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NASA Music Out of This World

Koyaanisqatsi writes "With detection instruments on NASA's Voyagers, Galileo, Cassini and other spacecraft, University of Iowa physicist Dr. Don Gurnett recorded waves that course through outer space. Gurnett converted the plasma waves into sounds which inspired a 10-movement musical composition called "Sun Rings." Sample the sounds from Galileo, Voyager and Cassini. (Full Story)"

64 comments

  1. Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now we'll get sued by the Alien RIAA.

    1. Re:Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's simply known as RIAA : Recording Industry Association of Aliens.

    2. Re:Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hillary is the head of that organization too :)

    3. Re:Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!! Oh my god, I'm dying over here! Stop it, you're killing me!

  2. In space... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    no one can hear your 10-movement musical composition

    1. Re:In space... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They should bring this kind of science home!
      Listen to proem music if you don't know how our own little planet sounds atm :D

  3. That's odd by Salsaman · · Score: 5, Funny

    I played one of the wavs backwards, and I could distinctly hear the words "European Space Agency engineers are weenies".

    1. Re:That's odd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You must be imagining things. I distinctly heard,
      "All these worlds are yours except Europa. Attempt no landing there. Use them together, use them in peace."

      (with apologies to Sir Arthur C. Clarke) :-)

    2. Re:That's odd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you think _that_ is bad, wait until you read the messages we found embedded in the XMM/Newton data! ;-)

  4. and then by chamenos · · Score: 3, Funny

    we'll finally find out where celine dion really came from, won't we? and as usual, canada would be really sorry about all the inconvenience they caused. mmhmm...

    kthxbye~!

    1. Re:and then by __aaaaxm1522 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sorry for the inconvenience? That's just something our politicians tell yours. We've been using the US as a toxic waste dump for bad talent for *years* and you people haven't caught on yet! Celine Dion, Alanis Morrisette, William Shatner, Lorne Greene, and our latest triumph, April Lavigne!

      If it wasn't for you guys, we'd have to put up with them here. The US is the Botany Bay of the Canadian Entertainment Industry!

  5. 10-movement musical composition called "Sun Rings. by 3-State+Bit · · Score: 5, Funny

    insert something about holst.

  6. "Sun Rings" and Beebopterismo by blincoln · · Score: 2

    Riley listened carefully to some crackling and squealing patterns from the magnetic field the Galileo spacecraft discovered surrounding Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede. "It sounded to me like a voice saying, 'beebopterismo,' so that's the starting point for one of the movements," he said.

    I think someone's been reading a little too much of the Ringworld series.

    --
    "...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
  7. Too much LDS in the sixties by Qrlx · · Score: 2

    Was it just me, or did the recording of the spacecraft's exodus from Ganymede's magnetic pole sound a lot like those underwater whale recordings?

    At the beginning, I think that was Qo'noS exploding or something. Spilled tea all over my tunic.

    1. Re:Too much LDS in the sixties by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed, I agree wholeheartedly. The Mormons should have been wiped off the face of the Earth during the McCarthy era.

      Where's a good Jesuit when we need one?

    2. Re:Too much LDS in the sixties by nounderscores · · Score: 1

      nope, it's just that damned alien probe back again...

    3. Re:Too much LDS in the sixties by Infernus · · Score: 0

      Wow...it's great that they sound like underwater whales...now when the Probe shows up and starts destroying the Earth, we can just play back the Ganymede recordings instead of having to go back in time to find humpbacks...

  8. Thats not space by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    thats just

    cat /dev/urandom > /dev/dsp

  9. The best part by jukal · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...with stories from space like this, is that they could as well let you download a sample made of the scientist's toilet experience, and no-one would notice any difference. Anyway, listening to this is very fancy....because... you know... it's from space - it must be awesome!

  10. bah. by Inominate · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well it beats the silent "music".
    But not by much.

  11. astronomical percussion music by hanwen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Reminds me of a piece by Circus S, called Pulsar. It's a piece for 6 percussion players inspired by the sounds made by pulsar signals.

    See the circus S site.

    (Oh, actually, the composer is called
    Gérard Grisey and the piece Le Noir de l'Etoile (1989/90))

    --

    Han-Wen Nienhuys -- LilyPond

  12. OT: "Full story" link by jjkivilu · · Score: 1

    Wouldn't it be nice to have a "Full Story" link such as the one in the end of parent scoop, but along with the "Read more..." link & others. The story submitters could have an optional URL field on the submit page to fill, if the story clearly has a main URL (like most of them do). Just an idea.

