Skip to content Skip to navigation

Dr. John C. Mather, Nobel Laureate, Astro-Physics, 2006 lecture at IITG

Live Video Conference, first of its kind in the region attracted a huge crowd in excess of 1000 people. Held in the newly inaugurated auditorium of IIT Guwahati on occasion of TECHNICHE08'- an annual technology festival of IIT-G, the place was jam packed with enthusiastic students, participants, faculty members and even school kids, who were a part of the national level Olympiad 'Technothlon'. All in all the response to the first ever effort made by IITG to get a person as distinguished as a Nobel Laureate to address a gathering of technocrats received an awesome response.

Dr. Mather discussed The 'Big Bang' theory explicitly, from the scratch. He sent slides, which were being presented simultaneously as he was delivering his lecture.

It was the story of formation of the universe. How the small concentrated mass of a size of about 10 cm across exploded n expanded into the universe, as we know it today. Much of the world we know today comprises of matter, however 90 percent of the universe comprises of matter and energy, which does not interact with light. It is the presence of force fields of such matter which provides us with the evidence that it exists, scientists also used the term 'Dark' to classify this matter and energy, however, not much is known about it till date.

The speaker then briefed the audience about his work with NASA on project of an observatory on a satellite station and plans of NASA to collaborate with ESA (European Space Agency) and send a New Telescope to be stationed in outer space which would be a much improved version of the Hubble Telescope which is already in space and has served valuable information of the universe.

The lecture concluded with Dr. Mather offering a live interaction with the students in a question-answer session in which interesting questions raised. One example of which was a question as simple as-"What is universe?" and the speakers closing statement went something like-"Sorry i could not answer all the questions properly but that is the beauty of science".

The crowd appreciated the effort put up by IIT Guwahati community and also Dr. Mather for a highly enjoyable and learning experience.
Author info

Nanda Kirati Dewan's picture

Nanda Kumar Dewan is our Senior Journalist covering Community Development & International Relations. He is a Mass Communication & Journalism graduate from Sikkim Manipal University (SMU). He started his journalism career with UB Photos News agency in 2006 as News Photo Caption Editor and Photojournalist. He has been associated with Assam Times since it's inception and today is a part of our editorial team.

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

5 KMSS activists arrested

24 Feb 2014 - 11:03am | AT News
Police have arrested at least 5 KMSS activists from different places in Guwahati for trying to disrupt the function organized at Sankardev kalakhetra to distribute land pattas for 500 families on...

Green Kokrajhar mission launches

29 Feb 2016 - 10:10pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The Kokrajhar Municipality Board launched its Swach Kokrajhar Mission & Green Kokrajhar Mission today at a function here held at Basic Training Centre in the presence of huge public and officials...

Serial blast: All party meet for CBI probe

13 Nov 2008 - 2:10am | editor
An all-party meet on Wednesday resolved to hand over the blasts probe to the CBI. Attended by all the opposition parties, the meeting discussed the present situation of the state. After meeting,...

Indian Navy launches publicity drive in north east

6 Aug 2009 - 10:48am | nabajit_dutta
Indian Navy has launched a Publicity Drive in the North east to build up awareness amongst the students and youth about various career opportunities available in Navy. As a part of the Publicity...

