[🇧🇩] Space Program in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Daffodil International University students to represent Bangladesh at NASA

Team Diamonds from DIU won the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2022 with their project "Diamond in the Sky".

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Daffodil International University students to represent Bangladesh at NASA

Photo: Courtesy

"Team Diamonds", a team of students from the Department of Software Engineering, Daffodil International University (DIU), won the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2022 as the "Most Inspirational" project. The team is now heading to NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration – to represent the country as the champions of this prestigious international competition.

Team Diamonds is led by Tisha Khandokar as its team leader. Other team members include Md Munim Ahmed, the team's UI/UX designer and data analyst; Injamamul Haque Sonet, the System Architect; Abu Niaz, the app's developer, and Zarin Chowdhury, the team's dedicated researcher.

The team's winning project, "Diamond in the Sky", is an interactive, game-based learning tool designed for children aged 10 to 12.

"This innovative application aims to teach kids about stellar variability and the dynamic nature of the night sky," said Tisha to The Daily Star. "By engaging with the game, children can recognise star patterns, understand star colours, and learn about their brightness. The purpose of our app is to provide young learners the opportunity to comprehend star twinkling and the slow changes in the night sky, fostering a new perspective and appreciation for astronomy."

"Winning the NASA Space Apps Challenge is an incredible honour and a source of immense pride for our team and our country," added Tisha. "Representing Bangladesh and getting to raise our red and green flag at NASA fills us with joy and pride, showcasing our nation's potential on a global stage."

As Team Diamonds sets to depart for NASA, they have high expectations from their visit.

"Our plans include meeting with NASA scientists and gaining valuable knowledge about space science," said Tisha. "We are particularly excited about our invitation to visit the Goddard Space Flight Center, which promises hands-on experience with cutting-edge space science and technology. This visit will undoubtedly enrich our understanding and inspire further innovation."

She said, "By addressing genuine issues, you can make meaningful contributions to the world and increase your chances of success in any competition. Embrace the challenge, think creatively, and remember that your solutions can have a significant impact. This mindset is key to excelling in the NASA Space Apps Challenge and making a difference in the field of space science."​

 

[Saif]

UIU first in Asia at University Rover Challenge 2024

This is the third year in a row that UIU has been crowned the best in Asia at the URC competition.

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UIU first in Asia at University Rover Challenge 2024
This is the third year in a row that UIU has been crowned the best in Asia at the URC competition.

Photo: Courtesy

The UIU Mars Rover Team from United International University (UIU) became the highest-ranked team from Asia at the University Rover Challenge (URC) 2024. The team also secured the 5th position globally at the competition. This is the third year in a row that UIU has been crowned the best in Asia at the URC competition.

The UIU Mars rover team with its YGGDRASIL rover.

At the URC 2024, UIU secured this marvelous feat by competing against 37 other teams from 15 countries.​

 

[Saif]

Mongol Barota: MIST’s Mars rover team participating in the University Rover Challenge finals

Mongol Barota Mars Rover Team from MIST heads to finals with PHOENIX 4.0, aiming for victory.

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Mongol Barota: MIST's Mars rover team participating in the University Rover Challenge finals

Mongol Barota – the Mars rover team from Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) – is set to participate in the University Rover Challenge (URC) 2024 finals with their PHOENIX 4.0 rover. They are one of three teams from Bangladesh who will be representing the country at one of the world's most popular robotics competitions tailored for university students across the world.

Led by Md Jawadur Rahman, with Al-Amin Rashid Tarek as the co-leader, the Mongol Barota team comprises key members across various departments, each playing a crucial role in the rover's development and success. Ahmed Ahnaf Saqafi leads the mechanical sub-team, while Istiaque Ahmed Arik oversees the software and communication sub-team. Then there is Mansib Hasan Rohan, who directs the electrical sub-team, followed by Raisul Islam Rahad and Anika Tahsin Raisa leading the rover's autonomy, navigation, and science team.

As for guidance, the team turned to their supervisors, including MIST's Commandant Maj Gen Mohammed Saidul Islam, rcds, ndc, psc, Head of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) Brig Gen Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) Brig Gen Md Awal Khan.

