Expedition Sound podcast series

The European Space Agency (ESA) has introduced Expedition Sound, a podcast series that transforms data from its space missions into sound, offering listeners an auditory journey through the Universe. Hosted by Zsófi Szalavári, each episode explores a different cosmic destination using sonifications created from mission data, including contributions from ESA scientists and astronomers. The series aims to broaden public engagement with astronomy by making complex data more intuitive and inclusive, particularly for visually impaired individuals who benefit from auditory learning.

The first episode focuses on the Sun, guided by a sonification derived from ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission. ESA project scientist Miho Janvier discusses the mission’s role in studying solar mysteries, while blind astronomer Nic Bonne shares how sound enhances accessibility in space exploration. Subsequent episodes delve into other missions, such as ESA/JAXA’s BepiColombo, which explores Mercury, and ESA’s Gaia mission, which captures starquakes in the Milky Way.

Further episodes examine exoplanets through ESA’s Plato mission, featuring project scientist Maximilian Günther, and gravitational effects using data from ESA’s Euclid mission. Sonifications inspired by Euclid’s observations of Einstein rings illustrate gravitational lensing, with insights from Euclid Project Scientist Valeria Pettorino and ESA Research Fellow Lorenzo Speri on gravitational waves and future LISA mission discoveries.

Expedition Sound is available on major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. The series emphasizes the intersection of science and accessibility, highlighting how sound can open new pathways for understanding and appreciating the cosmos, particularly for those with visual impairments.