Science Friday

3D Images Of Galaxies Will Rock You (Ft. Queen)

March 5, 2026

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  • The new book, *Islands in Infinity: Galaxies 3-D*, presents the first-ever stereoscopic book on galaxies, transforming flat images into three-dimensional spacescapes that offer a fundamentally new understanding of galactic structure. 
  • Dr. Brian May's lifelong passion for stereoscopy, sparked in childhood, directly inspired the creation of this book, which merges his astronomical expertise with the visual impact of 3D imagery. 
  • The conversation highlights the necessary intersection of art and science, emphasizing that understanding the beauty of the universe (art) is as crucial as understanding how it works (science), especially for communicating complex ideas and combating misinformation. 

Segments

Introduction to 3D Galaxies Book
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(00:01:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The book Islands in Infinity: Galaxies 3-D converts flat galaxy images into stereoscopic, three-dimensional spacescapes.
  • Summary: Host Flora Lichtman introduces the book which brings space to stereoscopic life. The book transforms 2D galactic postcards into 3D representations. Guests include astrophysicist Dr. Derek Ward-Thompson and astronomer Dr. Brian May.
Uniqueness of Stereoscopic Galaxies
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(00:03:04)
  • Key Takeaway: No stereoscopic book on galaxies has existed before because creating 3D galaxy images from flat data is a difficult, pioneering process.
  • Summary: Dr. Brian May confirms this is the first stereoscopic book on galaxies, noting the difficulty of capturing 3D images directly. The process relies on a magic conversion pioneered by JP Mitsavainho using available spatial data for each galaxy. Seeing the images in 3D provides a genuine feel for galactic structure that 2D images obscure.
Scientific Value of 3D Imagery
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(00:05:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Three-dimensional visualization of interacting galaxies reveals the mechanics of collisions, such as one galaxy tearing another apart, which is difficult to discern in 2D.
  • Summary: Dr. Ward-Thompson states that 3D views allow scientists to truly grasp how galaxies look and feel, almost like holding them. For interacting galaxies, the 3D view clarifies the ’train wreck’ of collisions. This visualization contributed to the scientific debate regarding how a specific collision was taking place.
Brian May’s Stereoscopy Origin
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(00:06:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. May’s lifelong commitment to stereoscopy began in childhood after receiving a free stereo viewer with Weetabix cereal.
  • Summary: The experience of viewing a flat hippopotamus card in 3D with the viewer was life-changing for May. This moment instilled the belief that everything looks better in 3D than in 2D. This early excitement fueled his later work in applying 3D visualization to astronomy.
Art, Science, and Communication
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(00:08:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The book aims to translate complex astrophysics into accessible English, making science enjoyable and understandable for a general audience, not just experts.
  • Summary: Dr. Ward-Thompson notes that the audience reacts with ‘oohs and ahs’ to the visual pleasure of the 3D images. Dr. May’s role was translating the ’nerdies’ (technical language) into English so everyone can learn along the way. The goal is to combine visual excitement with up-to-date galactic knowledge.
Duality of Art and Science Careers
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(00:12:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. May actively resisted the notion that one must choose between artistic pursuits (like music) and scientific study (like his PhD), viewing both as essential to a complete human understanding.
  • Summary: Growing up, May was told he had to choose between art and science, a separation he found damaging. He believes a complete person must understand both the beauty of the universe and the way it functions. He ultimately chose music when his PhD funding ran out, joking that it was a good decision for science because he was ‘obviously not good enough.’
Scientists Learning from Musicians
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(00:16:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Scientists can learn from artists, particularly musicians, how to effectively communicate complex ideas and combat the growing trend of scientific misinformation.
  • Summary: Dr. Ward-Thompson suggests scientists often create an exclusive language, acting like a ‘high priesthood.’ Artists excel at communicating excitement, which counters the tendency to make science seem ‘fusty and kind of boring.’ Dr. May expressed concern over the propagation of mistruths online, stressing the need for an inquiring mind to find the truth.
Space as Spiritual Comfort and Metaphor
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(00:19:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The stars provide spiritual comfort and a sense of permanence during times of personal distress, offering a connection to something eternal.
  • Summary: Dr. May finds comfort in seeing the winter stars (Orion, Sirius) knowing they will remain strong long after he is gone. He views this connection to the sky as a spiritual experience. The conversation also touched on Queen’s song ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ as a metaphor for pleasure, though May initially worried about its hedonistic lyrics.
Scientific Basis of ‘The Year of 39’
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(00:22:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Queen’s song ‘The Year of 39’ is based on the scientific concept of the twin paradox from relativity, illustrating extreme time dilation over a space journey.
  • Summary: Dr. Ward-Thompson explains that the song tells a tragic love story where a traveler experiences one year while 100 years pass on Earth due to relativistic speed. Dr. May confirms the song focuses on the emotional, human side of this scientific concept. The song’s theme resonates with Dr. May’s own feeling of returning to a new generation of fans.