Mongol Barota's journey started back in 2014 when the team made its debut at the URC, securing the 12th position globally. In 2015, the team returned to the URC arena, this time earning the 9th position worldwide and securing the title of "Best Team from Asia". Fast forward to 2021, Mongol Barota reached the virtual final of the URC and ranked first globally. Besides the URC, the team also boasts notable achievements from competitions such as the European Rover Challenge (ERC) and Anatolian Rover Challenge (ARC).

Working with the rover gave the team hands-on experience of using various advanced equipment, taught them how to think critically, sharpened their problem-solving skills, and helped build team work and patience. It also allowed team members to form life-long friendships.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

UIU ranks 3rd in Asia in CanSat Competition 2024

Team UIU Astro from United International University (UIU) has ranked 3rd in Asia and 11th globally in the CanSat Competition 2024 organised by the American Astronautical Society.

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UIU ranks 3rd in Asia in CanSat Competition 2024

Photo: Collected / Facebook / IEEE UIU Student Branch
Team UIU Astro from United International University (UIU) has ranked 3rd in Asia and 11th globally in the CanSat Competition 2024 organised by the American Astronautical Society.

The team, consisting of Md Zidan Talukder, Abdullah Al Saad, Provat Kundu, Md Efty Alamgir, M Abdullah Khan, Md Shamsuzzaman, Anika Tabassum Orchi, Al Reasat, Md Farhan Zaman, and Md Darain Khan, attended the competition finals from June 6 to 9 in Monterey, Virginia, United States.

A CanSat is a type of rocket payload used to teach space technology, similar to the one used in miniaturised satellites. The name "CanSat" combines the terms 'can' and 'satellite' given that it simulates a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a regular soft drink can.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh is negotiating with France to build 4-6 satellites in future. Bangladesh is emphasizing knowledge/technology transfer and capacity building.

 

[Deleted due to Error (Muji Iqbal)]

Although I wish well for Bangladesh, I think Bangladesh relies on other countries to send satellites to space. Am I correct?

 

[Saif]

Although I wish well for Bangladesh, I think Bangladesh relies on other countries to send satellites to space. Am I correct?

You are absolutely correct, brother. Bangladesh hasn't been able to build the necessary infrastructure to launch satellites into the space. So, we have to depend on America/France to send satellites into the space.

 

[Saif]

Two Bangladeshi teams reach finals of European Rover Challenge 2024

Project Altair from the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) and Team Interplanetar from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has advanced to the final round of the international rover competition European Rover Challenge (ERC) 2024, to be held in Krakow, Poland, from...

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Two Bangladeshi teams reach finals of European Rover Challenge 2024

Left: Team Interplanetar from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Right: Project Altair from Islamic University of Technology (IUT). Photos: Courtesy

Project Altair from the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) and Team Interplanetar from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has advanced to the final round of the international rover competition European Rover Challenge (ERC) 2024, to be held in Krakow, Poland, from September 6 to 8, 2024.

Widely recognised as a platform for aspiring space engineers, the ERC hosts teams from universities all over the world to design and build rovers capable of tackling simulated Martian and lunar environments. These tasks replicate the real-world obstacles encountered by rovers on space missions, allowing students to showcase their ingenuity and technical prowess in front of industry experts and representatives from major space agencies.

Following a rigorous selection process, 69 teams from across the globe vied for a spot in the finals. The top 27, including Project Altair and Team Interplanetar - both from Bangladesh, qualified for the final round.

"Right now, we are focused on practising for ERC finals tasks, fixing any bugs, and getting the rover competition-ready. We are also working on university approval, visa processing, and sponsorship to support our efforts," shared Md. Nahid Shahriare, Outreach Lead of Team Interplanetar from BUET.

According to the team, BUET's rover Prochesta V3.0 has a four-wheel rocker suspension with a link bar differential for extreme traversal. It is equipped with a five-degree-of-freedom robotic arm that allows it to perform maintenance tasks. "Besides, it has a modular science payload that enables drilling and storage of soil samples for scientific analysis, along with industrial grade cameras and communication equipment that allows it to travel autonomously at great distances," explained Sahib Ur Rauf, the team's Technical Lead.

