPod as soon as I find an mp3 or a new sound.
The way the site is being slashdotted... (Score:2, Funny)
DRM anyone? (Score:2)
On the other hand (seriously now) this reminds me of the Silmarillion, a book of J.R.R.Tolkien that describes the beginning of the Universe as a Music... cool.
Re:DRM anyone? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:DRM anyone? (Score:2)
Except in the Silmarillion, the creation was likened to an extremely complex symphony, whereas this is just white noise.
That's just the difference between theory and observation. Tolkien believed in intelligent design, and so imagined a symphony. On the other hand, we've actually gone and done it - decoded the remnants of the big bang into white noise - so we know the truth.
The Universe was created by Dom Delillo [amazon.com].
If you play it backwards and speed it up... (Score:5, Funny)
Whats next? (Score:2, Funny)
NASA has something similiar (Score:5, Informative)
Re:NASA has something similiar (Score:3, Informative)
NASA - Symphonies Of The Planets 1 (@320kbps).rar [ed2k]
NASA - Symphonies Of The Planets 2 (@320kbps).rar [ed2k]
NASA - Symphonies Of The Planets 3 (@320kbps).rar [ed2k]
NASA - Symphonies Of The Planets 4 (@320kbps).rar [ed2k]
NASA - Symphonies Of The Planets 5 (@320kbps).rar [ed2k]
PLEASE, if you like the music support the artist and buy a CD or a concert ticket... Sure Solaris is star, but even with the recent publicity Mars and the smaller planets just don't pull much wieght i
On your TV too. (Score:2)
Stop Whining Already (Score:4, Interesting)
Strap This Portable GPS Onto Your Backpack
"WTF, doods? I use a satchel. Don't TELL ME what to use to carry my books!"
Watch The Star Wars Holiday Special On Your TV
"DVD = TV???? I've got a PLASMA you bitches. What is it with the analog bias on Slashdot these days, huh????"
New NASA-developed Lens Cleaner Keeps Glasses Dry In Rain
"Why couldn't you have titled this Eyewear???? I think most people use contacts these days anyway."
My guess is: probably not. Something about the iPod just drives these people nuts.
Re:Stop Whining Already (Score:2, Insightful)
TV
Glasses
These are all common items that can describe a variety of specifically branded things. Like a Jansport Backpack, Ralph Lauren Glasses, Panasonic Television. What everyone is bitching about is the use of the specific brand named item. As posted above by someone else, if the blurb read "play in your MP3 player" there would be nothing to complain about. The issue arises in the specific product placement.
Unless we are moving along to a trend where "iPod" becomes a generic term su
mirror? (Score:2)
Music of the Spheres (Score:2, Funny)
Freaky... (Score:2)
iPod? (Score:2)
Nothing New (Score:2, Offtopic)
From the liner notes:
These recordings are the most unique approach to deep level relaxation... hmmm.. let me type the better ones...
These recordings come from a variety of different sound environments:
1)From the intersection of the solar-wind with the planet's magneto-sphere (...)
2. From the magneto-sphere itself.
3. From the trapped radio waves bouncing
Check the mail (Score:2, Funny)
Then again, it's not as though God would find a music industry lawyer in heaven, right?
Re:These are always cool (Score:2)
Re:Oggs? (Score:2)
Thank you for not disappointing me, and yet, disappointing me all at the same time.
Re:Oggs? (Score:2)
Re:OMG! We Slashdotted sound of the unvierse! (Score:2)
Chorus:
aaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie, 200 bytes/sec! Yeah!!