    1. Re:OT: "Full story" link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hell, I wish that when you clicked on comments it would skip the story, skip the ads and go directly to the comments section. We all know that the comments are way more interesting than any story posted to slashdot.

  13. some crackling and squealing patterns by techNETia · · Score: 3, Funny

    Riley listened carefully to some crackling and squealing patterns from the magnetic field the Galileo spacecraft discovered surrounding Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede. "It sounded to me like a voice saying, 'beebopterismo,' [...]

    This guy should come over to the playground in my neighbourhood, he'll be able to record a lot of music! Beebopterismo's, hiphopterismo's, as much as he likes, and not to forget... the swing!!

  14. Seems like... by insomaniac · · Score: 1

    ...in space everybody can hear you squeek. ;)

    --
    The way to corrupt a youth is to teach him to hold in higher value them who think alike than those who think differently
  15. Does anyone else... by Eythian · · Score: 1

    ...hear the aliens saying something about 'going to pick up L. Ron and his mates' in that when they play it backwards? Man, they're going to be pissed when they find that he's dead.

  16. A CD has been out for years. by taliver · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I have a CD of the NASA voyager probe recordings. Sounds interesting at first, and then gets boring. The CD is 50 minutes long or so, and has a warning about the dangers of using heavy machinery while listening, since it puts people to sleep.

    Anyway, some sounds like whales, other parts sound like choirs from the movie 2001.

    --

    I demand a million helicopters and a DOLLAR!

    1. Re:A CD has been out for years. by Monkelectric · · Score: 2

      I think you're refering to "Symphony of the planets" ? I have one of the discs as well and granted its not much to listen to as far as music goes. But its GREAT for relaxtion. It's my all time favorite chill out album.

      --

      Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  17. Good Taste by esthanya · · Score: 1

    At least someone at NASA had the good taste to hire Kronos. If anyone can recreate those sounds, they can. I wonder when the CD will be avalible for public consumption... Esth

  18. I doubt they will sue by Subcarrier · · Score: 1

    I thought aliens like KaZaAm -- preferably on a planetary scale.

    Anyway, they really should rethink their whole business model. Going after their customers with beam weapons is just plain stupid.

    --
    "I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them." -- George H. W. Bush
  19. Ron Hubbard dead at age 54... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I just heard some sad news on talk radio - Minister /Writer L. Ron Hubbard was found dead in his Maine home this morning. There weren't any more details yet. I'm sure we'll all miss him, even if you weren't a fan of his work there's no denying his contribution to popular culture. Truly an American icon.

  20. Okay, I just don't get why this is interesting... by iiioxx · · Score: 1

    I listened to the samples from the various missions, and it sounds like any other radio noise you would get by playing with the tuning knob on an old radio. Some other sounds were very similar to the noises you can make by dragging your finger nail along a guitar string. I was greatly underwhelmed. I guess some people are just like, "if it comes from space it's cool". But it just sounded like noise to me.

  21. If.. by Frank+of+Earth · · Score: 3, Funny

    .. Lance made it into space, we could have had a quartet.

    Sample the sounds from Galileo, Voyager and Cassini and now featuring Lance Bass!

  22. News for nerds! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But is this stuff that matters?

  23. mp3 by misterhaan · · Score: 1

    dude, i had the mp3s of this a month ago!

    --

    track7.org has all kinds of interesting stuff!

  24. It's been done by Robotech_Master · · Score: 4, Informative

    Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, radio astronomer and musician, has already done this sort of thing. (Plus, as her collaboration with Thomas Dolby ("Quantum Mechanic") proves, she also has a great singing voice. :)

    --
    Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
    1. Re:It's been done by Monkelectric · · Score: 2

      and you didnt mention shes a fucking babe!! have you seen the insert on "Gate" (to the minds eye)?. A gorgeous geek diva, dosen't get any better.

      --

      Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  25. Ham Radio by Servo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As a kid, I used to take a ham radio (I forget what wavelengh, its been a while) and tune it to odd frequencies that produced weird rythmic pulses. It was probably just interference from nearby electronics, but it was fun to listen to.

    Those sound bites remind me of what I used to listen to as a kid. Music to my ears!

    --
    A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. -Benjamin Franklin
  26. sound of windows by misterhaan · · Score: 1

    well, at least this sounds better than when i decided to translate the windows binaries into sound . . .

    --

    track7.org has all kinds of interesting stuff!

  27. Previous Story by gorgon · · Score: 4, Informative

    Slashdot posted an earlier story on this in July. Its amusing what some people can use for inspiration.