As for Project Altair from IUT, the team is using a bar differential as the suspension system for driving through rough terrain. Their manipulator subsystem is built with laser-cut SS steel, actuators, and worm gears and their deep sampling system uses an auger and ball screw mechanism to dig deep soil samples. "Considering the current state of our rover and the team's motivation, we aspire to achieve big in this year's ERC finals," shared Mohammad Emon, Team Lead.

"Although our rover is competition-ready, we are working on significant improvements for this year's finals. We are currently implementing an autonomous navigation system using SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) for the navigation task and automating our deep sampling machine. We are also enhancing our communication system, as we faced challenges in this area during our recent competition at IRC 2024," Emon further explained. The team is also manufacturing a new gripper for a task newly added to ERC this year.

The ERC finals will see these talented teams from Bangladesh put their rovers through a series of demanding tasks designed to mimic real-world missions conducted by NASA and ESA.​

 

[Saif]

MIST’s Mongol Barota secures runners-up trophy at Anatolian Rover Challenge 2024

The team also secured the champion title in the ARC Junior 2024 Exploration Challenge.

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MIST’s Mongol Barota secures runners-up trophy at Anatolian Rover Challenge 2024
The team also secured the champion title in the ARC Junior 2024 Exploration Challenge.

Maverick – MIST Mongol Barota's latest Mars rover that helped them secure the runners-up trophy at Anatolian Rover Challenge 2024. Photos: Courtesy

Mongol Barota, the Mars rover team from the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), has secured the runners-up trophy at the Anatolian Rover Challenge (ARC) 2024, and the champion title in the ARC Junior 2024 Exploration Challenge.

ARC'24 took place from July 17 to 21 at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkiye, under the patronage of the Space Exploration Society (UKET).

MIST's Mongol Barota, consisting of 38 students across several engineering departments of MIST, took on this year's ARC challenge with their latest rover, Maverick. Six of them represented the team in Turkiye. The team was led by Md Jawadur Rahman from the Department of Computer Science & Engineering (CSE), with Alamin Rashid Tarek from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) as the co-leader. Other members of the team included Lt Md Sarower Morshed (CSE), Istiaque Ahmed Arik (CSE), Raisul Islam Rahad (CSE), and Ahmed Ahnaf Saqafi (ME). The team was guided by their faculty advisors Lt Col Muhammad Nazrul Islam (CSE), Maj Md Shawkat Ali (CSE), and Lecturer Shah Md Ahasan Siddique (ME).

The ARC Junior 2024 team, on the other hand, was led by Lecturer Ahasan with Alamin and Saqafi. Brig Gen Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, Head of the CSE department at MIST supported the team throughout the journey as the main advisor. The team members also expressed their gratitude to Brig Gen Md Anisur Rahman, Head of the ME Department for providing valuable mechanical facilities. MIST's Commandant also appreciated the team's achievements at the ARC'24.

Mongol Barota faced fierce competition from 21 other teams from countries like Poland, India, and Turkiye amongst others. The competition required teams to complete four demanding missions set in environments simulating the environmental conditions in Mars, the moon, and the Earth.

The competition had four missions: Science Sampler, Autonomous Exploration, Lunar Robotic Prospector, and Night Launch. Mongol Barota excelled in all missions, securing 2nd, 4th, and 2nd positions in missions 1, 2, and 3 respectively. In the fourth mission, they scored a perfect 100 out of 100 and completed the task six minutes before the designated time, showcasing their rover's exceptional nighttime navigation and task execution skills.

Photo: ARC Website

Despite few technical challenges, the team's resilience paid off, earning them the second overall position with a total score of 235.18 points. The team's stellar performance did not go unnoticed, as they also received the ARC Special Prize for the "Best Team Structure". This award was judged by Umut Yildiz, a deep space communications engineer at NASA to whom Mongol Barota's inclusive team culture, which involves welcoming all members regardless of age or contribution, and nurturing a healthy learning and growth environment, stood out.

