Podcast Summary
Discovering More Planets Than Stars in the Milky Way: Advanced telescopes have found that there are more planets than stars in our galaxy, fueling the belief of many worlds in the universe. Astrophysicist Munoz Ahlam's work on exoplanets and personal traditions during Ramadan illustrate the curiosity and wonder driving scientific exploration and spiritual connection.
There are more planets in the Milky Way Galaxy than there are stars, each star hosting at least one planet. This groundbreaking discovery, made with the help of advanced telescopes like Hubble, James Webb Space Telescope, Mauna Kea observatories in Hawaii, and Los Campanas Observatory in Chile, has fueled the longstanding philosophical belief of many worlds in the universe. For astrophysicist Munoz Ahlam, this discovery is a significant part of her scientific work on exoplanets. During Ramadan, a holy month of fasting for Muslims, Munoz reflects on the importance of family, faith, and food. Her South Asian heritage adds unique traditions, such as eating pokkori and fruit jaat, to the observance of this month. Through her work with stars and her personal traditions, Munoz embodies the curiosity and wonder that drives scientific exploration and spiritual connection.
Ramadan: A Month of Spiritual Growth and Cultural Connection: Ramadan is a month-long tradition involving fasting from sunrise to sunset, connecting individuals to their cultural heritage and spiritual growth. It's seen as a chance for personal development rather than just a religious duty.
Ramadan is a deeply rooted tradition for many people that connects them to their cultural heritage and spiritual growth. This month-long practice involves fasting from sunrise to sunset and having a pre-dawn meal called Seheri or suhoor. The word may have slight variations in different languages, reflecting the Arabic root. Ramadan lasts for about 29 or 30 days, and its timing varies each year due to the lunar Islamic calendar. Fasting is seen as a spiritual perfume that balances the senses and promotes growth and transformation. Saint Jose Nasr, a significant figure in the speaker's life, emphasized this perspective on Ramadan as a chance for personal development rather than just a religious duty. The tradition of fasting during Ramadan is a meaningful way to connect with one's heritage and spirituality.
A month of spiritual connection and reflection for Muslims: Muslims read and recite the Quran, offer additional prayers, find enhanced focus and productivity during Ramadan, and celebrate community and gratitude.
Ramadan is not only a month of fasting and abstinence for Muslims, but it is also a time for deeper spiritual connection and reflection through increased worship and prayer. The Quran, the sacred text of Islam, is a significant part of this commemoration. Muslims are encouraged to read and recite the Quran during Ramadan, and additional prayers, such as the Ravi prayers, are offered in mosques on weekends. Balancing a career and the demands of Ramadan can be challenging, particularly in terms of sleep deprivation from early morning prayers and staying up late for nightly meals. However, many find that fasting enhances their focus and productivity. Overall, Ramadan is a time for community, gratitude, and spiritual growth.
Ramadan: A Month of Fasting and Spiritual Growth for Muslims: Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims marked by daily fasting, traditional Iftar meals, prayers, and spiritual reflection. The month ends with Eid al Fitr, while Eid al Adha receives more attention.
Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims, involves the daily practice of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Iftar, the meal to break the fast after sunset, includes traditional foods like dates, water, and snacks such as pokore and fruit jot. Prayers are said during sunset, and dinner is based on cravings. Tea and halva are common post-dinner treats. Ramadan ends with Eid al Fitr, a holiday celebrating the end of the month, while the larger holiday, Eid al Adha, receives more attention. The spiritual dimension of Ramadan involves self-reflection and contemplation, detaching from materialistic sides of life and focusing on personal growth and place in the universe. In my research, I focus on detecting and characterizing exoplanets using both space-based and large ground-based telescopes.
Astronomers analyze data from both ground and space telescopes: Astronomers work mostly at their desks analyzing data, but occasionally travel to observatories to control telescopes and experience real-time data analysis. They carefully time observations for Earth-like planets and analyze atmospheres by observing transits at different wavelengths.
