The Proud of Bengal

Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose was a true renaissance man of science. Born in 1858 in what is now Bangladesh, Bose's contributions spanned physics, biology, botany, and even science fiction! He is particularly recognized for his groundbreaking work in plant physiology and his early explorations into radio waves. Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose  [image credit: https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/42jan5/article67938926.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/IMG_Sir_Jagadis_C._Bose_2_1_LRCDLPQ6.jpg] Bose's fascination with the natural world began early. He believed that plants, long considered passive organisms, were in fact complex and responsive beings. To study their subtle reactions, he invented incredibly sensitive instruments, including the crescograph, which could magnify plant movements in response to stimuli. Using these tools, Bose demonstrated that plants reacted to light, sound, injury, and even electrical stimulation, much like animals. This challenged the prevailing view of plants and pav...

The mysteries of black holes continue to fascinate scientists and science enthusiasts alike. But have you heard of the Indian physicist whose work played a pivotal role in our understanding of these cosmic giants? Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri (1923-2005) was a brilliant mind who made significant contributions to the field of general relativity and cosmology. His most renowned achievement is the Raychaudhuri equation, a fundamental formula that demonstrates the inevitable formation of singularities under certain conditions in general relativity. These singularities are the point of infinite density and gravity at the heart of black holes. Raychaudhuri's equation provided a crucial stepping stone for the Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems, which mathematically confirmed the existence of singularities under specific circumstances. Despite this groundbreaking contribution, Raychaudhuri's work remained largely unrecognized outside of the scientific community. While Roger Penrose receiv...