On July 18, during the Night Launch mission, the team received a devastating news from Bangladesh that Shykh Ashabul Yamin, a fourth-year CSE student from MIST, had tragically lost his life during the quota reform protests. The news shook the team to its core. Rahad, the rover's communications lead, said, "We felt extremely restless for not being able to communicate back home due to the nationwide internet shut down in Bangladesh back then. Despite wanting to give up, we stayed and fought back with our feelings, because we knew we had to win this for Yamin bhaiya, as well as for all the others who have embraced martyrdom [during the protests]."

Regarding their achievement, Rashid said, "Even during such a critical moment in our country, we achieved this success through courage and unity, reflecting our unwavering determination."

MIST's Mongol Barota is determined to use their experience from the ARC'24 to drive technological progress and help shape the future of a new Bangladesh.

Fatima Ashraf is a campus ambassador for The Daily Star at the Military Institute of Science & Technology (MIST).​

 

[Saif]

NASA’s chief astronaut Joseph M Acaba concludes Bangladesh visit

The chief astronaut of NASA, Joseph M Acaba, concluded a successful visit to Bangladesh after successful engagements with youth, academia, government officials, and media in Dhaka.

www.newagebd.net

NASA’s chief astronaut Joseph M Acaba concludes Bangladesh visit
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka 17 December, 2024, 19:39

The chief astronaut of NASA, Joseph M Acaba, interacts with students in Dhaka. | BSS photo

The chief astronaut of NASA, Joseph M Acaba, concluded a successful visit to Bangladesh after successful engagements with youth, academia, government officials, and media in Dhaka.

His engagements included interactive sessions with students, where he inspired young minds to pursue careers in space science, robotics, STEM, research, and education, said a US embassy press release.

In a first, Acaba arrived in Dhaka on Saturday to engage with local youth, academia and media.

During the visit, Acaba discussed the role of space exploration in advancing technology and addressing global challenges, such as the climate crisis.

Acaba shared insights on NASA’s contributions to global science and technology and how Bangladesh can benefit from collaborative efforts in space exploration and technology innovation through the Artemis Accords.

The Artemis Accords promote principles for a safe, peaceful and prosperous future in space to foster further collaboration between NASA and Bangladesh’s growing space and technology sectors.

Acaba is an American educator, hydrogeologist, and a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

In May 2004, he became the first person of Puerto Rican ancestry to be named a NASA astronaut candidate.

In 2023, Acaba was appointed as the chief of the Astronaut Office.

As an astronaut, Acaba logged over 306 days in space across three missions-including spacewalks and groundbreaking scientific research aboard the International Space Station.​

 

[Saif]

North South University, STEMX365 sign MoU for collaboration in space education and research

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between North South University (NSU) and STEMX365 on Tuesday, December 17. Through this MoU, STEMX365 and NSU will collaborate to support NSU students in all kinds of space education and research, says a press release. NSU’s Vice-Chancellor Prof

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

North South University, STEMX365 sign MoU for collaboration in space education and research
FE Online Desk
Published :
Dec 18, 2024 21:34
Updated :
Dec 18, 2024 21:34

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between North South University (NSU) and STEMX365 on Tuesday, December 17. Through this MoU, STEMX365 and NSU will collaborate to support NSU students in all kinds of space education and research, says a press release.

NSU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury signed the MoU on behalf of NSU. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) space scientist and founder of space research organization STEMX365 Mizanul Chowdhury signed the MoU on behalf of STEMX365.

Dean of NSU School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Dr Shazzad Hosain, Chair of Department of Computer Science and Engineering Dr Mohammad Abdul Matin, and faculty from NSU attended the MoU signing ceremony along with delegates from STEMX365.

STEMX365, founded by MIT space scientist Mizanul Chowdhury, is a non-profit space research organization that has opened the door to free space science and technology education for Bangladeshi youth in an agreement with Japan's JAXA. The organization works in collaboration with MIT's Zero Robotics Lab. Through this organization, talented young people studying science and technology in various schools, colleges, and universities in the country are learning programming, learning about space, building robots and participating in international competitions and achieving success.

