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Gate Of Hell Shown By Scientists – ‘Black Hole’

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What was earlier tagged – ‘Science fiction has now become science fact’ as an international scientific team, having used  a global network of telescopes to see ‘the unseeable’ on Wednesday announced another feat in astrophysics – the first-ever photo of a black hole – an achievement that upheld a pillar of science put forward by Albert Einstein.
 
Black hole was first propounded theoretically by a German-born theoretical physicist, Albert  Einstein more than 100 years ago, now proven experimentally.
 
 
What is a black hole? 
It is a place with such gravitational pull that nothing can escape including light. Black holes are monstrous celestial entities exerting gravitational fields so vicious that no matter or light can escape. The somewhat fuzzy photo of the black hole at the center of Messier 87, or M87, a massive galaxy residing in the center of the relatively nearby Virgo galaxy cluster, reveals a glowing ring of red, yellow and white surrounding a dark center.

Interestingly, the research which was conducted by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project, an international participation involving about 200 scientists begun in 2012 to try to directly observe the immediate environment of a black hole and its announcement was made in simultaneous news conferences in Washington, Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo respectively.

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The image, as reliably learnt,  was obtained using data collected in April 2017 from eight radio telescopes in six locations that essentially create a planet-sized observational dish.

The team’s observations strongly proved the theory of general relativity proposed in 1915 by Einstein, the celebrated  theoretical physicist, to explain the laws of gravity and their relation to other natural forces.

According to astrophysicist Sheperd Doeleman, director of the Event Horizon Telescope at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA), Harvard & Smithsonian, “We have achieved something presumed to be impossible just a generation ago”.

German-born theoretical physicist, Albert  Einstein 

Black holes, phenomenally dense and coming in various sizes, are extraordinarily difficult to observe by their very nature. A black hole’s event horizon is the point of no return beyond which anything – stars, planets, gas, dust and all forms of electromagnetic radiation – gets swallowed into oblivion.

The M87 black hole observed by the scientific team resides about 54 million light-years from Earth and boasts an almost-unimaginable mass of 6.5 billion times that of the sun. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

“This is a huge day in astrophysics. We’re seeing the unseeable. It did bring tears to my eyes”,  U.S. National Science Foundation Director, France Cordova submitted.

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The existence of black holes was first predicted in 1916. Most galaxies are thought to have a supermassive black hole at their center.

Meanwhile, the fact that black holes do not allow light to escape makes viewing them difficult, thus the scientists looked for a ring of light – super-heated disrupted matter and radiation circling at tremendous speed at the edge of the event horizon – around a region of darkness representing the actual black hole. This is known as the black hole’s shadow or silhouette.

The scientists further confirmed that Einstein’s theory correctly predicted that the shape of the shadow would be almost a perfect circle. With M87, it deviated from perfect circularity by less than 10 percent.

Remarking, astrophysicist Dimitrios Psaltis of the University of Arizona, the EHT project scientist said, “we found literally the proverbial hole in the middle of this galaxy, and to me that is just stunning”.

Einstein’s theory also was validated by another major astrophysics achievement announced in 2016, the detection of gravitational waves, or ripples in spacetime, arising from two black holes that smashed together.

“Science fiction has become science fact,” University of Arizona astronomy professor Daniel Marrone emphasized.

“The image has this exquisite beauty in its simplicity,” said another CfA astrophysicist Michael Johnson, the project’s imaging coordinator.

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 “It is just a fundamental statement about nature. It’s a really moving demonstration of just what humanity is capable of”, he added.

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Education

Victim of Ogbomoso nightclub shooting not our student – LAUTECH breaks silence

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In the aftermath of the tragic killing of Iyanda Damilola, allegedly by a police officer during a nightclub altercation in Ogbomoso, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has clarified that the victim was not a student of the institution.

Damilola, identified as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was reportedly shot dead during a fracas at a club in Ogbomoso on Monday.

Contrary to initial reports, LAUTECH’s Public Relations Officer, Akin Fadeyi, emphasized that the incident did not occur within the university premises.

