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Gaia telescope reveals new insights into Milky Way's history
Deutsche Welle
22 Mar 2024, 12:29
The European Space Agency's telescope Gaia has discovered two streams of stars that helped form our galaxy more than 12 billion years ago.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has gathered unprecedented insights into the history of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The ESA's space telescope Gaia revealed two ancient streams of stars that wove together and merged with the Milky Way early in its existence.
Researchers were examining data collected by Gaia when they came upon the streams, which they named Shakti and Shiva — a divine couple from Hindu philosophy who Hindus believe united to create the universe.
"Revealing more about our galaxy's infancy is one of Gaia's goals, and it's certainly achieving it," Timo Prusti, project scientist for Gaia at the ESA, said. "We need to pinpoint the subtle yet crucial differences between stars in the Milky Way to understand how our galaxy formed and evolved. This requires incredibly precise data — and now, thanks to Gaia, we have that data."
Ancient star streams show Milky Way's growth
Astronomers believe Shakti and Shiva are so old they likely formed before the oldest parts of our galaxy's spiral arms and disc. The stars that make up the two streams in space are 12 to 13 billion years old, and each stream contains the mass of about 10 million Suns.
The star streams lie towards, but not directly at, the Milky Way's heart. Gaia gathered data from this area in 2022 and found the region to be filled with the oldest stars in the entire galaxy.
"The stars there are so ancient that they lack many of the heavier metal elements created later in the Universe's lifetime," said Hans-Walter Rix, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany. Rix was a co-author of the study that presents the results of Gaia's exploration, published in the journal Nature on Thursday.
"Until now, we had only recognized… very early fragments that came together to form the Milky Way's ancient heart," Rix said. "With Shakti and Shiva, we now see the first pieces that seem comparably old but located further out. These signify the first steps of our galaxy's growth towards its present size."
Rix's colleague and co-author Khyati Malhan pointed out how much the Milky Way has changed in the billions of years since Shakti's and Shiva's stars were born, and how the researchers hadn't been expecting to clearly see any structures from that time. "But the unprecedented data we're getting from Gaia made it possible."
Shakti and Shiva part of the Milky Way's birth
The two streams Gaia discovered are similar but not identical. Shakti's stars orbit a little further from the Milky Way's center and in more circular orbits than Shiva's.
Scientists today think that the Milky Way formed when multiple long, irregular filaments of gas and dust coalesced billions of years ago in space, forming stars and wrapping together to spark the birth of our galaxy. It seems that Shakti and Shiva were part of this process. The ESA said it hopes that future Gaia data releases will reveal more details.
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Rain likely in 4 divisions including Dhaka in next 24 hours
Rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country.
This information was given by the BMD bulletin for the next 72 hours from 9 am on Friday (29th March).
According to the forecast, an extended part of the western low lies over West Bengal and adjoining areas. And the Seasonal low lies over the South Bay. Day and night temperature may rise slightly over Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.
There is a possibility of rain in one or two places of Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions on Sunday (March 31). Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
Student politics can be reintroduced at BUET campus: VC
Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Satya Prasad Majumder has said student politics can be reintroduced on the campus if teachers and students want.
He told to reporters on Sunday (March 31) at noon.
Dr. Satya Prasad Majumder said that the teachers and students had decided to ban politics in BUET earlier, they will have to take initiative again to change that decision. If they decide, then maybe politics can reintroduced at the campus.
At the same time, the BUET Vice-Chancellor urged the protesters to take part in the class and examination.
The students claimed that the BCL central leaders had organized a program at the campus around 1am amid the ban.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Students League (BSL) leaders and activists paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing floral wreaths at his mural at the BUET campus on Saturday.
Earlier, BUET student Abrar was tortured to death by student leaders in 2019. At that time, student politics was banned on paper in the context of the demands of teachers and students. At the same time, the general students claim that politics did not stop even for a moment in the institution. Rather, extremist political organizations are taking advantage of the ban on student politics.
High Court allows student politics in BUET
The High Court has postponed the decision to ban political organisations and activities in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and allows student politics.
Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice KM Zahid on Monday (April 1) passed the order over hearing a writ petition.
Earlier in the morning, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking permission continue systematic student politics on BUET. The writ petition was filed in the relevant branch of the High Court.
On October 11, 2019, BUET student Imtiaz Hossain Rahim filed the writ petition challenging the legality of the 'emergency notice' issued by the BUET authorities.
