182: The Big Round Yellow Thing In The Sky

The episode begins with a discussion about culinary trends that often sweep through cultures, such as smashed avocado and sourdough during COVID. The hosts talk about how Australians tend to jump onto these fads heavily. The current trend they highlight is 'hot honey'—a spicy honey that is often drizzled on pizzas and now even marketed at McDonald's as a breakfast addition, which surprises one of the hosts but he admits he enjoyed it.

A central theme of the episode is imagining what the sun might sound like if it produced noise. The hosts discuss their idea for a podcast series called 'This is what it sounds like,' where each week they take something silent—like the sun—and imagine or create sounds for it using contributions from various sound artists and scientists. They explore different sonifications of the sun produced by music composers, sound engineers, and scientists, including ominous, majestic, and chaotic soundscapes, and contemplate what these sounds imply about the nature and perception of the sun.

The conversation delves into why we cannot normally hear the sun—due to the lack of a medium for sound to travel through in space. Lucy Green, a solar scientist, explains that the sun's vibrations occur within its interior and are captured through sonification of data like solar waves, which are then artificially sped up into audible ranges. She discusses the true nature of solar sound as low-frequency, deep, and booming. The episode features an analysis of the sonification methods, including embedded sound in recordings and data based on solar vibrations, highlighting the blend of art and science.

The hosts share personal anecdotes about their worst encounters with the sun, primarily sunburns. They recount stories of painful sunburn episodes, peeling skin, and humorous mishaps involving sunscreen and accidental body art. These stories serve to connect the scientific discussion to everyday human experiences and emphasize the importance of sun safety. The hosts also muse on the metaphorical sound of concepts like time, love, hate, and even divine or cosmic entities, illustrating the creative potential of their theme.

The episode concludes with details about extended content available on Patreon, including full versions of sonifications, interviews (notably with Lucy Green), and extra recordings. The hosts encourage listener participation through their subreddit and highlight the value of scientific curiosity and creative imagination. They promote supporting the show on Patreon to access bonus material and further episodes.