In the meantime, Bangladesh won second place in 2021, fifth place in 2023, and third place in 2024 in the international Kibo Robotics Programming Competition under the supervision of STEMX365.​

 

[Saif]

Kessler Syndrome: Space debris may create a future with no internet, TV, or mobile phone

The scenario in which space debris collides and creates more debris is called Kessler Syndrome, named after the NASA scientist Donald Kessler.

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Kessler Syndrome: Space debris may create a future with no internet, TV, or mobile phone

The scenario in which space debris collides and creates more debris is called Kessler Syndrome. FILE PHOTO: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

In 1923, British physician Havelock Ellis famously wrote in The Dance of Life, "The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago had they happened to be within the reach of the predatory human hands." He missed the Red Planet―Mars.

We have already destroyed Earth, the only inhabitable planet in the solar system, beyond repair. Today, we breathe polluted air, drink contaminated water and grow food on chemically modified soil. We are using our lungs as a receptacle for hundreds of noxious pollutants. As a result, our planet has transitioned from the Holocene Epoch to a new geological epoch known as the Anthropocene Epoch.

In the last 65 years, we succeeded in bringing the Moon and Mars within our reach. We polluted both these heavenly orbs, which not a single human inhabits, though not to the extent we damaged Earth. Since the first human-made object reached the Moon on September 13, 1959, namely the Soviet Luna 2 lander, we have dumped upward of 200,000 kilogrammes of refuse, such as moon buggies that were abandoned during the manned Apollo missions, scores of unmanned probes that have crashed or landed on the Moon, backpacks and personal hygiene kits of astronauts, and many more on the lunar surface.

Mars may be 140 million miles away, but it is also not immune from man-made trash. There are already well-nigh 7,000 kilogrammes of trash―broken and crashed spacecraft, parachutes, foams, discarded hardware and rover tracks―on the Martian surface, from 50 years of robotic exploration. Scientists don't know how cosmic radiation, ice action and dust storms—the conditions of another world—will affect these objects over time.

We almost made it to the Sun, 93 million miles away from Earth, by whizzing through its fiery atmosphere just 3.8 million miles above its surface. Thank heavens, other stars are still beyond our reach because they are light years away, but outer space in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is not.

The LEO, typically 160–2,000 kilometres above the Earth's surface, has long been a vital area for human activity in space, hosting satellites for communications, Earth observation, navigation and scientific research. The International Space Station (ISS) is among the most renowned entities in LEO, circling the Earth at an average altitude of 400 kilometres from the surface.

The predatory human hands converted the LEO into a junkyard, a dumping ground for space debris left over from six decades of space exploration. There are millions of pieces of space junk flying around in LEO. The majority of space debris consists of man-made items, including fragments of spacecraft, small paint particles from these vehicles, components of rockets, defunct satellites and remnants from explosions of objects that are orbiting at high velocities, potentially reaching speeds of up to 28,000 kilometres per hour.

The scenario in which space debris collides and creates more debris is called Kessler Syndrome, named after the NASA scientist Donald Kessler, who alerted us to this problem in 1978. More specifically, Kessler describes a situation in which if the density of space debris reaches a critical threshold, it will lead to a chain reaction of collisions in LEO that could envelop the planet in a debris field. This cascading phenomenon of space debris poses a significant risk of making LEO too clogged for satellites to orbit safely, or for launching future space missions.

As the number of satellites in orbit increases―about 110 new launches each year and at least 10 satellites or other objects a year breaking up into smaller fragments―the risk of severe collisions with space debris will escalate. The resulting consequences for all satellites and assets in space operating within a congested orbit, as well as for any spacecraft traversing these regions, will be disastrous. For example, the ISS has executed multiple evasive manoeuvres to steer clear of debris. In one recent incident, a piece of debris came within four kilometres of the ISS. Furthermore, these errant objects also endanger the safety of astronauts.

If, indeed, satellites collide or go offline because of overcrowded LEO, critical services like internet, navigation (GPS), weather forecasts, cell phones, television and other space-based technologies could fail. Needless to say, this will cause widespread disruption to modern life. Imagine life without social media!

