Fiorella Terenzi

Fiorella Terenzi
Born1961 or 1962 (age 61–63)
Milan, Italy
NationalityItalian/American
Alma materUniversity of Milan, Italy (doctorate/PhD), University of California, San Diego (visiting researcher)
Occupation(s)Astrophysicist, professor, author, recording artist
Fields: Astronomy, astrophysics, space science, planetary science, education, public outreach, innovations, music
Organization(s)Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
Known forAcoustic astronomy, music from the galaxies, invisible universe, audiofication/sonification of celestial data, Heavenly Knowledge
Fiorella Terenzi
LabelsIsland/PolyGram Records, Mercury records, Giant/Warner Bros. Records

Fiorella Terenzi is an Italian-born astrophysicist, author and recording artist who is best known for taking recordings of radio waves from distant galaxies and turning them into music. She received her doctorate from the University of Milan but is currently based in the United States.

Described by Time magazine as "a cross between Carl Sagan and Madonna",[1] Terenzi has studied opera and composition at Conservatory G. Verdi, Corsi Popolari Serali and taught physics and astronomy at various U.S. colleges and universities; she is currently on the full-time faculty at Florida International University in Miami.[2][3][4] In research at the Computer Audio Research Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, she pioneered techniques to convert radio waves emanating from distant galaxies into sound,[5][6] with some of the results released by Island Records on her CD Music from the Galaxies.[7][8][9] The goal of her audiofication/sonification of celestial data is to investigate how sound could reflect chemical, dynamical and physical properties of celestial objects, which she calls "Acoustic Astronomy".[10]

  1. ^ Bellafante, Ginia (March 1, 1995). "STRANGE SOUNDS AND SIGHTS". Time. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Fiorella Terenzi". 2.fiu.edu. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Honors Press Release: Honors College Lecture to Feature Sounds of the Universe". Honors.fiu.edu. February 28, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "Fiorella Terenzi at Florida International University". RateMyProfessors.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  5. ^ Burgasser, Adam (April 13, 2012). "Astronomical Synesthesia". Pono.ucsd.edu. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "CME Gang". Willshare.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "MUTANT SOUNDS: Dr. Fiorella Terenzi- Music From the Galaxies, CD, 1991. Italy". Mutant-sounds.blogspot.com. July 1, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  8. ^ Fraknoi, Andrew (2012). "Music Inspired by Astronomy: A Resource Guide Organized by Topic". Astronomy Education Review. 11 (1): 010303. Bibcode:2012AEdRv..11a0303F. doi:10.3847/AER2012043.
  9. ^ "Fiorella Terenzi – Astro-Artist of the Month – January 2013". Astronomerswithoutborders.org. January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  10. ^ Webb, James R. (2013). "Data's sound debut". Physics Today. 66 (2): 9. Bibcode:2013PhT....66b...9W. doi:10.1063/PT.3.1870.