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How Machilipatnam became site of a pioneering discovery in 19th century

Published

8 years ago

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How Machilipatnam became site of a pioneering discovery in 19th century

By Dr Biman Nath

Machilipatnam is one of the oldest port towns on the Andhra coast. Very few Indians would know that it was also the site of a landmark discovery 150 years ago that laid the foundation of a new branch in science – astrophysics.

It was in Machilipatnam that the world caught the first glimpse of light from a new material – helium. Though helium balloons may be commonplace today, helium was not known back then. The first sign that it existed came not from a chemistry laboratory but from looking at the Sun’s corona or outer layer during a total solar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse that occurred on August 18, 1868 caused much excitement among astronomers. It offered them a chance to look at the outer part of the sun. It made it possible for them to detect the presence of helium in the Sun. That is why the newly discovered element was named after the Greek word ‘helios’ for sun.

The eclipse was visible from the southern part of India for 6 minutes 47 seconds. During a total solar eclipse, the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun and blocks our view of the Sun (rather, the brightest part of the Sun). The most spectacular part of the event is the sighting of the corona which is otherwise not visible to us. The corona dazzles in the sky when the main disc is blocked.

Astronomers were hoping to study the corona during the 1868 solar eclipse. There were reasons to do so. We know that a prism ‘breaks down’ sun rays into different colours. If one looked closely, one would find numerous dark lines superposed on the background rainbow colours. It wasn’t clear where these dark lines came from. Darkness in a spectrum means a missing portion of light. Some light from the Sun was being robbed, and one didn’t know the culprit.

The path of totality of the eclipse cut across present-day Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. A team of astronomers from the Royal Astronomical Society set camps in Guntur under the leadership of Major James Francis Tennant. A French astronomer, Pierre Jules Janssen, too came to Guntur. He had designed a ‘spectroscope’ with which one could distinguish lines of adjacent colours in a spectrum. Then there was the Government Astronomer of Madras Observatory, Norman Robert Pogson, who had cobbled together a team of engineers from the Railways and the newly founded Telegraph Department for the expedition. He had camped in the nearby port town of Masulipatnam (present day Machilipatnam).

They were trying to validate a theory proposed in 1859 by German scientists – Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen – that all materials radiate in characteristic colours when hot—like sodium burns with a yellow flame and copper with a bluish-green flame. When you look at the hot glowing gas through a prism you won’t see all the rainbow colours but a few discrete bright ‘lines’, shining at the characteristic colours of the material. Now let the gas cool and put it in the path of some background white light (which shines in all the colours). The cold gas would then absorb light of precisely those colours that it would have itself radiated when hot. And you would see dark lines in the spectrum of the background white source.

Handpainted spectrum (left) observed by Pogson (right), Photo credit : Indian Institute of Astrophysics Archives

Handpainted spectrum (left) observed by Pogson (right), Photo credit : Indian Institute of Astrophysics Archives

Kirchhoff-Bunsen’s theory implied that dark lines in the solar spectrum arose from cooler atoms in the solar atmosphere, which absorbed the white light coming from the core of the sun. It also meant that we could identify the material in the solar atmosphere, from the ‘colour’ of light it absorbed, because we could make the material hot in laboratory and check if it radiated in the same colour. In other words, having known that sodium radiates in yellow when hot, if one spots a dark line in the yellow part of the solar spectrum, one might guess that it was sodium atom at work.

It gave astronomers a handle to probe chemical and physical properties of the sun and other stars. Not satisfied with the studies of mere position and motion of stars, they became interested in the new field of spectroscopy. There was a promise of a whole new exciting field of science—that would be called ‘astrophysics’ one day. Who had ever thought that one could find out what was inside the Sun or the distant stars?

But it was still an unproven model. Luckily, like all good theories, it came with a testable prediction. The outer layer of the sun is relatively cooler than the core, but it is quite hot (now we know the temperature to be roughly 6000 Celsius). So if one could look at the outer layers through a prism—and only the outer layer—then one should be able to see it radiate and not just absorb. One should see bright lines in place of the dark lines, precisely in the same places (or colours) of the dark lines.

This was what the astronomers were hoping to confirm during the total solar eclipse on 18 August 1868. And they were handed with a bonanza. They indeed saw the dark lines ‘reverse’ to bright lines. Not only that, they also saw brand new bright line they could not identify with any existing terrestrial element.

August is not a particularly favourable month for viewing solar eclipses from India because of monsoons. The eclipse was supposed to begin slightly before 9am. Light clouds in the eastern sky made the astronomers wait with bated breath. Luckily the sky cleared, letting Janssen and Tennant witness the confirmation of Kirchhoff’s idea—the dark lines indeed turned bright. There was a bright yellow line that they thought was the signature of sodium. But Pogson in Masulipatnam had some doubts if it really coincided with the signature wavelength of sodium.

