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India.com
18-07-2025
- Science
- India.com
Meet Indian woman who captivated Oppenheimer's attention, the father of atomic bomb, she worked as..., her name is...
Women are making tremendous advancements in a wide variety of fields and are leading the way for future generations of scientists through their research and discoveries. The presence and contributions of women in science and other disciplines are changing the scientific community. In this article, we will discuss the story of an Indian woman scientist, T.K. Radha, who entered her scientific career at a time when women were often not even permitted to enter laboratories. Growing up in a traditional family in Kerala, Radha broke the traditional barriers set around women; she overcame obstacles to get to one of the world's greatest institutions — the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, USA — the same institution that was home to the legendary physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, also known as the 'Father of the Atom Bomb.' Thayoor K. Radha started her journey in a traditional, male-dominated environment. In rural India, there was hardly any precedent for women entering the scientific world. Radha was born in 1938 in Thayyur, a small village that did not even have basic electricity. Using kerosene lamps during her studies, she was determined to pursue education and push the limits that were placed on women's access to scientific education. When she started her physics studies in Madras, it was a brave act for a woman to even be attending university. Radha got to work with the famous physicist Alladi Ramakrishnan, who was in the process of building India's first fully modern institute for theoretical physics — the Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Radha was one of an extremely small number of women who would ultimately be a part of the first initiative of that institute. She followed her passion and did not back down, while most of the students were men. Radha was bright, focused, and courageous, and it showed. T.K. Radha's story is not only a reflection of her academic brilliance, but mainly of resolve, spirit, and resilience against gender stereotypes. Her journey inspires generations of women to dream big and pursue science careers — regardless of the hardships. T.K. Radha is more than eighty, and she lives in Edmonton, Canada. A 21st-century archivist should be commended for the revival of Radha's inspiring story, rediscovered from forgotten letters, academic records and oral history. It was 1960s by this time Thayoor K. Radha's pioneering work was achieving worldwide notoriety. Her proficiency in quantum mechanics and particle physics gained the attention of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the 'father of the atomic bomb' and the director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. In 1965, a pivotal letter arrived: an invitation to join an esteemed group of physicists in the United States, where the foremost scientists were shaping the future of the world. This was a significant milestone in Radha's career, allowing her to gain access to the world stage as a woman from a community not generally characterized by its access to international travel.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
7 Indian origin mathematicians in the US: Where did they study?
Manjul Bhargava, Manindra Agrawal, S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan, and Sanjeev Arora. In the field of mathematics, several Indian-origin scholars have made lasting contributions while being associated with institutions in the US. These mathematicians have shaped diverse areas ranging from number theory and statistics to optimisation and computational complexity. Their academic journeys and institutional affiliations reflect the global nature of mathematical research. Seven mathematicians of Indian origin who have worked or are working in the US are highlighted below, focusing on where they studied and their key academic contributions. Harish-Chandra Mehrotra Harish-Chandra Mehrotra (1923–1983) was born in Kanpur, India. He pursued his doctoral studies at Cambridge University under the supervision of Paul Dirac. He later became a prominent figure at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, US. His principal contribution was in representation theory and harmonic analysis on semisimple Lie groups. He developed the Harish-Chandra transform, a critical tool in the study of Lie groups. In 1953, he was awarded the Bôcher Memorial Prize by the American Mathematical Society. Although considered for the Fields Medal, he did not receive it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (1920–2023) was born in Karnataka, India. He pursued his education at Cambridge University, where he laid the groundwork for many contributions in statistics. His most recognised achievements include the Cramer-Rao Bound and the Rao-Blackwell Theorem, both of which are central to estimation theory. He also worked extensively on orthogonal arrays. Later in his career, he was based in the US, where he received the US National Medal of Science. He was also a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan. Narendra Karmarkar Narendra Karmarkar (born 1958) was born in India and earned a degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. He obtained his PhD in the US, following which he developed the well-known Karmarkar's algorithm during his tenure at AT&T Bell Laboratories. This algorithm marked a major advancement in linear programming by offering a polynomial-time method that was more efficient for large-scale problems than the simplex method. His work earned him the John von Neumann Theory Prize in 1989. Manjul Bhargava Manjul Bhargava (born 1974) was born in Canada to Indian parents and grew up in the US. He studied and now teaches at Princeton University. Bhargava's contributions to number theory include a new interpretation of Gauss's composition law and major work on quadratic forms and elliptic curves. He became