Cosmic Dawn - Mpho Kgoadi
Mpho Kgoadi: Astrophysicist; PhD candidate at Wits University; Co-founder of Wits Astronomy Club #Disabledinstem #BlackinAstro #SKAO #Wits
His Research: I study a period in the Universe called reionization, 1 billion years after the Big Bang and 12 billion years ago. This was when the Universe went from a completely neutral state to being highly ionized as it is now (when an atom loses or gains an electron). Reionization is thought to be caused by the high energy photons and electrons from the first stars and galaxies. Recently though, the idea has been proposed that some of the ionization radiation may have come from a mysterious matter source - dark matter. This is what I try to investigate; whether dark matter did alter the state of reionization and if this could help us understand the nature of dark matter itself.
This is an important research area because we still don't understand what dark matter is, yet it constitutes about 75 % of the matter content in the Universe. Also we haven't been able to experimentally detect the Universe during the epoch of reionization. This could really change the way we understand physics.
That Scientific Spark: For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by the night sky. I would ask what are stars, what makes them shine at night etc. etc. etc. Its an inherent passion. But maybe the most important catalyst for me to pursue physics was the old TV series - Quantum Leap. It was about time travelling. That show and many many comics and cartoons about space.
Read more about Mpho’s life and science in an article by Wits University.
His Heroes: My younger sister Zintle, for her utmost resilience and strength and my best friends Sisipho, Thabang, Nomvuyo and Gcina! They are my strength when I am weak and my council when I lose focus.
His Top Tip: The harder you work, the luckier you are. Work hard and everything will fall into place.
Order of What Matters Most to Succeed: curiosity, communication, creativity, hard work
What Else Do You Need? Perseverance!
Scientific Strengths: Science communication, teaching, mathematical mindset, coding
Last word: I am a person with disability and I have been able to work hard to achieve my dream, if I can, you can as well. My hobbies include playing video games and reading comic books.
Connect: Twitter @mphodapoet YouTube: Mpho Kgoadi
Funda ngesiZulu
Mpho Kgoadi: Uyi-Astrophysicist eneziqu zobusosayensi azithola enyuvesi yase-Wits. Ungomunye wabasunguli be-Wits Astronomy Club #Disabledinstem #BlackinAstro #SKAO #Wits
Ucwaningo lwakhe: Ucwaningo lwakhe ulibhekise ekubukeni izinto ezazenzeka emkhathini eminyakeni engamabhiliyoni adlule ebizwa nge-reionization. I-reionization yenzeka eminyakeni engamabhiliyoni emva kwe-Big Bang kodwa yenzeka emnyakeni engamabhiliyoni ayishumi nambili uma uhlehlela emuva kulonyaka esikuwona. Isikhathi se-reionization kwakuyisikhathi lapho umkhathi wawungakakhekhi kahle, lapho kwakusakheka khona ama-planet ukuze kubonakale ukuthi yimaphi adinga ama-electron amaningi kuma-atom awo nokuthi yimaphi adinga ama-electron amancane kuma-atom awo. Ososayensi babethi i-reionization yayibangwa i-radiation ephuma kweminye imithala, kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi bathola ukuthi ibangwa yinto ebizwa nge-Dark Matter
Uthi u-Mpho yisihloko esibalulekile esidinga ukucwaningwa ngoba akukuningi esikwaziyo nge-Dark Matter futhi kungasiza ukwazi ukuphendula neminye imibuzo mayelana nama-planet nokunye okwenzeka emkhathini.
Inhlasi Yobusosayensi: Ubusosayensi wakuthanda ngenkathi elokhu ebuka isibhakabhaka ebusuku elokhu ezibuza ukuthi konke lokhu akubonayo kwaqhamuka kanjani. Waya enyuvesi eyofunda i-Astrophysics futhi manje wenza umsebenzi omsiza athole izimpundulo kwimibuzo ayenayo futhi athole nokunye okusha abengakwazi.
Amaqhawe akhe: Usisi wakhe omncane U-Zintle ngokubekezela namandla awakhombisayo kuyo yonke into ayenzayo. Nabangani bakhe okubalwa kubo uSisipho, Thabang, Nomvuyo no Gcina! Bayisisekelo sami uma ngiphelelwa amandla baphinde bangiqondise uma sengiphuma endleleni.
Ithiphu yakhe: Uma usebenza kanzima yilapho, uzothola khona izinhlanhla eziningi. Sebenza kanzima, uzobona ukuthi yonke into izozenzakalela!
Okumele ube nakho ukuze uphumelele :
Ilukuluku, ukuxhumana, ubuhlakani kanye nokusebenza kanzima.
Izinto ezimusiza ukuthi akwazi ukuphumelela kwisayensi: Ukwazi ukufundisa, wazi i-coding futhi unomqondo okwazi ukuxazulula izinkinga zezibalo kalula.
Amazwi okugcina: Ngingumuntu ophila ngokukhubazeka kodwa ngikwazile ukusebenza kanzima ukuze ngifeze amaphupho ami. Uma ngikwazile ukwenza lokho, nawe ungakwazi.
Ngithanda ukuziphumulela ngidlale imidlalo yamavidiyo ngiphinde ngifunde izincwadi zama comics.
Xhumana no-Cosmic Dawn: Twitter @mphodapoet YouTube: Mpho Kgoadi