Listen to the Universe: From Chelmsford to Cosmology

Did you know you can explore space in the middle of the day?

While our eyes need darkness to see the stars, radio waves are reaching us all the time, carrying invisible messages from across the cosmos.

Discover how radio reveals everything from the crackle of solar storms and meteors burning through our atmosphere to giant planets, black holes and the very first galaxies. Better still, you'll get to hear space for yourself through real recordings of the cosmos.

Chelmsford is the perfect place to tell this story. The technology pioneered here to send messages around the world now allows us to communicate with spacecraft exploring the solar system and detect signals that have travelled for billions of years across the universe.

Packed with surprising science, incredible sounds and cosmic stories, this event will change the way you think about space forever.

Suitable for ages 10+. The event is free but please book your place in advance.

Part of Chelmsford Science Festival 2026.

About our presenter

Dr Emma Chapman is an astrophysicist, author and award-winning science communicator at the University of Nottingham. She researches how the first stars lit up the universe using some of the world's largest radio telescopes. Emma is the author of two popular science books, First Light and Radio Universe, which was selected as BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week in March 2026.