“The incident occurred around 2 am. It did not occur in the institution. It happened in a club, and in LAUTECH, we don’t have a club or hotel,” stated Fadeyi during the institution’s 16th convocation ceremonies.

He further clarified, “They were fighting and the student who got killed was not our student. So, what happened had nothing to do with LAUTECH. It has nothing to do with our convocation.”

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has taken action, detaining the officers involved in the incident. According to the command spokesman, Osifeso Adewale, the officers were dispatched to the nightclub to quell a disturbance during the party.

“The incident worsened, leading to the firing of ‘warning shots’ by the officers. This led to one death,” Osifeso stated in a Thursday statement.

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The deceased’s brother, Oluwafemi Iyanda, a LAUTECH graduate, confirmed that the tragic event occurred after attending his convocation ceremony and heading to an after-party with his late sibling.

“All operatives involved in the incident including Inspr Rasheed Saheed are currently under detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku,” Osifeso added.

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Education

UNN Suspends Lecturer Accused of Harassing Female Student

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The Management of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State has taken swift action by suspending Mfonobong Udoudom, a lecturer in the General Studies Department, following allegations of sexual harassment involving a female student.

In a statement issued by the university’s spokesperson, Okwunka Omeaku, on Tuesday, it was emphasized that UNN maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct, particularly between staff and students.

Omeaku highlighted that the university has a comprehensive Sexual Harassment Policy in place to regulate interactions among its academic community.

“The management of the University of Nigeria has suspended Mr (not a Professor) Mfonobong David Udoudom, a lecturer in our General Studies division, who was caught in a video allegedly harassing a female student,” the statement read.

The suspension, effective immediately and indefinite, awaits the outcome of a disciplinary panel established by the university to investigate the incident thoroughly.

According to reports, the lecturer allegedly threatened the female student, asserting that she would not pass his course unless she acquiesced to sexual advances.

The situation escalated after the students completed an examination for the course, with the lecturer purportedly warning some female students of dire consequences if they did not comply with his demands.

The female student, in a courageous move, informed her husband of the harassment, who subsequently filed a complaint with the university authorities.

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Acting on the complaint, the university advised the student to cooperate while discreetly addressing the issue.

A viral video depicting the lecturer partially naked further fueled public outrage and prompted swift action from the university.

 

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Education

New Acting Registrar, Bursar Appointed at The Polytechnic, Ibadan

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File photo of the Acting Registrar, Adewunmi Joseph Ogunjimi

 

The Oyo State Government has announced the appointment of Mr. Adewunmi Joseph Ogunjimi as the Acting Registrar and Mr. David Olukola Taiwo as the Acting Bursar of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

According to a statement released by Soladoye Adewole, the Polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, the appointment letters were issued on behalf of the State Government by the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, and were dated 8th April. These appointments were endorsed by the Acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi.

Adewunmi Joseph Ogunjimi, the newly appointed Acting Registrar, brings a wealth of administrative experience to his new role. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Deputy Registrar of the Directorate of Academic Affairs at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Ogunjimi holds a B.Sc degree in Psychology from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and an MSc in Industrial Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

His journey in academia began at Prospect High School, Aba Nla, where he completed his secondary education between 1973 and 1978. Ogunjimi’s tenure at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, spans several years, during which he held various administrative positions, showcasing his prowess as an administrative wizard.

David Olukola Taiwo, the newly appointed Acting Bursar, comes with extensive experience in financial management. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Chief Accountant at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Taiwo began his career at the institution in March 1994, joining as an Accountant II. Over the years, he climbed the ranks to become the Chief Accountant in 2015. Taiwo holds multiple qualifications in accounting and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCE).

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His contributions within the Bursary Department, including roles such as Head of the Treasury Unit and Head of the Final Accounts Unit, underscore his proficiency in financial matters.

Both Ogunjimi and Taiwo are described as family-oriented individuals, happily married and blessed with responsible children.

The appointments of Mr. Adewunmi Joseph Ogunjimi and Mr. David Olukola Taiwo signify a new chapter in the administrative landscape of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, as they assume their respective roles with dedication and expertise.

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