Author: Dr Punit Kumar
Editor’s Note: Given the immense richness of musical traditions of the subcontinent, Science India presents a three-part series that takes an in-depth look at what gives Indian music its unparalleled strength The appreciation of art, particularly music and visual arts, relies heavily on the human senses of hearing and sight. These senses afford us the highest aesthetic pleasures derived from experiencing the beauty of sound and imagery. Our comprehension of the world is greatly enriched through these sensory organs, upon which our very existence depends. Sound and light are foundational elements in our daily lives. While light can traverse through vacuum, sound…
Image Courtesy: Sonam Singh Subhedar Within the sacred confines of temples, amidst the fragrance of incense and the murmurs of devotees, lie profound secrets waiting to be unearthed. These ancient sanctuaries, steeped in spirituality and adorned with architectural splendour, serve as repositories of scientific marvels that have captivated scholars and worshippers for centuries. Acoustics, the science of sound, and lightning, the powerful force of nature, both find resonance within the hallowed halls of temples. Through a blend of ancient wisdom and astute engineering, these sacred spaces are transformed into theatres of sensory wonder, where the celestial harmonies of light and…
Throughout history, the universe has remained an enigma, captivating the curiosity of humanity since time immemorial. The quest to understand its origin has spurred countless questions and inspired numerous discoveries. In a remarkable revelation, astronomers, akin to cosmic detectives, have unveiled a cosmic secret hidden within the depths of the Milky Way. Leveraging observations from the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope, they have identified two early streams of stars, named ‘Shakti’ and ‘Shiva’ after Hindu deities. These celestial formations offer a tantalizing glimpse into the galaxy’s primordial past, serving as ancient relics that illuminate its earliest epochs, billions of…