the first mathematician of Indian origin to receive the Fields Medal in 2014. Manindra Agrawal Manindra Agrawal (born 1966) was born in India and earned his academic credentials from IIT Kanpur. While his most acclaimed work—the AKS primality test—was developed in collaboration with others in India, he has also been a visiting scholar and collaborator at institutions in the US. The AKS algorithm provided the first deterministic polynomial-time method for testing whether a number is prime. SR Srinivasa Varadhan SR Srinivasa Varadhan (born 1940) was born in Chennai, India. He completed his PhD at the Indian Statistical Institute before moving to the US, where he joined the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University in 1966. His work in probability theory, especially large deviation theory, has had applications in multiple fields including physics and finance. He received the Abel Prize in 2007. Sanjeev Arora Sanjeev Arora (born 1968) was born in India and received his PhD (1994) from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently a professor at Princeton University. His research spans approximation algorithms and computational complexity, including key work on the PCP theorem and learning algorithms. He has been awarded the Gödel Prize twice for his contributions to computer science. These mathematicians represent a diverse and impactful group whose academic roots span prestigious institutions in India, the UK, and the US Their careers reflect the transnational character of mathematical scholarship and research excellence. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Economic Times
15-06-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Pluto-like planet discovered: How big is it and how far is it from Earth?
Researchers believe that 2017 OF201's highly eccentric orbit points to a chaotic origin, possibly caused by a gravitational push from one of the solar system's gas giants in its early days, sending the object as far as the distant Oort Cloud. Pluto-like planet discovered: How big is it and how far is it from Earth? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pluto Like Planet With an Extraordinary Orbit A Decade's Largest Solar System Discovery Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Possibly Ejected from the Oort Cloud Solar System May Host Hundreds More A Renewed Push for Outer Solar System Exploration FAQs What is 2017 OF201? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The object is estimated to be around 700 kilometers (435 miles) in diameter, which is approximately half the size of Pluto. In a significant breakthrough, astronomers have detected a Pluto-like planet situated far beyond the known boundaries of the solar system. Identified as 2017 OF201 , the icy celestial body may represent the largest object discovered in the outer solar system in over a decade, reigniting interest in the unexplored expanses beyond as an extreme trans-Neptunian object (TNO), 2017 OF201 is believed to be around 700 kilometers (435 miles) in diameter—about half the size of Pluto. Though smaller than the famous dwarf planet, its location and orbital characteristics have startled researchers. The object's aphelion, or farthest distance from the Sun, is more than 1,600 times Earth's orbital distance, while its perihelion, the nearest point to the Sun, is roughly 44.5 times that of Earth—comparable to Pluto's orbital reach.'This suggests a highly elliptical and unusual orbit,' noted Dr. Sihao Cheng from the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, which led the discovery, as mentioned in a report by planet takes approximately 25,000 years to complete one revolution around the Sun, hinting at a dramatic cosmic using a combination of data from the Dark Energy Camera in Chile and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the celestial body was captured over seven years and 19 different exposures. Astronomers suggest that if the object's size is verified via radio telescopes, it will earn the title of the largest newly discovered planetary body in the outer solar system since the early 2010s.2017 OF201 joins a short but significant list of massive TNOs, which includes Eris, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Gonggong. It further challenges previous assumptions about the sparsity of large bodies in the far-flung regions of the solar to the researchers, the extreme orbit of 2017 OF201 suggests a tumultuous past. It may have been gravitationally ejected by one of the gas giants early in solar system history, potentially reaching the Oort Cloud—a distant shell believed to host countless icy bodies—before being pulled back inward.'This is a classic case of a planetary body that didn't just form where it now resides. Its path tells the story of encounters, ejections, and returns,' said Dr. Yifan Yang, a collaborator on the study, as mentioned in a report by Kuiper Belt , the donut-shaped region beyond Neptune, was once thought to be relatively empty. However, the discovery of 2017 OF201 raises fresh questions about what lies beyond.'The fact that 2017 OF201 was detectable while spending just 1% of its orbital period near the inner solar system implies that there could be hundreds of similar-sized objects we simply haven't detected yet,' Dr. Cheng discovery provides renewed impetus for studying the Pluto-like planet category and the solar system's unexplored boundaries. It may also guide future missions akin to NASA's New Horizons, which flew past Pluto in 2015 before entering deeper Kuiper Belt emphasize that while humanity has explored deep space with cutting-edge instruments, the very edges of our own cosmic neighborhood remain largely uncharted territory.2017 OF201 is an icy, Pluto-like celestial body classified as an extreme trans-Neptunian object (TNO). It was recently discovered in the far outer regions of the solar system and could be the largest such object found in over a decade.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Pluto-like planet discovered: How big is it and how far is it from Earth?
