PBS Space Time

What Do Stars Sound Like?

PBS Space Time

Summary

Astrophysicists are making significant strides in understanding the interiors of stars through the emerging field of astroseismology, which studies the seismic waves produced by stars. These waves provide insights into stellar structures that are otherwise hidden from direct observation. By analyzing the oscillations of stars, scientists can infer critical information such as density, temperature, and even the age of stars, including our own sun.

Helioseismology, the study of the sun's seismic activity, serves as a foundational model for astroseismology. Researchers have discovered that the sun's inner radiative zone rotates almost uniformly, while the outer convective zone exhibits differential rotation, which plays a crucial role in generating the sun's magnetic field and influencing solar phenomena like sunspots. This knowledge allows scientists to refine their models of stellar behavior and predict future solar activity.

Astroseismology is more challenging for distant stars due to their faintness, but advancements in satellite technology, such as the Kepler mission, are enhancing the ability to detect subtle changes in brightness and velocity. These observations help determine fundamental properties of stars, including their mass and surface gravity, and can even indicate the fusion activity in red giant stars nearing the end of their life cycles. As the field progresses, researchers continue to unravel the complex harmonies of stars, revealing the secrets of their formation and evolution.

Show Notes

Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACEUploaded 10-01-18We can now map the interiors of stars by “listening” to their harmonies as they vibrate with seismic waves. Learn through active problem-solving at Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/SpaceTime/ You can further support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetimeGet your own Space Time t­shirt at http://bit.ly/1QlzoBiTweet at us! @pbsspacetimeFacebook: facebook.com/pbsspacetimeEmail us! pbsspacetime [at] gmail [dot] comComment on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/pbsspacetimeHelp translate our videos!https://www.youtube.com/timedtext_cs_panel?tab=2&c=UC7_gcs09iThXybpVgjHZ_7gPrevious Episode:Extinction by Gamma Ray Burstshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HvwNOSnveEThese equations of hydrostatic equilibrium allow us to calculate things like the density and temperature of the core, the way energy flows to the surface, and even the lifespan of stars. These models are largely built around what little we can learn from the light we receive directly from the surface of stars. But how do we test these models if we can never see beneath those surfaces? We may not see light from beneath the stellar surface, but another type of wave travels freely throughout stars. I’m talking about seismic waves.Hosted by Matt O'DowdWritten by Drew Rosen and Matt O'DowdProduced by Rusty WardGraphics by Kurt RossAssistant Editing and Sound Design by Mike Petrow and Meah Denee Barrington Made by Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com)Sounds of stars by Manuel Perez de Lema Lopezhttps://youtu.be/0ogyKgV4KN4Special thanks to our Patreon Big Bang, Quasar and Hypernova Supporters: Big BangAnton LifshitsCoolAsCatsFaisal SaudDavid NicklasQuasarTambe BarsbayMayank M. MehrotaMars YenturMark RosenthalDean FuquaHypernovaEdmund FokschanerMatthew O’ConnorEugene LawsonBarry HatfieldMartha HuntJoseph SalomoneChuck ZegarCraig PetersonJordan YoungRatfeastJohn HofmannThanks to our Patreon Gamma Ray Burst Supporters: Greg AllenRyan GriggsTJMadisonDenys IvanovNick VirtueAlexey EromenkoNicholas RoseScott GossettMark DykstraMark VasilePatrick MurraySultan Alkhulaifi Alex SetoMichal-Peanut KarmiErik SteinDaniel LyonsKevin WarneJJ BagnellJ RejcAmy JieAvi GoldfingerJohn PettitShannan CatalanoFlorian StinglmayrBenoit Pagé-GuitardNathan LenizJessica FraleyLoro LukicBrandon LabonteDavid CraneGreg Weiss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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