Harvard Scientist on Alien Life, Black Holes, & the Discovery of 5000 Planets | SparX

In this episode of SparX, we sit down with Priyamvada Natarajan, theoretical astrophysicist at Yale University and author of the acclaimed book "Mapping the Heavens", for a wide-ranging conversation about black holes, dark matter, alien life, and the future of modern astrophysics.

From her early fascination with science to her years at MIT and her groundbreaking research at Yale, Priyamvada takes us through the ideas and experiences that shaped one of the most compelling minds in contemporary science.

In this conversation, she breaks down the search for life beyond Earth, the discovery of new planets, and the scientific quest to understand black holes and the hidden structure of the cosmos. She explains why these extreme phenomena are key to understanding how galaxies form, reflects on the current state of scientific research in India, and offers her advice for young scientists stepping into the field. From fundamental questions about alien life to the future direction of astrophysics, this is a conversation about the boundless possibilities of science!

CHAPTERS:

Keywords :

[astrophysics, black holes, dark matter, dark energy, alien life, extraterrestrial

life, exoplanets, search for life in space, Priyamvada Natarajan, Yale University,

MIT astrophysics, theoretical astrophysics, Mapping the Heavens, galaxy formation,

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cosmology, theoretical physics, quantum physics, science education]

0:00-02:53 Intro

02:54-21:33 Priyamvada’s Journey

21:34-32:46 Priyamvada Achievements

32:47-36:49 Detecting Life Beyond Earth

36:50-49:15 Understanding Blackholes

49:16-57:59 The State of Science in India

58:00-58:47 Outro