In a significant breakthrough, astronomers have detected a Pluto-like planet situated far beyond the known boundaries of the solar system. Identified as 2017 OF201 , the icy celestial body may represent the largest object discovered in the outer solar system in over a decade, reigniting interest in the unexplored expanses beyond Neptune. Pluto Like Planet With an Extraordinary Orbit Classified as an extreme trans-Neptunian object (TNO), 2017 OF201 is believed to be around 700 kilometers (435 miles) in diameter—about half the size of Pluto. Though smaller than the famous dwarf planet, its location and orbital characteristics have startled researchers. The object's aphelion, or farthest distance from the Sun, is more than 1,600 times Earth's orbital distance, while its perihelion, the nearest point to the Sun, is roughly 44.5 times that of Earth—comparable to Pluto's orbital reach. 'This suggests a highly elliptical and unusual orbit,' noted Dr. Sihao Cheng from the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, which led the discovery, as mentioned in a report by Forbes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beckham Swapped Heels. Walked More. Noticed The Difference. dailybuzzreport Try Now Undo The planet takes approximately 25,000 years to complete one revolution around the Sun, hinting at a dramatic cosmic history. A Decade's Largest Solar System Discovery Discovered using a combination of data from the Dark Energy Camera in Chile and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the celestial body was captured over seven years and 19 different exposures. Astronomers suggest that if the object's size is verified via radio telescopes, it will earn the title of the largest newly discovered planetary body in the outer solar system since the early 2010s. Live Events 2017 OF201 joins a short but significant list of massive TNOs, which includes Eris, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Gonggong. It further challenges previous assumptions about the sparsity of large bodies in the far-flung regions of the solar system. Possibly Ejected from the Oort Cloud According to the researchers, the extreme orbit of 2017 OF201 suggests a tumultuous past. It may have been gravitationally ejected by one of the gas giants early in solar system history, potentially reaching the Oort Cloud—a distant shell believed to host countless icy bodies—before being pulled back inward. 'This is a classic case of a planetary body that didn't just form where it now resides. Its path tells the story of encounters, ejections, and returns,' said Dr. Yifan Yang, a collaborator on the study, as mentioned in a report by Forbes.. Solar System May Host Hundreds More The Kuiper Belt , the donut-shaped region beyond Neptune, was once thought to be relatively empty. However, the discovery of 2017 OF201 raises fresh questions about what lies beyond. 'The fact that 2017 OF201 was detectable while spending just 1% of its orbital period near the inner solar system implies that there could be hundreds of similar-sized objects we simply haven't detected yet,' Dr. Cheng added. A Renewed Push for Outer Solar System Exploration This discovery provides renewed impetus for studying the Pluto-like planet category and the solar system's unexplored boundaries. It may also guide future missions akin to NASA's New Horizons , which flew past Pluto in 2015 before entering deeper Kuiper Belt territory. Astronomers emphasize that while humanity has explored deep space with cutting-edge instruments, the very edges of our own cosmic neighborhood remain largely uncharted territory. FAQs What is 2017 OF201? 2017 OF201 is an icy, Pluto-like celestial body classified as an extreme trans-Neptunian object (TNO). It was recently discovered in the far outer regions of the solar system and could be the largest such object found in over a decade. How big is 2017 OF201? The object is estimated to be around 700 kilometers (435 miles) in diameter, which is approximately half the size of Pluto.
