Could there be life on Mars? What are gravitational waves? What are the alternative theories to the Big Bang? How can we measure the rate of expansion of the universe? These and many other questions give life to La veu còsmica, an audiovisual podcast in Catalan that combines science, music and poetry. The first episode premieres today.

Throughout 12 chapters of 25 minutes, the researcher Lluís Galbany, from the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) and member of the Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), accompanied by the poet Esteve Plantada and the musician Joan Garriga, interviews experts on different topics in astrophysics and cosmology, such as space exploration, black holes, dark matter or supernovae.

“The project was born from the desire to bring science closer to the public in an artistic way”, says Lluís Galbany. “This format seeks to attract the public so that they can understand first-hand general scientific concepts, learn more about the scientific research that is currently carried out, and be up-to-date about the latest advances in astrophysics and cosmology,” he adds.

Scientists from different research centers, such as the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE), the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and the Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB), participate in this audiovisual podcast, explaining how research is done in their field and why.

La veu còsmica begins with an interview with Guillem Anglada-Escudé (ICE-CSIC, IEEC), whose research focuses on the search for potentially habitable exoplanets. Along with Lluís Galbany, other researchers from the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) participate, such as: Josep M. Trigo, a specialist in asteroids, meteorites and minor bodies in the Solar System; Mar Mezcua, specialized in supermassive black holes; and Nanda Rea, whose research focuses on the study of magnetars.

The poet Esteve Plantada and the musician Joan Garriga use the topics discussed in the interviews as inspiration for their artistic creations, which liven up the format while translating technical concepts. First, Esteve Plantada presents the topic to be discussed in the program and its historical context, traveling through time to explain how humanity discovered certain concepts. Later, after the interview conducted by Lluís Galbany, Joan Garriga and other invited artists end the program with a musical composition.

The project is funded by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI), thanks to the Joan Oró 2022 Grants for the promotion of scientific culture in Catalonia, as well as the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE) and the Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB).