Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil: A rare galaxy that's challenging our understanding of the universe
Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil studies the structure and dynamics of galaxies to help us understand how they form and evolve. Full bio
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galaxies in the universe.
an extremely rare one,
quite like anything observed before.
and our assumptions
these common galaxies form and evolve.
how rare galaxies form and evolve.
is Hoag's Object.
surrounded by a circular outer ring,
types of galaxies currently known.
in 1,000 galaxies.
in the outer ring are just floating there
discovered is even rarer
and search for these objects,
in the background,
to Hoag's Object,
and circular outer ring.
we discovered another Hoag's Object.
this is an entirely new galaxy type,
as "Burçin's Galaxy."
this galaxy anytime soon.
light years away from Earth.
of the nearby galaxies.
like a scar or wrinkles,
in different light
their origin and evolution.
may blind our views of faint features,
when you are blinded by the intense light.
have an outer ring,
explaining the origin of the outer ring
this mysterious second ring.
ring in such a peculiar galaxy.
clearly highlights the gap
this extremely rare galaxy was formed
on how the universe works.
that we still have a lot to learn,
deeper and deeper in space
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil - AstrophysicistBurçin Mutlu-Pakdil studies the structure and dynamics of galaxies to help us understand how they form and evolve.
Why you should listen
Dr. Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil is searching for the most peculiar objects in the Universe. Her research has led to a discovery of an extremely rare galaxy with a unique circular structure, which is now commonly referred to as Burçin's Galaxy. Her work has provided the first description of a double-ringed elliptical galaxy, challenging current theories and assumptions about how the universe works and how galaxies start and evolve.
Mutlu-Pakdil earned her PhD at the University of Minnesota, and her undergraduate degree is from Bilkent University in Turkey. She is currently a postdoctoral research associate at University of Arizona and a 2018 TED Fellow. She spends most of her time searching for hierarchical structure at the scale of dwarf galaxies as a novel test of the Cold Dark Matter paradigm. She uses data gathered in a large range of wavelengths from premier telescopes worldwide and wants to learn more about how the Universe came to be the way it is today.
Mutlu-Pakdil's findings have been featured by CNN, Science Daily, Astronomy Magazine, Independent and MPR News, among many others. Damon Brown wrote in his regular Inc. Magazine online column: “Many organizations are dedicated to filling the STEM pipeline with more girls and women. Others are supporting the cause by being an example. TED Fellow Burçin is representing by being one of the most notable astrophysicists today.”
Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil | Speaker | TED.com