Other Contents by Author

Naina Subba from Arunachal Pradesh was crowned Sikkim Miss Limbu Season -3 on Sunday at a glittering traditional cultural and talent show in Gangtok on Sunday.  The grand finale of Miss Limboo Season 3 and Mr. Limboo Season 1 were together held at the Manan Kendra in Gangtok in gracious presence of Chief Guest, Cabinet Minister Govt of Sikkim Shri Bhim Hang Limboo, along with Member of Parliament (MP) from Sikkim Lokasabha Dr. Indra Hang Subba and Maneybung Dentam constituency MLA Sudesh Kumar Subba as Guests of Honours who in their addresses encouraged youths to connect with community, travel with the tribe and realize our roots. Contestants from all districts of Sikkim, as well as...
Golaghat District, Upper Assam witnessed a vibrant celebration of Sansari Puja, a traditional worship ceremony practiced by the Gorkha community. Sansari Puja, also known as the Worship of Our Own World, is a unique ritual where Gorkhas revere the Earth as 'Mother' and the world as 'Woman.' This sacred ceremony took place on Saturday at Chandanpur village under Merapani Sub-Division Sarupani Gaon Panchayat. The Gorkhas have always been devoted nature worshippers, deeply connected to their surroundings. They hold rivers, mountains, streams, forests, and biodiversity in high regard, considering them as sacred entities. Even in the era of globalization, Gorkhas maintain their love for...
Padumpathar, Golaghat Assam: The 76th Independence Day was celebrated with spirit of ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ throughout the nation as such a small village in Assam’s Golaghat district known for organic revolution in the region Padumpathar alongside hoisting the flag and celebrating Independence day paid rich floral tribute to Indian National Army (INA)’s ‘Singing Soldier’ composer of the tune of India’s National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.  Very few are born to leave an impact to bind a nation to music for eternity; the late Capt. Ram Singh Thakuri was one of those god-gifted ones whom India was fortunate to have in the right era.  When he was born on 15th August...
Guwahati: The newly formed Digital Media Journalists Forum, Assam  held a general meeting at the Guwahati Press Club on Wednesday.  The meeting was chaired by the president of the Convening Committee of the Digital Media Journalists Forum and presently editor of The Cross Current, Bedbrata Bora. Advisor to the Forum and former residence editor at The Telegraph, Pranab Bora spoke about various legal problems faced by digital media journalists. In addition, senior journalists Amal Dutta and Bidhayak Das gave speeches on the importance and role of digital media in the present day. The meeting was attended by journalists from various digital media outlets from eight districts of...
Guwahati: In a major boost towards harnessing the export potential of naturally grown fresh pineapples in the North-Eastern (NE) states, APEDA today organised an in-store export promotion programme in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to promote Assam’s pineapples, which is considered the sweetest in the world, among consumers for wider acceptance in countries. The ‘in-store promotion show’ of pineapples from Assam, which was organised in association with Dubai’s largest supermarket group Lulu Group, is part of APEDA’s strategy to promote locally produced agricultural products to the international markets. Speaking to The Echo of India, Sunita Rai, Asstt General Manager and Regional...
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recorded highest foot fall and revenue collection this season. Post-lockdown rush of both national and native tourists led to the highest annual visitors at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, which helped the authorities collect record revenue of over Rs. 6 crores. Assam forest department on Wednesday in a statement said that Kaziranga reported footfall of 2.75 lakh tourists during 2021-22, against 1.88 lakh in 2017-18. Jatindra Sharma, director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve told Assam Times that altogether 2,75,835 tourists visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Park between October 2021 and May 2022, setting an all-time...
Golaghat: Acclaimed Assamese movie 'Boomba Ride' that was screened in the Indian Panorama will be screened at Cannes Film Festival 'Olympia Screen' on 22nd May 2022. Producer of the movie Luit Kumar Barman informed this correspondent that an email yesterday evening from the Deputy Director and Directorate of the Indian Film Festival confirmed to Biswajit Bora, director of the movie   that the movie 'Boomba Ride' has been officially selected for screening at the Marchu Du Film and Cannes Film Festival. Producer and Director have expressed satisfaction over selection of their for an screening at Cannes. 'Boomba Ride’ is being  written, edited and directed in 2021 by...
Tamulpur (BTR), Assam: After several years of violence, Bodoland and the Bodo people have accepted the principle of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma  'Live and Let Live’ to establish peace and progress for prosperity, observed Ram Nath Kovind, President of India at the 61st annual conference of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Gwnjwng Pathar, Kachubari, Tamulpur, BTR Assam today. President Kovind congratulated the citizens of Tamulpur 35th district of Assam and hoped that it will prosper with community participation in its building and transformation process. He praised Bodo Sahitya Sabha for inviting delegates from Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh connecting Bodo speakers of the world under its...
Tamulpur, BTR: President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Guwahati this afternoon, was recieved by Governor of Assam Prof. Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma at LGBI Airport. President Kovind will deliver the keynote address at the 61st annual conference of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) as the Chief Guest of the Open Session in Tamulpur, western Assam, on Wednesday.  The three-day conference that began on Monday is expected to draw over 5000 delegates from all over the world. Delegates from all districts of Assam have reached conference venues to participate in various sessions. National and international delegates from NE states, Tripura, West Bengal, Bangladesh,...
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressed a ‘Peace, Unity and Development Rally at Longrithep, Diphu in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Teritorial Council (KAATC) on Thursday. During the programme, he was also the foundation stone of various projects. The Prime Minister virtually laid the foundation stone for Veterinary College in Diphhu, Degree College in West Karbi Anglong district and Agricultural College in Kolonga, West Karbi Anglong. Prime Minister Modi was given a rousing welcome at the Community Reception Centre of the program by more than 20 communities residing in Karbinanglong from Tai, Assamese Gorkhas, Manipuri, Bengali, Tea Tribes other than Karbis and Dimasas. Prime...