Being an astronomer involves both analyzing data from telescopes on the ground and in space. During most days, astronomers work at their desks, analyzing data from telescopes. However, a few times a year, they get to travel to observatories and work directly with telescopes, experiencing the thrill of traditional observational astronomy. These observing sessions involve staying up all night to control the telescopes and analyze data in real-time. Space-based data is constantly being collected and downlinked to Earth, while ground-based data is scheduled in advance. When observing for Earth-like planets, astronomers time their observations carefully to capture the planet's transit, or passage in front of its host star. They also observe the planet's atmosphere by analyzing the transit at different wavelengths of light. The shadow the planet casts on the star can reveal information about the planet's atmosphere, with more opaque atmospheres causing a larger shadow. Overall, the combination of ground and space-based data analysis keeps astronomers connected to the traditional observational aspect of their work.
Changes in a planet's size at different colors reveal its atmosphere: The James Webb Space Telescope provides clearer observations of exoplanets, revealing unique atmospheric compositions and discovering intriguing findings
Changes in a planet's size at different colors of light can reveal information about its atmosphere, including what atoms and molecules are present, as well as the presence of clouds or hazes. This information has led to the discovery of exotic planets with unique atmospheric compositions, some of which have rain made of materials like corundum or molten glass. The James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021, is revolutionizing the field of exoplanet research by providing clearer and more detailed observations from space, allowing scientists to study these worlds in greater depth and discover even more intriguing findings.
Sharing science with kids through podcasting: The James Webb Space Telescope provides more precise data and observes a wider wavelength range than Hubble. Sharing science with kids through podcasting can inspire curiosity and make scientific careers seem attainable.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) collects highly precise data that is not affected by the telescope's movements, allowing for better resolution and observation of a wider wavelength range than Hubble. Co-hosting Nat Geo's science podcast for kids, "How We Explore," was a wonderful experience for me, as it allowed me to share my curiosity and passion for science with young audiences. The podcast, which focused on women in science and the ways kids can contribute to scientific discoveries, was a success and received positive feedback from both kids and parents. National Geographic's explorers and their seemingly unrealistic jobs inspire curiosity and show that exploration and scientific careers can be attainable realities. I became a National Geographic Explorer by sharing my experiences and passion for science with others, just as I did on the podcast.
Astrophysicist's pivotal research trip funded by National Geographic grant: Young astrophysicist's career advanced by National Geographic grant, inspiring her to deepen understanding of giant and sub-Neptune/super Earth planets using James Webb Space Telescope. Emphasizes importance of mindfulness and reflection during Ramadan.
The speaker, a young astrophysicist, received a National Geographic grant during her college years to fund her research trip to Chile's Las Campanas Observatory. This experience was pivotal in her career as she aspires to deepen our understanding of giant and sub-Neptune/super Earth planets using the James Webb Space Telescope. The speaker also emphasized the importance of mindfulness and reflection during Ramadan, which she practices by being mindful of her time and expressing gratitude. Overall, her experiences, both academic and spiritual, have shaped her into a dedicated researcher and observant individual.
Speaking with Munaza Alam about her experiences during Ramadan: Ramadan, a sacred month in Islamic culture, brings physical and mental challenges but also a sense of community and spiritual growth
Observing a day of fasting during Ramadan can be physically and mentally challenging, making the simple pleasures of a warm beverage and a sweet treat all the more cherished at the end of the day. We had the pleasure of speaking with Munaza Alam, a National Geographic Explorer and postdoctoral researcher, about her experiences during this sacred month in Islamic culture. Munaza shared that despite the exhaustion, the sense of community and spiritual growth make it all worthwhile. For more insights into Ramadan and its significance, check out our digital stories on National Geographic's website. In production, this episode of Overheard was brought to you by Hans Delsoo, Brian Gutierrez, Jacob Pinter, Eli Chen, Carla Wills, Julie Howe, Michael Tribble, Nathan Lomp, and Dovar Ardalan. Thank you for tuning in. Ramadan Mubarak.
