'Chilling howls': NASA reveals spooky sound from a supermassive black hole – Listen here

Hear the sound of a black hole

NASA has released a haunting audio clip featuring sound waves from a supermassive black hole located 250 million light-years away. This eerie sound, transposed to be audible, was detected at the heart of the Perseus galaxy cluster.

The sound, captured for the first time, is a series of chilling howls. It's an unsettling, almost angry noise that has captivated listeners worldwide. The sound waves were extracted and raised in pitch so human ears could detect them.

The misconception that there is no sound in space originates because most space is a ~vacuum, providing no way for sound waves to travel. A galaxy cluster has so much gas that we've picked up actual sound. Here it's amplified, and mixed with other data, to hear a black hole! pic.twitter.com/RobcZs7F9e
NASA Exoplanets (@NASAExoplanets) August 21, 2022

In 2003, astronomers discovered acoustic waves emanating from the Perseus black hole. While these waves were too low in frequency for human ears to hear, their remarkable discovery led to a sonification project. This project allowed the waves to be transposed 57 and 58 octaves higher, enabling us to hear them.

The lowest note detected from the black hole was a B-flat, over 57 octaves below middle C. This frequency is so low that it would take 10 million years to complete one cycle.

The Role of Sound Waves in Galactic Evolution

These sound waves are more than just a curiosity. They help heat the gas and plasma in the galaxy cluster, which in turn plays a role in the evolution of these systems. The heat generated by these waves is crucial for star formation and galaxy cluster development.

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory initially detected these sound waves. The sonification process, which made the waves audible, allows scientists to better study these cosmic phenomena.

NASA’s effort to transform these sounds into something humans can hear offers a unique way to experience space. It also opens doors for new discoveries in the study of the universe’s vast and mysterious phenomena.