Big Picture Science

Musical Universe


Listen Later

In space, no one can hear you scream, but, using the right instruments, scientists can pick up all types of cosmic vibrations – the sort we can turn into sound. After a decade of listening, LIGO, a billion-dollar physics experiment, has detected gravitational waves caused by the collision of massive black holes, a brief shaking of spacetime that can be translated into a short squeal. 

We listen to the chirp of black holes crashing into each other and wonder: could the universe contain more than individual sounds, but have actual musical structure? 

A theoretical physicist and jazz saxophonist updates the ancient philosophical concept of the Music of the Spheres to probe the most vexing questions confronting modern cosmology. Find out how the evolution of the universe resembles an improvisational jazz piece, and the musical inspiration John Coltrane drew from Albert Einstein. 

Guests:

  • Janna Levin – Physicist, astronomer, Barnard College at Columbia University, author of “Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space
  • Stephon Alexander - Professor of physics, Brown University, author of “The Jazz of Physics: The Secret Link Between Music and the Structure of the Universe” 

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Big Picture ScienceBy Big Picture Science

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    912 ratings


    More shows like Big Picture Science

    View all
    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

    63,792 Listeners

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin by Dan Carlin

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin

    11,529 Listeners

    Scott Sigler Slices: MIX TAPE VOL. 1 by Scott Sigler

    Scott Sigler Slices: MIX TAPE VOL. 1

    1,077 Listeners

    The Deadpod by J.Henrikson

    The Deadpod

    1,225 Listeners

    Nature Podcast by Springer Nature Limited

    Nature Podcast

    762 Listeners

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

    1,357 Listeners

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary by Stuart Gary

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

    323 Listeners

    Ask a Spaceman! by Paul M. Sutter

    Ask a Spaceman!

    832 Listeners

    Meditation Oasis by Mary and Richard Maddux

    Meditation Oasis

    3,860 Listeners

    Astronomy Cast by Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

    Astronomy Cast

    2,864 Listeners

    Universe Today Podcast by Fraser Cain

    Universe Today Podcast

    560 Listeners

    The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

    The Quanta Podcast

    534 Listeners

    Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

    Science Magazine Podcast

    826 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,407 Listeners

    Philosophy Bites by Edmonds and Warburton

    Philosophy Bites

    1,548 Listeners

    Science In Action by BBC World Service

    Science In Action

    337 Listeners

    Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

    Unexpected Elements

    351 Listeners

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum

    8,487 Listeners

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

    2,343 Listeners

    Radio Detective Story Hour by Dennis Humphrey

    Radio Detective Story Hour

    404 Listeners

    The Supermassive Podcast by The Royal Astronomical Society

    The Supermassive Podcast

    331 Listeners

    Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

    Why This Universe?

    392 Listeners

    Unexplainable by Vox

    Unexplainable

    2,307 Listeners