NASA Chandra contractor, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (along with System Sounds and Chandra Labs) produced and released 16 sonification’s on vinyl album, CD, and streaming download on 3/10/23 titled “Universal Harmonies”. This collection, generated from data taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, allows us to listen to some of the most extreme objects ever known, including black holes, exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and more. Proceeds from the sale of this album benefit the Helen Keller Foundation to aid in their mission to end preventable blindness.
Additionally, SAO’s Kim Arcand conducted an interview on NPR to discuss the album’s release as well as how sonification was developed.
Album link: https://chandralabs.bandcamp.com/album/universal-harmonies.
NPR interview: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/05/1161222004/nasa-puts-the-sound-of-the-universe-into-a-new-album.