According to the European Space Agency, there are more than 13 million kilogrammes of material in LEO. Some 35,000 objects are being monitored by space surveillance networks. Approximately 9,000 of these objects are operational payloads, while the remaining 26,000 consist of debris that exceeds 10 centimetres in size. However, the actual number of objects in space debris larger than one cm in size―large enough to be capable of causing catastrophic damage―is over one million.

An increasing number of these objects―an average of one piece per day―are falling back to Earth, failing to disintegrate upon re-entry as anticipated. A notable incident occurred in 1969 when five sailors on a Japanese vessel sustained injuries attributable to space debris from what was believed to be a Soviet spacecraft that struck the deck of their boat. More recently, in December 2024, a luminous metallic ring, exceeding eight feet in diameter and weighing over 500 kilogrammes, fell from the sky and crash-landed in a secluded village in Kenya. Luckily, no one was injured.

Space-faring nations that rely heavily on satellites are by far the major contributors to space debris. Despite the growing likelihood of satellite loss, they have not taken decisive action to address the issue of junk in the LEO. Besides, they have no incentive to reduce debris generation except to protect their own spacecraft, which they do with shields.

It is important to note that space debris is not the responsibility of a single nation; rather, it is a shared obligation among all countries engaged in space exploration. Hence, it is imperative that for the common good of both humanity and the environment in the LEO, we should tackle Kessler Syndrome head-on.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of initiatives aimed at reducing the accumulation of space debris, the clutter persists in increasing. The situation has escalated to the point where we are staring at "an unsustainable environment in the long term." Historical precedents indicate that all is not lost; we have previously come together in the face of considerable challenges.

Dr Quamrul Haider is professor Emeritus at Fordham University in New York, USA.​

 

[Saif]

The scale of the universe and our place in it

This realisation is not meant to diminish our significance, but rather to inspire awe and perspective.

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The scale of the universe and our place in it
scale of the universe

For perspective, the distance between Earth and the Sun is about 147 million kilometres, which translates to roughly 1.58/100,000 light-years. Against this infinite expanse, the Earth is but a speck of dust, and humans are smaller still. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

To truly understand our place in the universe, we must first comprehend the concept of scale. It is only through understanding the relative sizes of the entities around us that we can appreciate the grandeur of existence and the humility it demands. Consider this: compared to the universe, we are minuscule, far smaller than even the tiniest microscopic objects—such as atoms, bacteria, or viruses—are to us. The ratio of a human's size to the universe's size is approximately 1/10^24, while the ratio of an atom's size to a human's size is 1/10^10. This stark comparison provides a glimpse into how infinitesimal we truly are in the cosmic context.

The vastness of the universe is almost incomprehensible. Scientists estimate its diameter to be 93 billion light-years. For perspective, the distance between Earth and the Sun is about 147 million kilometres, which translates to roughly 1.58/100,000 light-years. Against this infinite expanse, the Earth is but a speck of dust, and humans are smaller still. Now imagine the scale of the being or force that created this immense cosmos. How minute must our individual existence appear from that vantage point?

This realisation is not meant to diminish our significance, but rather to inspire awe and perspective. Many religious traditions highlight the creator's infinite forgiveness, perhaps because, on a cosmic scale, our petty grievances, conflicts and selfish actions seem trivial. Instead of focusing on such trivialities, we should strive for collective well-being and meaningful contributions to the greater good. Our actions, viewed collectively, shape the world we live in, and this collective behaviour matters far more than individual missteps.

To understand the power of scale, consider this analogy: for someone with only 100 units of currency, even one unit is immensely valuable. For someone with 100 billion units, however, even 100 units are negligible. This principle applies universally: the larger the scale we consider, the smaller individual contributions or actions seem. Similarly, to understand the universe's vastness, we must expand our perspective, learning to see beyond our immediate surroundings.

An everyday example of scale can be found in a seemingly empty container. Although it appears vacant, it contains countless air molecules. These molecules, invisible to the naked eye, collide with the container's walls at random speeds. The average force per unit area of these collisions creates what we call pressure. Similarly, room temperature represents the average kinetic energy of these molecules. No one molecule's specific behaviour matters; it is the collective behaviour that defines the observable phenomenon. This mirrors humanity's progress—it is the cumulative contributions of countless individuals that propel society forward.

