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Amir Siraj

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Amir Siraj
Born2000 (age 23–24)[2]
EducationAB, Harvard University, 2022

AM, Harvard University, 2022

MM, New England Conservatory of Music, 2023
Alma materHarvard University, New England Conservatory of Music, Princeton University
Occupation(s)Astrophysicist, Pianist
Known forInterstellar objects[4]
AwardsForbes 30 Under 30[1]
Scientific career
FieldsAstrophysics, Music
Websitehttps://siraj.scholar.princeton.edu/

Amir Siraj (born in 2000) is an American astrophysicist, pianist, and science and music communicator.

Career

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Astrophysics

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Siraj earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Harvard University,[5] and is currently pursuing his PhD at Princeton University.[6] His research is primarily focused on interstellar objects,[7][8] asteroids and comets,[9][10] planetary system formation and evolution,[11][12] supernovae,[13] black holes,[14] dark matter,[15] and the search for life in the universe.[16] Recently, he proposed the existence of unseen captured planets in the outer solar system.[17][18][19][20] He discovered CNEOS 2014-01-08,[21] the first known interstellar meteor,[22][23] and as the director of interstellar object studies at the Galileo project, is involved with the search and discovery mission for interstellar objects.[22] His research was named one of CNN's extraordinary cosmic revelations and moments in space exploration in 2022.[24] He was the youngest scientist named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021,[1] and Astronomy magazine named him a rising star in astronomy in 2022.[25] He also contributes to Scientific American.[26]

Music

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An active concert pianist,[27] Siraj is a Young Steinway Artist[28] and US Presidential Scholar in the Arts.[2] He graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a master's degree in 2023.[29] He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma at UNESCO and the United Nations General Assembly.[30][31][32] He played at the Atlantic Council's Global Citizen Awards for Justin Trudeau,[33] as well as at the GRAMMY Salute to Classical Music at Carnegie Hall,[34] at The Cliburn[35] and at the opening concert for the Swiss Alps Classics.[36]

At the Aspen Center for Physics, he moderated a panel discussion that brought top composers and physicists together in conversation.[37] In partnership with the National Park Foundation and From the Top, he established Music For The Parks.[38][39]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Forbes 30 Under 30 2021: Science". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  2. ^ a b "17-year-old Brookline boy wins Presidential Scholar in the Arts award". Boston 25 News. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  3. ^ "This Land/Our Land: A interview with 17-year-old pianist Amir Siraj". From The Top. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Research Team". Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Amir Siraj". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  6. ^ "Amir Siraj". Department of Astrophysical Sciences. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  7. ^ O'Kane, Caitlin (2022-04-15). "U.S. Space Command confirms interstellar meteor hit Earth". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  8. ^ Tomaswick, Andy (2022-11-11). "We'll Inevitably see Another Interstellar Object. Which Ones Make the Best Targets to Visit?". Universe Today. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  9. ^ Karlis, Nicole (2021-02-17). "Why some scientists think a comet, not an asteroid, caused the dinosaurs to go extinct". Salon. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  10. ^ Kramer, Miriam (August 24, 2021). "Interstellar objects are everywhere". Axios. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "Did the Sun have a twin? New study rewrites the star's early history". Inverse. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  12. ^ Gough, Evan (2021-09-09). "Protoplanetary Disks Throw Out More Material Than Gets Turned Into Planets". Universe Today. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  13. ^ Wood, Charlie (2020-04-30). "Ancient supernovas may have pierced moon rocks with star shrapnel". Popular Science. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  14. ^ Carter, Jamie. "Is 'Planet Nine' Actually A Black Hole In The Solar System? There's Only One Way To Find Out". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  15. ^ Overbye, Dennis (2020-09-11). "Is There a Black Hole in Our Backyard?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  16. ^ Tillman, Nola Taylor (2020-01-22). "Interstellar Visitors Could Export Terrestrial Life to Other Stars". Eos. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  17. ^ Ferreira, Becky. "Stolen planet could be hiding on the edge of our solar system". New Scientist. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  18. ^ Tognetti, Laurence (2023-12-31). "How Many Planets Could Be in the Kuiper Belt?". Universe Today. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  19. ^ Starr, Michelle (2024-01-10). "There Could Be Alien, Mars-Sized Planets Lurking Beyond Pluto". ScienceAlert. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  20. ^ Jain, Deepa (2024-01-16). "5 Earth-like worlds may lurk in the outer reaches of the solar system, simulations suggest". livescience.com. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  21. ^ Siraj, Amir; Loeb, Abraham (2022). "A Meteor of Apparent Interstellar Origin in the CNEOS Fireball Catalog". The Astrophysical Journal. 939 (1): 53. Bibcode:2022ApJ...939...53S. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac8eac.
  22. ^ a b Pultarova, Tereza (3 November 2022). "Confirmed! A 2014 meteor is Earth's 1st known interstellar visitor – Interstellar space rocks might be falling to Earth every 10 years". Space.com. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  23. ^ Roulette, Joey (2022-04-15). "Military Memo Deepens Possible Interstellar Meteor Mystery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  24. ^ Wattles, Ashley Strickland,Jackie (2022-12-27). "2022's extraordinary cosmic revelations and moments in space exploration". CNN. Retrieved 2024-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Lucchesi, Emilie Le Beau (2022-11-03). "Rising star in astronomy: Amir Siraj". Astronomy Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  26. ^ "Stories by Amir Siraj". Scientific American. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  27. ^ "On music and the universe: Advice from a Cliburn Junior alum - and now, an astrophysicist". KERA News. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  28. ^ "Soundboard — Amir Siraj - Steinway & Sons". www.steinway.com. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  29. ^ "Recital: Amir Siraj '23 MM, Piano | New England Conservatory". necmusic.edu. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  30. ^ "Creating the Future: Amir Siraj '23 MM Performs with Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax in Paris | New England Conservatory". necmusic.edu. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  31. ^ "UNESCO welcomes the acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma". December 8, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  32. ^ "The Halftime Show: Song, stories, and solutions | UN Office for Partnerships". unpartnerships.un.org. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  33. ^ Gordon, Amanda (21 September 2017). "SoftBank CEO Parties With Smart Robots During UN GA Week". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  34. ^ "Amir Siraj performs on stage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards -..." Getty Images. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  35. ^ Prejean, Jeanne (2019-01-10). "JUST IN: The Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition And Festival Is Coming To Dallas And Tickets Just Went On Sale". My Sweet Charity. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  36. ^ "Media & Press". Swiss Alps Classics. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  37. ^ "Aspen Center for Physics: physicists Lisa Randall and Vijay Balasubramanian in conversation with composer Chris Theofanidis and John Luther Adams on music, science & creativity". Aspen Public Radio. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  38. ^ "The Musical Inspiration of National Parks". National Park Foundation. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  39. ^ MacCurtain, Erin (2020-08-05). "Alumni Leadership Grant Spotlight: Music for the Parks". From the Top. Retrieved 2024-01-18.