Written by: MD NAFIUL AZIM
Edited by : CHEYN SHAH ( Macaulay Honors), TASNIM MOLLAH (Yale University)
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| Collected via Google Search |
Astrophysics has always been my favorite subject. From the movement of galaxies to the shifts of subatomic particles, everything is included in the cryptology of Astrophysics. To me, astrophysics is not just a science, but a way of answering deeply philosophical questions. Studying it, we come closer to finding out the existence of the universe and even the formation of the particles of our body.
Because of my study of astrophysics, the glowing stars in the night sky tell me the story of the universe where a casual observer only sees an image. The photon, a minute particle of light emitted by a star, determines whether a cosmic body is moving towards or away from us. Photons also determine a star’s size, surface temperature, and its entire life cycle. The death of a star is marked by a supernova, the most beautiful cosmic phenomenon, a huge bloom of light and gas splashed across the horizon.
It is incredible that these facts, my fascination since childhood, can actually be expressed with mere numbers. Fibonacci’s sequence dictates the formation of the spiral arms of galaxies. Furthermore, an array of equations describe the phenomena of the cosmos: black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and so on. Kepler's laws of planetary motion allows me to calculate and predict the position of any planet. Einstein’s revolutionary theory of general relativity helps me to understand the universe by defining space as curved and rippled, rather flat like a blanket. The elegance and simplicity of these equations, and the enormous scenarios they describe, is a source of my profundity. With mathematical calculations, I can predict the future of massive objects, ones that are out of my reach with scientific observation.
Most people give up on the idea of life outside our planet, with their curiosity only occasionally spurred by science fiction movies. For me, however, the possibility of extraterrestrial life is intriguing. NASA and several other space agencies are reaching outside our planet to search for aliens and exoplanets. These missions serve as the bedrock for an even loftier goal - to colonize outer space. NASA landed its rover Curiosity on the surface of Mars and proved that some life can survive on our planetary neighbor. Furthermore, the Kepler mission is continuing to find new exoplanets, giving us a better understanding of their habitable zones.
I think my love for astrophysics is simply the inevitable child of the curiosity that exists in all of us. My work with the Museum of Natural History is simply my way of feeding that hunger. Outsiders may think that science and mathematics as a focus demands rigor, not creativity. To me, science is as creative as art, or poetry, or music. Anyone can be amazed by the stars at night. Coming up with the ways to reach them requires a dose of ingenuity, a dash of curiosity, and above all, a dab of joy in the work.
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