The analogy of collective behaviour extends to nation-building. A country's well-being depends on the average behaviour of its citizens. In a society as small as ours when viewed against the universe, the prevalence of corruption, theft, and violence seems tragically unnecessary. What purpose does such behaviour serve in the grand scheme of things?

Take Bangladesh as an example. If we want to build a prosperous nation, collective good behaviour is essential. Our well-being as a society depends on our ability to act with integrity, kindness, and unity. The contributions of the majority determine whether we thrive or falter.

As humans, our sense of belonging is inherently tied to scale. If you were to travel to another planet and were asked where you are from, your answer would be "Earth." On Earth, you might identify yourself by your country, such as "Bangladesh." Within Bangladesh, you'd narrow it down to your district, town, or even neighbourhood. Our sense of kinship expands or contracts depending on the scale of the context. Beyond Earth, all humans feel like family. Within a country, fellow citizens are our kin. And so, our sense of connection grows narrower as the scope shrinks.

Understanding scale clarifies our responsibilities as humans. It teaches us to be generous, humble, and open-minded. This is why writers and thinkers urge us to visit the sea, climb mountains, or gaze at the horizon—such experiences remind us of our smallness and inspire a broader perspective. They help us grow in empathy and understanding, encouraging us to think collectively rather than selfishly.

To truly grasp our place in the universe is to embrace humility and the drive for collective good. In the grand design of the cosmos, our greatest contribution lies in fostering unity, acting with integrity, and striving for the betterment of all. Let the vastness of the universe inspire us to rise above trivial conflicts and embrace a more generous, meaningful existence.

Dr Kamrul Hassan is professor in the Department of Physics at Dhaka University.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladeshi researcher and team discovers young galaxy with JWST

Astronomers have identified a galaxy formed approximately 600 million years after the Big Bang, with characteristics resembling those of the Milky Way during its early stages.

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Bangladeshi researcher and team discovers young galaxy with JWST
early universe galaxy

The galaxy, nicknamed the “Firefly Sparkle” by the research team, is notable for its modest mass, which aligns with estimates of the Milky Way’s mass at a comparable stage of development. Imaes: NASA

Astronomers have identified a galaxy formed approximately 600 million years after the Big Bang, with characteristics resembling those of the Milky Way during its early stages. The discovery, made using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), represents a significant advancement in understanding the formation of galaxies in the early universe. Among the co-lead researchers of the study is Bangladeshi-born astrophysicist Lamiya Mowla, now an assistant professor at Wellesley College in the United States.

Unveiling the "Firefly Sparkle" galaxy

The galaxy, nicknamed the "Firefly Sparkle" by the research team, is notable for its modest mass, which aligns with estimates of the Milky Way's mass at a comparable stage of development. The study utilized gravitational lensing, a phenomenon that amplifies and distorts light from distant objects, to closely examine the galaxy's structure. JWST's advanced infrared imaging capabilities allowed researchers to resolve the galaxy into 10 distinct star clusters, each in varying stages of formation.

"This galaxy offers a rare glimpse into the assembly of a galaxy in the early universe," said Mowla in a NASA news release. "The ability to resolve it into separate components provides unique insights into the processes of star formation."

Collaboration and advanced technology

The research was conducted as part of the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS), which leverages the capabilities of JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec). Gravitational lensing, caused by a massive foreground galaxy cluster, magnified the Firefly Sparkle, enabling detailed analysis of its structure and composition.

Insights into early galactic formation

The Firefly Sparkle is relatively small and less massive than most galaxies observed from this epoch. Researchers identified two companion galaxies, separated by 6,500 and 42,000 light-years, which may influence its future development through gravitational interactions. The study suggests that such interactions, predicted by galaxy formation models, are crucial in the evolution of early galaxies.

The research findings were published in the journal Nature on December 11, 2024. By studying galaxies like the Firefly Sparkle, astronomers aim to better understand the processes that led to the formation of present-day galaxies, including the Milky Way.​