Data visualization scientist and astrophysicist Kimberly Arcand from NASA’s Chandra Observatory turns invisible data from the universe into exciting 3D models and “songs,” helping people “touch” space.
One of Arcand’s most famous projects is dedicated to Cassiopeia A, a supernova remnant located approximately 11,000 light-years from Earth. Kim transformed the exploding star, once invisible to the human eye, into a vivid 3D model with spatial sound, allowing users to “listen” to the structure of the debris field.
“Our data of Cassiopeia A also maps the elements that are necessary to build human DNA – the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and hydrogen,” Kim explained to Orbital Today. “It’s humbling to realize that the atoms in our bodies likely originated from long-ago cataclysmic events like these”.
Another space object that the scientist is working on is Messier 51 (the Whirlpool Galaxy). The interactive visualization of the galaxy consists of superimposed X-ray, infrared, and optical waves.
These celestial sculptures help viewers visually explore complex objects in the universe, even without specialized scientific knowledge. In particular, as Kimberly shared at a recent seminar, a blind student holding a 3D model of a supernova remnant said, “So this is what a star’s death feels like.”
“Science shouldn’t look in one direction,” said Kimberly Arcand. “There was space in science for creative, curious people like me.”
Another method the scientist uses is sonification. A black hole emits strong X-ray radiation, which can be converted into sound. Brightness becomes tone, and the position of light moves from left to right, as in a song.
“Some people describe sonification as something “terrifying and beautiful, like a movie soundtrack written by Hans Zimmer,”” Kim noted.
Kimberly Arcand’s work offers everyone the opportunity to discover the universe.
“We are literally made of stars,” concluded the astrophysicist.
Earlier, we reported on how a supercomputer created the longest simulation of neutron star mergers.
