Did you ever wonder what the Earth's magnetic field sounded like? Will it also be magnetizing to the ears?
Apparently, it's a bit haunting and creepy to say the least. You can hear it yourself with this new soundtrack provided by scientists and musicians that have collaborated to translate magnetic field data into spooky sounds!
You can listen to the scary sounds here.
Ocean of Liquid Iron
The ocean of superheated, spinning liquid iron that makes up our outer core, located around 3000 km beneath our feet, is mostly responsible for producing our magnetic field.
According to ESA, it acts like a rotating conductor in a bicycle dynamo, producing electrical currents that, in turn, produce our electromagnetic field, which is always changing.
The trio of Swarm satellites, launched by the ESA in 2013, were used to carefully measure the magnetic signals that emanate not only from the Earth's core but also from the mantle, crust, and seas, as well as from the ionosphere and magnetosphere.
Swarm is also responsible for providing fresh perspectives about space weather.
"The team used data from ESA's Swarm satellites, as well as other sources, and used these magnetic signals to manipulate and control a sonic representation of the core field. The project has certainly been a rewarding exercise in bringing art and science together," musician and project supporter Klaus Nielsen, from the Technical University of Denmark, said in a press release statement.
Read also: [WATCH] ESA's Mars Express Probe Captures a Martian Moon Eclipsing Jupiter
Soundtrack of Nightmares
Even though the soundtrack might sound like it was made out of nightmares, this audio clip accurately captures the magnetic field produced by the Earth's core and a solar storm, as per ESA.
At Copenhagen's Solbjerg Square, the team had access to a highly intriguing sound system made up of around 30 loudspeakers buried in the Earth. Each speaker represents a distinct area on Earth, showing how the planet's magnetic field has changed over the past 100,000 years.
"The rumbling of Earth's magnetic field is accompanied by a representation of a geomagnetic storm that resulted from a solar flare on 3 November 2011, and indeed it sounds pretty scary," Nielsen added.
The purpose of the soundtrack is obviously not to scare people; rather, it is a fascinating reminder that the magnetic field exists and that, despite its eerie hum, life on Earth depends on it.
It is worth noting that the intricate and dynamic bubble of the Earth's magnetic field shields us from solar wind-borne charged particles and cosmic radiation.
ESA explained that when these particles collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, some of the energy from the collisions is transformed into the whimsical green-blue light of the aurora borealis, which may occasionally be seen from high northern latitudes.
This new soundtrack proves how our planet's magnetic field is not only brimming with wonders but also some creepy noises as well.
Related Article: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures a Strange Astronomical Explosion Surrounding a Young Star
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
