Astronomers Say Blind People May be Able to Listen to Stars

Dozens of newborn stars sprouting jets from their dusty cocoons have been spotted in images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, as pictured in this June 5, 2013 photo courtesy of NASA. NASA/Handout via Reuters/File.

Piero Benvenuti, general secretary of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has said that visually impaired people may be able to listen to the data emitted by stars and transformed into voices. Astronomers currently seek to raise the interest of visually impaired people in astrology.

Benvenuti said that Astronomer Wanda Diaz Merced, who lost her vision in her early twenties, developed this sense until she has become able to notice the changes of the star light hidden by these data.

Speaking at the launch of the Union’s General Assembly in Vienna, he said: “She can detect changes that others cannot notice when looking at these data.”

The conference, which will run till August 31, brings together about 3,000 astronomers from 89 country, the German News Agency reported.

Benvenuti highlighted that Iran is one of many countries that witnesses advancement in astrology.

The IAU, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2019, has more than 10,000 members. This conference takes place every three years and is the biggest gathering for researchers specialized in astronomy.