Catherine Cesarsky: A Lifetime of Astronomy and a Warning for Science Itself
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A leading figure in astrophysics, Catherine Cesarsky, is participating in a crucial scientific meeting in Buenos Aires this week, addressing both the latest astronomical breakthroughs and a growing threat to scientific integrity worldwide. the meeting, titled “The role of science in the advancement of modern societies,” brings together prominent scientists from Argentina, France, and beyond, including 2012 Nobel laureate Serge Haroche, Gloria dubner, and Fernando Stefani.
Cesarsky’s connection to Argentina runs deep. Having lived in Buenos Aires as a child – her father was stationed there by the French embassy after World War II – she completed her physics degree at the University of Buenos Aires in the 1960s before pursuing her phd in Astronomy at Harvard. She speaks Spanish with a distinctly “River Plate” accent, a testament to her formative years in the country.
Her leadership extended to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a groundbreaking radio telescope located on the border of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Currently, she is involved in the construction of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), a 39-meter diameter telescope also in Chile, poised to revolutionize our understanding of the universe.The ELT’s immense size will allow astronomers to observe fainter, more distant objects, effectively looking back in time to the early universe.
Peering into the Dawn of Time and Beyond
the ELT promises to provide unprecedented insights into the universe’s origins, perhaps revealing details about the period shortly after the Big Bang – approximately 380,000 years after the event, when light first separated from matter. Building on the discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope, which has already identified early galaxies with surprising detail, the ELT will aim to unravel the mysteries of the first stars and galaxies. Beyond cosmology, the telescope will also be used to analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets, searching for signs of habitability and even life.
“We are living in a golden age of astronomy,” cesarsky affirmed,a sentiment she has expressed for the past 25 years. Current telescopes are allowing scientists to study violent phenomena like black holes and exploding stars with unprecedented clarity, utilizing x-rays and radio waves to capture a complete view of the cosmos.
A Troubling Trend: Attacks on Scientific Integrity
However, Cesarsky expressed deep concern over a growing trend of distrust and outright attacks on science, particularly within the United States government. “There is an explosion of disbelief in science on the part of the United States government,” she noted, adding that the situation is being closely monitored by scientists worldwide. She described instances of research contracts being scrutinized and halted based on the presence of words like “woman” or “climate change.”
This suppression of scientific inquiry extends beyond budgetary cuts. According to Cesarsky, there have been attempts to ban certain words from scientific publications and a general climate of pressure and persecution. in contrast, she highlighted Argentina’s continued commitment to climate change research, including the measurement of greenhouse gases, a practice she described as “impossible” in the current US political climate.
The Importance of Science in Society
Cesarsky emphasized the vital role of science in modern society, arguing that it has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the world and improved our quality of life. She stressed the importance of dialogue between science and society,particularly in democratic countries,and the responsibility of scientific academies to advise governments.
The meeting in Buenos Aires, she explained, is a testament to the strong scientific collaboration between Argentina and France, and a platform for discussing these critical issues. Recent discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope, including the unexpected presence of well-formed spiral galaxies in the early universe and the rapid emergence of complex chemical elements, are reshaping our understanding of cosmic evolution.
Regarding the search for extraterrestrial life, Cesarsky remains optimistic. She noted the increasing detection of organic molecules in space,including a recent discovery in the Magellanic Cloud,and believes that convincing evidence of life beyond Earth could emerge in the coming years. However, she cautioned against overhyping preliminary findings, emphasizing the need for rigorous and careful research.
