Starcast Join the waitlist
Science Quickly

Science Quickly

Could humans learn to speak in music?

Aug 12, 2026 · 24m

Coming soon to iPhone. Already have it? “Listen in Starcast” takes you straight there.

On this episode

About this episode

What would it take to create a language made entirely of music? In this episode of Science Quickly, Scientific American’s Allison Parshall explores the science and linguistics behind musical languages, from real-world constructed languages to the intricate note-based communication system created for the alien Rocky in Project Hail Mary. Learn how linguists transformed rhythm and pitch into a fully functional language and what these imaginative experiments reveal about the nature of communication itself. Recommended Reading: Andy Weir on Ryan Gosling, alien contact and the wild science of Project Hail Mary Ryan Gosling says Project Hail Mary is ‘a reminder of what we’re capable of’ How did…