Researchers from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) and the University of Granada have identified the light patterns emitted by Delta-Scuti type stars and have transformed them into sounds in collaboration with the faculty of the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música Victoria Eugenia de Granada. To achieve this, the team has applied sonification; that is, the transformation of data into audible sequences of these types of stars, to design complex sound representations with musical styles typical of flamenco.
This initiative is supported by the Citizen Science Office of Andalusia, coordinated by the Ministry of Universities, Research, and Innovation along with the Descubre Foundation and the Pablo de Olavide University, aiming to promote the use of this methodology among different agents in the region.
The novelty lies in the fact that, unlike other initiatives that directly convert the brightness of stars into musical notes, this project creates compositions; in other words, it uses rhythms and timbres – such as those of flamenco – to represent how stars vibrate internally. Thus, sound becomes a way to understand their properties and internal structure.
As explained by the researcher from the University of Granada and scientific advisor of the project, Antonio García, these pulsating stars experience small «earthquakes» inside them that alter their structure and brightness. Instead of limiting themselves to the traditional visual analysis of their light curves on a graph, the ‘Listening to the song of the stars’ initiative has translated these data into a sound dimension, exploring new ways to interpret the cosmos through the ear. «We have translated these light patterns into sound with the aim of using it as a scientific tool complementary to visual analysis,» explains the researcher from the IAA-CSIC and project coordinator, Sebastiano de Franciscis.
Group of researchers from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) and the University of Granada.
Thus, through the technique of sonification, researchers meet the scientific objective of transforming this data into sound patterns and exploring how the human ear can complement vision in scientific analysis. «The use of audio becomes a new tool to interpret signals from the cosmos, opening up avenues for astrophysical research as well as for outreach and scientific education,» explains Antonio García.
From the sky to the musical score
To achieve this, the scientific team translates the frequencies of stellar oscillation into data that are then organized musically, with rhythmic and timbral structures inspired by flamenco styles, such as bulería or soleá. These compositions, performed by the Conservatory faculty, allow the audience to ‘hear’ what happens inside a star and understand its structure, evolution, and the physical processes that determine its life and destiny. «This representation does not aim to turn stars into musical instruments or make music from data in a playful way. It is an alternative perceptive tool, with scientific, educational, and accessible potential,» points out Antonio García.
This same expert highlights one of the values of this proposal is its inclusive potential: by moving from a visual support to a sound one, it opens up astronomy to groups with visual impairments. However, the researchers emphasize that this goal will require the development of specific accessible applications in future phases. For now, the main purpose is to verify if the human ear can detect patterns or relationships in the data that go unnoticed by the eye, and validate this approach in scientific research.
A light that ‘sings’
On the other hand, the coordinator of ‘Listening to the song of the stars’, Sebastiano de Franciscis, explains that in order to ‘translate’ these tremors and light patterns into sounds, the first step is to know the frequency of a star’s brightness and depict it on a graph. In certain frequency types, the greater the separation between the peaks of luminosity, the larger its size.
The next step involves performing a mathematical operation that allows astrophysicists to identify how it vibrates. At this point, the data can be transferred to a musical score.
To promote their citizen science project, the experts have developed outreach activities and workshops at the XIV Scientific Communication and Outreach Conference (Gutenberg Campus – CosmoCaixa) and the European Researchers’ Night, among other events.
This initiative is part of what is known as citizen science. It is a way to generate scientific knowledge where the methodology involves society in the scientific process to provide results. In this active and participatory process, the scientific community works in coordination with social agents.
The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Universities, Research, and Innovation, the Ministry of Educational Development and Vocational Training, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology, the Ibercivis Foundation, pioneers of the Citizen Science Observatory in Spain, the Institute of Academies of Andalusia, the Andalusian Society for the Dissemination of Science, and ONCE Andalusia.
