* Astronomy

Professor Tim Leighton, of the University of Southamptons Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), will talk about the importance of microphones recording the astonishing sounds of other planets on BBC Radio 4s Leading Edge programme tonight (28 February) at 9pm.
The interview forms part of Radio 4s coverage of the Brighton Science Festival, where (on the same evening) Tim will be giving a talk entitled Bach to the Future.
Tim has simulated the sounds we might expect to hear if we went to a concert on Titan, Venus or Mars to demonstrate there is enough understanding of alien sounds to justify an increased use of microphones on space probes.
This is, firstly, because if enough is known about the acoustic characteristics of extraterrestrial environments, engineers can design appropriate microphones for other worlds; and secondly, because with sufficient understanding scientists can interpret sounds in order to tell us much about the environment on other planets, such as seismic activity, wind, precipitation and instrument operation.

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