Priyamvada Natarajan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Priya Natarajan
|
|
|---|---|
Natarajan at KITP, Santa Barbara
|
|
| Born | 1969 (age 55–56) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
|
| Alma mater | MIT, University of Cambridge, Trinity College, Institute of Astronomy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cosmology, theoretical astrophysics |
| Institutions | Yale University (professor) |
Priyamvada (Priya) Natarajan is a brilliant scientist who studies the universe. She is a professor at Yale University, where she teaches about space and physics. Priya is famous for her work on understanding dark matter and dark energy. These are mysterious parts of our universe that we can't see directly.
She also studies giant supermassive black holes and how they grow. Priya wrote a book called Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos. You might have seen her on TV shows like Black Hole Apocalypse on PBS, where she shares her amazing discoveries.
Contents
Early Life and Growing Up
Priya Natarajan was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, in 1969. Both of her parents were academics, meaning they worked in universities. She grew up in New Delhi, a big city in India.
As a child, Priya loved visiting the Nehru Planetarium Delhi. She was very interested in maps, both of Earth and of the sky. This early interest helped her become a scientist who maps the universe.
Priya's Education Journey
Priya Natarajan studied at some of the world's best universities. From 1986 to 1991, she earned degrees in physics and mathematics from M.I.T (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
She then got a Master of Science degree from MIT in 1994. After that, she moved to England to study theoretical astrophysics. She did her advanced research at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge.
In 1998, she earned her Ph.D. degree. While at Cambridge, she was also a member of Trinity College. Before joining Yale, she worked as a visiting researcher in Canada.
Exploring the Universe: Priya's Research
Priya Natarajan's research helps us understand the biggest mysteries of the universe. She studies many different areas, always looking for new answers.
Understanding Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Priya spends a lot of time studying dark matter and dark energy. We can't see these things, but they make up most of the universe. She uses a tool called gravitational lensing. This is when gravity from huge objects, like galaxy clusters, bends light. It acts like a giant magnifying glass in space.
By studying how light bends, Priya can create maps of dark matter. She also looks at how galaxy clusters form and grow over time.
Investigating Black Holes
Another big part of Priya's work is studying black holes. She looks at how these incredibly dense objects form and grow. She is especially interested in supermassive black holes, which are found at the center of most galaxies.
Priya explores how the very first black holes formed in the early universe. She also studies how black holes and their home galaxies affect each other as they grow.
Galaxy Formation and Evolution
Priya also researches how galaxies form and change. She looks at how black holes might influence the growth of galaxies. For example, powerful jets from black holes can push gas and dust away, affecting how stars form.
She also studies how galaxies and black holes grow together. This helps us understand the history of our universe.
New Ways to Study the Cosmos
Priya is also using new technologies like machine learning to help her research. This involves teaching computers to find patterns in huge amounts of data. This helps scientists make new discoveries about galaxies and black holes.
She also studies Gamma-ray bursts. These are the most powerful explosions in the universe. Priya looks at how these bursts relate to star formation and the galaxies where they happen.
Awards and Recognitions
Priya Natarajan has received many important awards for her scientific work.
- In 2008, she was given the Emeline Conland Bigelow Fellowship at Radcliffe Institute of Harvard University.
- In 2009, she received a Guggenheim Fellowship, which is a very prestigious award.
- She was also honored by the Global Organization for the People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) in 2009.
- In 2010, India Abroad Foundation named her the "Face of the Future."
- She was elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2008.
- In 2010, she became a fellow of the Explorers Club.
- The American Physical Society elected her as a fellow in 2011.
- She was also a distinguished visitor at the Space Telescope Science Institute from 2011 to 2012.
- In 2023, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- In 2024, she became a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society. This award recognized her important work on dark matter and black holes.
- Time magazine named Priya Natarajan one of the hundred most influential people in 2024.
