Unveiling the Twinkle: The Internal Sounds of Stars

Stars seem to twinkle due to our atmosphere refracting their light as it journeys to Earth. However, to astronomers, stars also possess an inherent ‘twinkle’, produced by waves of gas undulating on their surfaces, a feature that is currently undetectable to earth-bound telescopes. In a pioneering study, researchers have created the inaugural 3D models of energy waves travelling from a star’s core to its exterior. Furthermore, they have transformed these waves into audible sound waves, enabling scientists to both ‘listen’ to the internal sounds of stars and understand their ‘twinkle’.

Exploring the Audible Phenomenon of a Twinkling Star

“Motions within stellar cores generate waves that are akin to those in oceans,” explained Evan Anders from Northwestern, the chief author of the research. “These waves reach the star’s surface and cause it to glow in a pattern that might be observable by astronomers. For the first time, we’ve created computer simulations that enable us to predict how brightly a star should twinkle as a result of these waves. This research will pave the way for future space telescopes to delve into the core regions of stars where life-sustaining elements are created.”

The size and brightness of a star dictate the sounds that it makes. For instance, waves from the core of a large star emit sounds resembling those of a laser gun. For an extremely large star, the pulses transform into a low reverberating echo, akin to the sound in an empty room. Waves on the surface of a medium-sized star, however, create a persistent humming noise, reminiscent of a windy terrain. Conversely, surface waves of a small star generate sounds like a weather siren alarm.