Imagine turning the invisible rain of cosmic rays into a symphony of sound and light! That's precisely what's happening at the upcoming John Brown Memorial Lecture, and it's an event you won't want to miss. This isn't just another science talk; it's a groundbreaking fusion of nuclear physics and art that promises to be both enlightening and mesmerizing.
The Royal Astronomical Society's third annual John Brown Memorial Lecture, a tribute to the esteemed former Astronomer Royal for Scotland and RAS Gold Medal recipient, is set to take place at the University of Glasgow on Friday, January 16, 2026. This year, the spotlight shines on an extraordinary collaboration between Dr. David Mahon, a physicist at the University of Glasgow's School of Physics & Astronomy, and Lomond Campbell, a BAFTA-winning artist and musician.
Together, they've birthed the "Muonophone," a truly unique audiovisual musical instrument. But here's where it gets interesting… The Muonophone cleverly uses Dr. Mahon's research on muons – those harmless cosmic rays constantly bombarding Earth from space – to create its mesmerizing performance. Think of it as turning the universe's background radiation into a concert!
Dr. Mahon has pioneered an imaging technique called muography. This method allows scientists to "see" inside materials in a way that conventional X-rays simply can't. Muography works by measuring how muons deflect as they pass through a material. By tracking these deflections, scientists can create detailed 3D images of the interior structure. It's like having a cosmic flashlight that can peer through solid objects.
And this is the part most people miss: Muography offers a safer alternative to X-rays for certain applications, as muons interact differently with matter. For example, muography could be used to inspect large structures like bridges or volcanoes without the need for disruptive and potentially harmful X-ray radiation. But here's where it gets controversial... some argue that the technology is still too expensive and complex for widespread use. What do you think? Is the potential of muography worth the investment?
The Muonophone, designed and constructed by Lomond Campbell, uses a muon detector based on Dr. Mahon's research. The detector essentially "listens" for the presence of muons. When a muon is detected, it triggers pre-programmed sounds and visuals, creating a performance that's both artistic and scientifically driven. The output is never the same twice, as the arrival of muons is a random event!
This lecture follows the successful debut of "MŮO," a series of performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. (You can read more about that here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archiveofnews/2025/july/headline1197329en.html). These events featured live musical performances by Campbell, who played keyboards alongside the sounds generated by the Muonophone. There were also installations where the Muonophone played its own visuals and soundscapes, responding in real-time to the detection of muons.
The lecture promises a deep dive into both the science of muography and the collaborative process behind the Muonophone.
Dr. Mahon expresses his excitement: "I'm honored to be presenting this year's John Brown Memorial Lecture with Lomond to discuss our collaboration at the intersection of science and art... We were delighted by the critical and audience reaction to the MŮO performances at the Fringe and I'm looking forward to discussing our work for this audience."
The lecture is titled "Songs from the Cosmos: Sound and Vision Using Muons" and will be held at the University of Glasgow on Friday, January 16, 2026.
Mr. Campbell adds, "It's exciting to bring the Muonophone to Glasgow after the sell out success of our Fringe show MŮO in August... The John Brown Memorial Lecture will be a great opportunity to hear David expand on the science of muons and muography and to hear the Muonophone inaction."
The John Brown Memorial Lecture honors Professor John Brown, who passed away in 2019. He was a dedicated supporter of the Royal Astronomical Society, served on its governing Council, and championed the Society's RAS200: Sky & Earth program.
As Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Glasgow, Professor Brown's research focused on theoretical modeling of solar and stellar plasmas. He was particularly interested in the behavior of these extremely hot, ionized gases found in stars. But beyond his research, John Brown was known for his captivating public talks, often using magic tricks to illustrate complex scientific concepts. He believed that science should be accessible and engaging for everyone.
The third lecture in this annual series will be held at the University of Glasgow's Wolfson Medical School between 5 pm and 8 pm on Friday, January 16. You can book your free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/songs-from-the-cosmos-sound-and-vision-using-muons-tickets-1976909432329?utmexperiment=testshare_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=2fd8cf37ae1794e21df409df763a5c11fcd0017f78f17d91584eafff23778953f0db5da2ac2605e5c87f6124802b10257f62cbc8e4c5635b4b12d8b664a04ec82d4ecea29354e72d473028e3bc. Will you be attending? And more importantly, what other innovative ways do you think we can use cosmic rays in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
