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Redeeming India’s Nuclear Power Promise: A Clean Energy Imperative for 2047

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Introduction: A Nuclear Vision for Viksit Bharat@2047 As India marches toward its ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, energy security stands as a pivotal pillar in the vision of Viksit Bharat . Amid the global climate crisis and rising energy demands, nuclear power has re-emerged as a compelling solution. India’s commitment to achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 is both visionary and necessary—but achieving this requires a strategic shift in policy, participation, and international cooperation. While India’s nuclear energy sector has traditionally been a tightly controlled domain under government monopoly—primarily led by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) —it is now imperative to welcome private sector investments and foreign partnerships. A reformed nuclear ecosystem can unlock the full potential of atomic energy as a clean, reliable, and scalable contributor to India’s net-zero aspiration...

Gravitational Lensing Explained: Discovery of Hidden Stars Behind Galaxy Clusters

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Gravitational Lensing (GL)

  1. Recent Discovery

    • Physicists at Durham University, UK, discovered over 44 unknown stars behind a galaxy cluster using gravitational lensing.
    • The stars were observed as they existed 8 billion years ago, during the universe's "cosmic noon."

  2. What is Gravitational Lensing?

    • Gravitational lensing occurs when a massive object (e.g., a galaxy cluster) bends and magnifies light from distant objects behind it.
    • The effect acts like a cosmic magnifying glass, revealing distant, faint celestial objects.

  3. Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity

    • Mass causes spacetime to curve, and light follows the curvature of spacetime.
    • When light passes near a massive object, it bends due to the object’s gravitational pull.

  4. Visual Effects of Gravitational Lensing

    • Arcs and Rings: The bending of light can create arcs or complete rings (called Einstein rings) around the massive object.
    • Multiple Images: It can also produce multiple images of the same background object.

  5. Recent Study Details

    • Researchers observed a distant galaxy named the "Dragon Arc," located behind the Abell 370 galaxy cluster.
    • The cluster's gravitational field distorted and stretched the shape of the Dragon Arc.

  6. Discovery of Hidden Stars

    • Using the magnified light from the Dragon Arc, scientists identified over 44 previously undetected stars.
    • These observations help study star formation during the early universe.

  7. Applications of Gravitational Lensing

    • Dark Matter Mapping: It helps in mapping the distribution of dark matter in the universe.
    • Studying Distant Galaxies: Magnification allows telescopes like Hubble and James Webb to observe faraway galaxies.
    • Cosmic Expansion: It aids in studying the universe’s expansion and understanding cosmological phenomena.

  8. Importance for Astronomy

    • Gravitational lensing plays a crucial role in expanding our knowledge of the cosmos.
    • It enables scientists to see objects beyond the standard observational range of telescopes.

Conclusion:
Gravitational lensing is a powerful tool that magnifies distant celestial objects, revealing hidden stars and galaxies. The recent discovery by Durham University highlights its importance in understanding the early universe and cosmic phenomena.

 

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