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Spotlight

“It is the experiment of the decade”
--Professor Dr. Jamal Nazrul Islam on “Big Bang” test

Interviewed by Tabassum Mokhduma & Mahjabeen

And here the hype goes again! This time, mankind has yet another gift to give to this universe, to the people living on it, to us. This time, human being is on the quest of finding the truth of how the universe was actually created, or rather, to confirm the “Big Bang” theory. The European Organisation of Nuclear Research (CERN) is carrying out the experiment of the decade to support physicist Georges Lemaître's famous theory of how the universe was created.

The “Big Bang” theory proposes that the universe was once extremely compact, dense, and hot. Some original event, a cosmic explosion called the “Big Bang”, occurred about 10 billion to 20 billion years ago, and the universe has since been expanding and cooling. Though this theory is currently accepted explanation of the beginning of the universe, still, until recently, this theory could not be physically explained as a whole.

So to get some ideas on this experiment, we, on behalf of Star Campus (SC) recently interviewed Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam (JNI), the eminent scientist, on different issues related with this huge experiment. Here are the excerpts.

SC: How do you evaluate the present hype on the “Big Bang” test?
JNI: This is a strategic, high-energy experiment. Though some scientists believe that universe was created due to the collision of high energy particles some 15-20 billion years ago, from a single point of intensely focused energy erupting in a cataclysmic explosion, expanding outward to form the universe, no one concretely knows what really happened at the very beginning. At that time there were lots of particles and scientists came to know about it later on, so it was necessary to carry out the high-energy experiment. Actually, it's a very interesting thing though media, especially the western media is making or rather trying to make a big thing out of it.

SC: What do you feel about the importance of this project?
JNI: It's extremely important for basic knowledge of the scientific field, the discipline of nature. People will come to know accurately about the creation of the universe. This experiment will certainly put new wings on the science's expedition. And anyway, science is progressing day by day.

SC: At what extent do you feel that it will be helpful for the wellbeing of civilization?
JNI: It's really tough to say anything about the direct benefit at this very stage. Every invention and experiment of science is somehow beneficent for mankind. This particular experiment indicates the scientific progress as well. As an experiment it is very important and it will also be helpful for the people in someway later on but immediately it cannot be said how useful it will be. But it will generate scientific progress in due course of time. People will get some idea about how the universe was created. Well, I hope this experiment will give a better picture of all the scientific queries, the results of which will ultimately be useful for the overall wellbeing of the people.

SC: At this stage, do you think that this huge experiment will cause any certain disadvantage for the mankind?
JNI: No, no, not at all. I don't think there is any significant chance of problems that this experiment may bring. But at the same time there is a chance for it. There have been some drawbacks in the scientific progressions but this experiment will not cause any major harm to mankind that's for sure. But at the same time no one can tell about the unwanted side effects as we sometimes see in cases of other scientific inventions or experiments. Here I would like to quote Richard Phillips Feynman (1918-1988), the famous U.S. physicist who once said “To every man is given the key to the gate of heaven; the same key opens the gates of hell”. So you never know what awaits you though till now there is no sign of destruction that this experiment may bring.

SC: Do you think that the Bangladeshi people will also be benefited from this experiment? If yes, then how?
JNI: Well, this is one of the most happening things of the last decade or so. I think that the Bangladeshi people will also be benefited from this experiment as science is all about learning. If we learn properly and carefully, try to understand as much as possible may be someday it will be also helpful for us. And anyway, every scientific theory is somehow educative and beneficent for the people around the globe. If we try to comprehend it vigilantly than we can also use it for something really good. It is the experiment of the decade and I think this experiment will bring something different from which ultimately the mankind will be benefited.

Well, some may consider it a boon and some, a bane; let's see what this project actually brings us. Let's just hope for the best.