The Indian Product Boycott Movement vs. Reclaiming the Hat
It’s best not to discuss or mention the type of person who announced the start of the Indian Product Boycott Movement. However, it was surprising to see some BNP political party leaders and supporters engage in such an unrealistic endeavor.
There exists a persistent anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, deeply entrenched and hard to eradicate. This sentiment stems not only from the country’s partition or the Pakistan movement. Despite the division of the Indian subcontinent first into two and then into three parts, the underlying issue has always been religious. The emergence of these three countries was not based on modern principles, and religious influence still pervades among the leftists, rightists, and nationalists alike. Furthermore, these nations have yet to adopt any practical diplomacy and politics that could unite the culturally similar populations of this subcontinent. Politics in these countries are so ingrained in society that they overshadow common cultural heritage.
On the surface, the cultured individuals in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh do not harbor hatred or division. However, they are in the minority.
For the majority of the populace, the mindset is uniform. From Bangladesh, it may appear that anti-India sentiment is rampant within its borders. This opposition often becomes pronounced during elections or for political maneuvering. Conversely, the common people across India do not generally hold negative views about Bangladesh, which has minimal impact on India’s politics and economy. Thus, there is no significant basis for anti-Bangladesh sentiment in India. However, I have observed some journalists and professors in India expressing frustration, questioning whether India must provide food for Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
Currently, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh have gained importance to India for security reasons. Many journalists who were initially annoyed about providing aid have substantially revised their opinions. They now support a friendly government in Bangladesh, understanding that China’s influence is expanding not only through Tista’s Chicken Neck and off the coast of Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal but also in parts of Chittagong. Hence, for their national security interests, Indian concerns extend beyond Bangladesh to West Bengal as well. Future changes in the political landscape or borders of West Bengal, driven by security needs, would not be surprising.
All these developments occur as India is poised to become the world’s third-largest economic power, with a GDP currently surpassing that of China.
In today’s political landscape, it is unrealistic to expect the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has not only governed the nation multiple times but also played a pivotal role in SAARC during its 1991 tenure, to start opposing any SAARC country—even if by mistake.
The BNP boasts numerous educated leaders and high-caliber professionals within its ranks. They are well aware that product boycotts and non-cooperation movements have historically never succeeded. India’s Sarvodaya leader, Jayaprakash Narayan, acknowledged that the only successful non-cooperation movement occurred in Bangladesh in 1971. Despite his leftist leanings and admiration for Gandhi, Narayan viewed the Bangladeshi non-cooperation movement through Gandhi’s principles. However, this movement, led by Bangabandhu against the West Pakistan government, was not the endeavor of an opposition party. As an elected representative, Bangabandhu and his party were effectively the authority at that time. Although his party secured all its seats in East Pakistan, the West Pakistan-centric military government was reluctant to transfer power. Realizing that negotiations with Pakistan had reached a dead end, Bangabandhu took it upon himself to assert control in East Pakistan—soon to be Bangladesh. His initial step was to administer East Pakistan as per his directives rather than those of West Pakistan’s central government. Given that he was an elected leader, not only the populace but also the administrative machinery supported him.
Despite knowing this historical truth, the BNP lost to political strategies on October 28, 2023, they called for a non-cooperation movement. They received no significant response there. Yet, why some leaders and activists of the BNP—a party that has come to power several times—rely on the intellect and opinions of those dependent on Facebook and YouTube to engage in a boycott of Indian products is truly astonishing!
Critics of this movement would benefit from understanding Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s late-life reflections on his initiatives. Professor Nirmal Kumar Bose, Gandhi’s one-time private secretary, questioned the effectiveness of the foreign product boycott and the use of the spinning wheel. Gandhi responded that spinning increased concentration, a rationale that frustrated Bose. He found Gandhi’s explanation unsatisfactory and reflective of a ‘schoolmasterly’ demeanor, preferring to impose his views rather than foster understanding. Bose, with his urban sensibilities, choose silence over confrontation with Gandhi’s rural mindset. Thus, if BNP proponents of the boycott claim they are following Gandhi’s path to enhance focus, their rationale cannot be disputed further.
However, it must be acknowledged that the Indian Product Boycott Movement is unlikely to succeed, and it will not lead to anarchy. Essential and affordable products cannot be eradicated from the market. During Gandhi’s time, even the impoverished who supported his movements wore British mill-made clothes. Similarly, the absence of food riots today can be attributed to the availability of products in the market. Such chaos typically arises only when essential goods are inaccessible.
