Watch: Did You Know That Space Can Sing?, a Short Film on Experiencing the Universe Through Sound

Our universe is full of mystery. Scientists estimate that the observable universe contains hundreds of billions of galaxies, an almost unfathomable number. What we don’t know can be daunting, frightening and exciting. Carrie Filion, a research scientist at the Flatiron Institute who studies nearby galaxies, explores these mysteries through ‘sonification’ — the process of converting data into sound. In their film Did You Know That Space Can Sing?, Filion and filmmaker Em Oliver blend sonified data with images of galaxies, simulations of cosmic collisions and the ambient sounds of New York City. The film blurs the boundary between the known and the unknown, inviting us to experience space not only with our eyes but also with our ears.

The film, which you can stream now, was made as part of Symbiosis, a two-week program that pairs six scientists with six filmmakers. Each pair is tasked with creating short, boundary-pushing films. This year’s Symbiosis program is a component of the Simons Foundation’s Researcher Engagement program, an initiative of the foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division.

Learn more and stream all the films here.