IIntroduction: A Visitor from the Void In 2017, the placid map of our solar system was irrevocably altered. For the first time in human history, astronomers confirmed the passage of an object from another star system: 1I/ʻOumuamua. Its name, chosen by its discoverers, is Hawaiian for "a messenger from afar arriving first," a poetic and fitting title for a visitor that heralded a new era of astronomy. The arrival of ʻOumuamua, and the interstellar objects that followed, transformed a long-held theory into observable reality. These interstellar objects (ISOs) are more than just astronomical curiosities; they are "natural probes" of the interstellar medium and "unique samples of material from distant planetary systems," offering insights into the chemistry and dynamics of worlds beyond our own without the need for multi-generational starships. This report centers on the third such confirmed visitor, 3I/ATLAS, an object that has captivated...
Durga Puja: A Feeling of Hope Made Tangible There’s a moment during Durga Puja in Kolkata, usually around midnight, when the crowds swell to an almost impossible density. You’re moving, but not by your own volition. It’s a collective surge, a river of humanity flowing from one brilliantly lit pandal to the next. In that beautiful chaos, bathed in the incandescent glow of a thousand bulbs, you realize something profound: this isn't just a festival. It’s a feeling. It’s hope made tangible, shimmering in the night. For many, Durga Puja is the annual antidote to the mundane. It’s the breaking of routine, the unburdening of worries, and a chance to truly live in the present. And for a few days, Kolkata transforms into a wonderland, a city that doesn't just celebrate, but radiates. A Symphony of Senses Walk through any street in Kolkata during Puja, and your senses are immediately overwhelmed, in the best possi...