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"Hearing" a magnetic Wave! (Alfvén Wave)
Magnetic data from the ACES-II Sounding Rocket High Flyer's MAG instrument shifted upwards in frequency so you can hear it.
SOUND WARNING: The volume may be initially loud, consider setting computer audio at half volume first.
What is an Alfvén Wave?
In physics, waves come from many different sources e.g. ocean waves, sound waves, tectonic waves (Earthquakes), etc. Most waves (but not all!) need a medium to transmit their energy through (water, air, earth, etc). An Alfvén Wave is a plasma wave commonly generated in space by disturbing magnetic fields in a way that causes them to "snap" together with other surrounding magnetic fields in a process called magnetic reconnection. Analogous to a vibrating string, these waves travel along magnetic fields and can do some really exciting stuff, like help create the aurora!