    --

    And I'd be a Libertarian, if they weren't all a bunch of tax-dodging professional whiners.
    Berke Breathed
  28. Re:Okay, I just don't get why this is interesting. by Peter+T+Ermit · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's not interesting, at least to me. Every time NASA gets an oscillating signal of some sort, they convert it to sound waves and play it, hoping that the press mistakes it for something profound. They're seldom disappointed.

  29. Kronos Quartet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Well I'd just like to say as a physics major at the University of Iowa and part of the Society of Physics Students that we are going to the performance tonight where the music is being played. It's called the Kronos Quartet and there wil be a meeting with the sound engineer of Hancher Auditorium before the show for all ticket holders in the Green Room.

  30. Congratulations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, yeah, off topic - I know. But congratulations on finally getting my attention with one of the adds - 3 babes in bikinis - that does the trick. Now, what was the product?

  31. This was down thirty years ago... by FFFish · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ....by Tomita. He sampled radio waves from a number of stars and used those as the base waveforms for some Moog synthesizer compositions.

    --

    --
    Don't like it? Respond with words, not karma.
  32. Uh, This was already done... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This was already done by Michael Lee Thomas back in the early 90's - The cd is called Voyager, Grand Tour Suite.

  33. One word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I rather listen to Proem n5md hog :D

  34. Danger, NASA at work by Animats · · Score: 2
    Someone referred to NASA as the "world's largest sheltered workshop". Now I understand why.

    NASA had a huge brain drain in the early 1970s, when Apollo wound down, and never recovered. It's sad.

  35. Whale songs? by Xpilot · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's actually whale songs coming from an alien probe. We've got to send Captain Kirk back in time to get 2 humpback whales to reply. Oh wait they're not extinct yet.

    --
    "Backups are for wimps. Real men upload their data to an FTP site and have everyone else mirror it." -- Linus Torvalds
  36. Reverse Speech. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I is just me or does this say "I love you Satan, come to bed with me" when you play it backwards? ;)

    http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/ganymede/anim/ga np ws.mov

  37. Re:10-movement musical composition called "Sun Rin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good one. (Seriously.)

  38. Your tax dollars at work by janolder · · Score: 1
    Is it just me or is this an obvious misuse of taxpayer money? Sure, this may have artistic value to some minority - but where is the scientific relevance of this endeavor that would justify spending your tax dollars on it?

    As long as we haven't covered the more important aspects of governmental responsibilities, like health insurance and flying to Mars, I'm deeply troubled by this - especially in view of the re-started deficit spending of the US.

    1. Re:Your tax dollars at work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      from the article it says some guy did this with his spare time...

      so basically its a waste of his free time, not NASA's. and screw them anyways, they shouldve shot that nsync guy out there and got him off our planet.

  39. Avril* by SHEENmaster · · Score: 1

    She really is punk! The press release says so!

    --
    You can't judge a book by the way it wears its hair.
  40. Noise vs. Signal by tomem · · Score: 2, Informative

    NASA spends about 1-2% of it's budget in an effort to communicate its activities to the general public or students. This is considered money well-spent, since it is the public that has paid for exploration of space.

    Just as we cannot see outside the visible spectrum, we cannot hear plasma sound waves, which are mainly detected by electromagnetic antennae. But these sounds are just as informative about what is going on in our solar system as the Gamma, Xray or UV images that are brought back from space.

    For example, there is a steady rumble from the roiling solar atmosphere, which expands supersonically throughout the solar system. And when a spacecraft crosses a shock wave (upstream of all the planets), there is a huge sonic boom. Lightening and auroras produce a wide variety of sounds.

    So try to think of these sounds as having been recorded in the GREAT outdoors, and ask yourself what you might be hearing. One person's noise is another person's signal!

    --
    ThosEM
  41. More space sounds by willpost · · Score: 2
  42. Science is about discovery by willpost · · Score: 2

    "Basic science has always worked on the fact that we don't know the answer, hence we ask the question without having the answer."

    Even if discoveries like sounds in space are never applied, it gets the public interested in science. It might even inspire young minds to accomplish great works someday. Such was the case of a simple beeping noise in 1957 from Sputnik.

    http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit2002101 0. html
    http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit200 21017. html

  43. Recursive! by Knacklappen · · Score: 1

    Now you can include the posting of above list to above list, which of course is recursive and will blow the minds of the (already mindless) trolls to pieces... POW!! Mission accomplished...

    --


    Excellence: Moderate (mostly affected by comments on your karma)