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International Business Times
04-06-2025
- General
- International Business Times
Planet Nine of Solar System? Scientists Discover Possible New Dwarf Planet Beyond Neptune [Read More]
Scientists have discovered a possible new dwarf planet at the edge of our solar system, so far-flung that it takes around 25,000 years to complete one cycle around the sun. The researchers at the Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University who were searching for "Planet Nine", discovered this object, known as 2017 OF201, For the unversed, "Planet Nine" is a hypothetical planet which is reportedly larger than Earth that is thought to orbit beyond Neptune. Some astronomers theorize that a mysterious ninth planet, which so far remains undetected, could explain an unusual clustering of objects and other anomalies observed in the outer solar system. While the researchers were busy searching for the elusive Planet Nine, they came across this new resident in our cosmic backyard. "Extreme Cousin" To Pluto Sihao Cheng, a member at the Institute for Advanced Study who led the research team, said, "It's not very different from how Pluto was discovered," adding, "This project was really an adventure." If confirmed, Cheng describes the newly discovered dwarf planet as a "extreme cousin" to Pluto. The results were published on the preprint website arXiv but have not yet been peer-reviewed. Cheng and his colleagues believe that 2017 OF201 is around 435 miles across, far smaller than Pluto, which is nearly 1,500 miles across. A dwarf planet is a celestial entity that orbits the sun and has enough mass and gravity to be mostly spherical, but unlike other planets, its orbital path is not free of asteroids and other debris. Eritas Yang, one of the study's co-authors and a PhD student at Princeton University, stated that one of the most intriguing aspects of 2017 OF201 is its extraordinarily elongated orbit. At its farthest point from the sun, the object is more than 1,600 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. The dwarf planet candidate was discovered after methodically filtering through a massive data set collected by a Chilean telescope probing the universe for hints of dark energy. By combining data over time, the researchers found a moving item with predictable movements. 2017 OF201 is likely one of the most distant visible objects in the solar system, however, its discovery suggests that there could be other dwarf planets populating that region of space. "It Was Just Hidden There" "We were using public data that has been there for a long time," said Jiaxuan Li, a study co-author and a graduate student at Princeton University. "It was just hidden there." According to Li, the object is currently near to the sun, so the researchers will need to wait approximately a month before conducting follow-up investigations with ground-based telescopes. The scientists are also hoping to someday get some time to explore the object using the Hubble Space Telescope or the James Webb Space Telescope. Meanwhile, Cheng has stated that he will continue his quest for Planet Nine. The latest discovery, however, may put a kink in certain long-held hypotheses about the planet's existence. Planet Nine's concept is that a planet several times the size of Earth in the outer solar system could explain why a collection of icy objects appear to be in unusually close orbits. "Under the influence of Planet Nine, all objects that do not have this specific orbital geometry will eventually become unstable and get kicked out of the solar system," according to Yang. 2017 OF201's elongated orbit distinguishes it from the clustered objects, but Yang's calculations indicate that its orbit should remain stable over the next billion years. In other words, if Planet Nine exists, 2017 OF201 will most likely be unable to remain. However, Yang stated that further investigation is needed, and that the finding of a new dwarf planet candidate does not necessarily spell the end of Planet Nine. For starters, the simulations only used one location for Planet Nine, although experts disagree on where the imaginary planet lurks – if it exists at all. Konstantin Batygin, a planetary science professor at the California Institute of Technology, hypothesized the existence of Planet Nine in a 2016 article co-authored with his Caltech colleague Mike Brown. Object In Chaotic Orbit? He stated that the discovery of 2017 OF201 does neither prove nor contradict the notion. According to Batygin, the objects in the outer solar system that are most likely to leave a footprint of Planet Nine's gravity are those with the closest points on their orbits around the sun that are still far enough away from Neptune to not interact strongly. "This one, unfortunately, does not fall into that category," Batygin told NBC. "This object is in a chaotic orbit, so when it comes to the question, 'What does it truly imply for Planet Nine?' The answer isn't much, because things are chaotic." Batygin said he was excited to see the new study because it adds more context to how objects came to be in the outer solar system, and he called the researchers' efforts mining public data sets "heroic." Cheng, for his part, said he hasn't abandoned hope of finding Planet Nine. "This whole project started as a search for Planet Nine, and I'm still in that mode," he said. "But this is an interesting story for scientific discovery. Who knows if Planet Nine exists, but it can be interesting if you're willing to take some risks."
