StarTalk Radio Sounds of the Cosmos with Kim Arcand
Nov 25, 2025
Join Kim Arcand, a visualization scientist from Chandra X-ray Observatory, as she dives into the fascinating world of data sonification. Discover how translating cosmic phenomena into sound opens new sensory experiences of the universe, benefiting both blind and sighted researchers. Kim also explains how her work helps reveal the unseen through X-ray technology, sonifies black holes, and even creates 3D models for accessibility. Plus, she shares insights on her new family book that explores strange cosmic wonders!
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Multimodal Data Reveals Hidden Patterns
- Sonification and tactile representations open new analytic pathways beyond visual familiarity.
- Kim Arcand says new sensory modalities can reveal patterns sight alone can miss and rewire how scientists explore data.
Make Data Accessible With Sound And Touch
- Do include sonification and tactile formats when sharing astronomical data to increase accessibility.
- Kim Arcand emphasizes these formats benefit blind, low-vision, and sighted scientists by offering new analytic perspectives.
Space Images Are Translations
- Space imagery is a translation, not a direct snapshot, because telescopes record non-visible wavelengths.
- Kim Arcand stresses transparency: images are human-made representations of invisible data.
