A Finnish cathedral plays music from ancient radio bursts

Kiyoshi Masui, a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and composer Andrew Melchior have converted cosmic radio signals into music at a cathedral in Oulu, Finland.

The duo used data from 4,539 fast radio bursts (FRBs) detected between 2018 and 2023. These signals originated from 3,641 different sources and traveled through space for between 50 million and 8 billion years before reaching Earth.

The team used data collected by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), a radio telescope in Canada. While the telescope was designed to map neutral hydrogen, its wide field of vision allowed it to capture these mysterious bursts. The creators transformed the signals into a variety of sounds, including hums, thuds, clicks, and whistles. Because the radio frequencies arrive at slightly different times, they create harmonies between high and low tones.

The sounds also drop in pitch to mimic the way the signals change as they travel through intergalactic gas. The installation, called The Logos, features 12 speakers throughout the cathedral and plays the audio every day at noon. The creators plan to host a live performance on November 21, where Melchior will play the FRBs on a keyboard accompanied by a 30 person choir.

While this sonification does not help scientists solve the mystery of what causes these bursts, the creators believe it helps the public engage with complex science through art.