Moreover, the gap between the twentieth century, when Gandhi initiated the product boycott, and today’s global commercial landscape is immense, akin to the distance from the Earth to space. In the contemporary world, products from various countries are readily available side by side in markets everywhere. Consumers simply choose what they prefer. Presently, there is more contention between the people of America and China than between those of Bangladesh and India. Yet, despite the tensions, Bangladesh remains one of the top countries whose citizens frequently visit India. Similarly, Chinese tourists are among the highest in the United States. These tourists do not solely sightsee; they also purchase local products. Thus, regardless of calls in Bangladesh to boycott Indian goods, the multitude of tourists traveling daily are not carrying Bangladeshi items. Instead, they return with Indian goods and potentially, products from other countries like China, Vietnam, Britain, and the USA bought in India. Likewise, Chinese visitors to the US do not restrict their purchases to American products; they also buy items from Indonesia and other nations. In an era of global free trade, where the movement of goods is liberalized and consumers universally embrace the principle of sourcing from the most cost-effective markets, no politically savvy party that aims to govern in the modern world would adopt an outdated, impractical strategy like Gandhi’s product boycott.
Recent reports from BNP’s initial policy-making meeting confirm this modern approach. According to the newspapers, Iqbal Mahmud Tuku, one of their policymakers, asserted that the statement made by Rizvi was his own opinion and not representative of the party. Meanwhile, another senior policymaker, Amir Khosru Chowdhury, emphasized that Rizvi’s decisions or statements do not reflect the party’s stance.
On the other hand, isn’t the BNP’s frustration with the elections solely centered around India a kind of mistake? Didn’t China also want continuity in their investments here? Did the West only want ballots here? How much of democracy worldwide is actually in the hands of the ballot now! Instead, the BNP needs to understand that they were the ones who started corporate-controlled politics in this country, albeit on a small scale. But the Awami League has taken that Hat from them. Therefore, it shouldn’t be hard for the BNP’s senior policy makers to focus on retrieving their own Hat rather than looking towards movements like boycotting Indian products influenced by Facebook and YouTube users.
Swadesh Roy is a highest national award-winning journalist in Bangladesh, Editor and Publisher of Sarakhon & The Present World.
Source: The Present World
Schools and colleges to remain closed for 7 days
Heat alert has been issued in various parts of the country due to severe heatwave. In this situation, the Directorate of Secondary & Higher Education has extended the holidays of all secondary schools and colleges in the country till April 27 considering the health and safety of the students.
This information was given in a notification from the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education on Saturday (April 20).
According to the notification, primary and secondary schools will remain closed for seven days from Apr 21 to Apr 27.
In this regard, Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin, senior information officer at the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said that secondary level schools and colleges will remain closed till April 27 due to the heatwave. Regular classes will begin on April 28.
Earlier, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education announced the closure of the primary school assembly through a notification due to the ongoing heatwave in the country.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education is keeping a close watch on the heatwave across the country. Considering the situation, all government primary school assemblies in the country will remain closed until further notice.
DU classes to be held virtually amid heatweave
Dhaka University (DU) authorities have decided to hold classes virtually until further notice due to the ongoing heatwave.
The university authorities made the announcement on Thursday (21 April).
According to a press release issued by DU today, the online classes will be held until further notice.
However, the residential halls at the university will remain open, Prof Sitesh Chandra Bachar of DU said.
Dozens arrested as US campus protests over Gaza spread
Protests against the ongoing war in Gaza have spread at Yale University in Connecticut and New York University in Manhattan in the United States. Police arrested dozens of people on Monday night to disperse the ongoing protests at New York University. The British media BBC reported.
Authorities arrested at least 47 protesters on the Yale University campus in New Haven. The university confirmed the matter in a statement.
The ongoing protests on U.S. campuses captured the world's attention last week when New York City police arrested more than 100 protesting students on the campus of Columbia University. As part of the protest, the students setting up tent encampments at its New York City campus last week. Authorities have expelled the arrested students from the university after the police made the arrests.
Hundreds of Columbia University teachers staged a mass walkout on Monday to protest the arrests of students protesting on their campuses. In addition, the authorities announced on Monday that all classes of the university will be conducted virtually.
Meanwhile, protests in support of Palestine are taking place at major US educational institutions, including the University of California at Berkeley, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Michigan and Emerson College. But many U.S. politicians and campus-based organizations are claiming the protests as an anti-Semitic movement.
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