Janssen (left) and James Francis Tennant (right) in later years. (Portrait by Biman Nath)

Janssen (left) and James Francis Tennant (right) in later years. (Portrait by Biman Nath)

Back in England, Norman Lockyer had a different idea. He did not want to chase eclipses around the world. He thought he could isolate the light of the outer layer of the Sun somehow by blocking out everything in the view of the telescope except a carefully positioned small slit. Lockyer confirmed Pogson’s doubt that the errant yellow line might not be due to sodium, and coined the name ‘helium’. Much later, in 1895, William Ramsay isolated an element from a radioactive material, which had the same spectral signature, and so could be identified as helium.

It is the only element that was discovered by astronomers and not by chemists. We now know that helium makes up a quarter of the universe. But it is a very light element—the second lightest element of all. Its lightness made it escape the gravity of the Earth since its formation and now all the helium that we can get from mines comes from the decay of radioactive material deep inside the Earth. Its absence from the Earth ensured that chemists won’t be able to find it here, but astronomers could. And that revolutionized astronomy. (India Science Wire)

The writer is a scientist at the Raman Research Institute, Bangalore.

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OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu steps down, shutdown rumours resurface

OnePlus India confirms business continuity after CEO Robin Liu’s resignation sparks shutdown rumours online.

Published

3 weeks ago

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March 26, 2026

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The resignation of Robin Liu as India CEO of OnePlus has triggered fresh speculation online about the company’s future, even as the firm has firmly denied any plans to shut down operations.

Liu will step down from his role effective March 31, 2026. His exit comes months after he publicly dismissed similar rumours about the company withdrawing from certain markets.

Google searches spike after leadership exit

Following news of Liu’s departure, search trends for terms like “OnePlus shutdown”, “OnePlus shutting down”, and “OnePlus India shutdown” saw a noticeable surge, indicating rising public concern.

However, OnePlus India clarified that there is no change in its business operations and dismissed the shutdown claims as misinformation.

In a public statement, Liu said the company is “operating as usual” and urged stakeholders to rely on official sources rather than unverified reports. He reiterated that claims about the company shutting down are false.

Company says operations remain unchanged

The company stated that Liu’s decision to step down was due to personal reasons and not linked to any strategic withdrawal or operational challenges in India.

OnePlus further emphasized that its India business continues normally, with no immediate changes expected in its strategy or market presence.

Restructuring within OPPO group

Industry observers suggest Liu’s exit may be part of a broader restructuring within the OPPO group, which owns OnePlus.

The restructuring is believed to focus on streamlining operations, reducing costs, and accelerating product development amid challenges such as rising component costs and supply constraints.

Reports also indicate that OnePlus experienced a decline in shipments in 2025, which may have contributed to internal changes.

Reports hint at global strategy shift

According to a report by 9to5Google, the company may scale back its presence in some global markets, including parts of Europe, as early as April 2026.

At the same time, OnePlus is reportedly planning to strengthen its focus on India and expand further into the mid-range smartphone segment.

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Oppo K14 5G launched in India with 7000mAh battery, starts at Rs 17,999

Oppo has launched the K14 5G in India with a 7000mAh battery, fast charging and durability features, starting at Rs 17,999.

Published

4 weeks ago

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March 20, 2026

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oppo K14 5G

Oppo has launched its latest mid-range smartphone, the K14 5G, in India, positioning it as an “endurance powerhouse” with a strong focus on battery life, smooth performance and long-term reliability.

The smartphone starts at Rs 17,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant, while the 6GB + 256GB and 8GB + 256GB models are priced at Rs 19,999 and Rs 21,999 respectively. It will be available for purchase starting March 20 via Flipkart and the company’s official online store. Buyers can also avail an instant discount of up to Rs 1,000 along with no-cost EMI options for up to three months.

Focus on battery life and endurance

A key highlight of the Oppo K14 5G is its 7000mAh battery, designed to support extended daily usage without frequent charging. The company claims the device can deliver up to 738.8 hours of standby time. It also supports long usage across activities such as voice calls, video streaming, navigation and messaging.

The device comes with 45W fast charging, which can charge the battery from 1 percent to 37 percent in around 30 minutes, with a full charge taking about 92 minutes. Oppo says the battery is engineered to maintain durability for up to five years. Reverse wired charging is also supported for added convenience.

Built for durability and everyday use

The smartphone is designed with durability in mind, featuring SGS 5-star certification and MIL-STD-810H military-grade testing. It has undergone multiple drop tests and transportation shock testing to ensure resistance against accidental falls and rough usage conditions.

The device also carries IP66, IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering protection against dust, water immersion and high-pressure water exposure. Additional features like water-repellent camera coating and glove and splash touch support further enhance usability in different environments.

Display and design

The Oppo K14 5G features a 6.75-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and brightness of up to 1125 nits in high brightness mode. It is available in three colour options — Icy Blue, Prism Violet and Prism White — with a matte finish and subtle reflective design elements.

Performance and cooling

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, the smartphone is designed to handle everyday tasks such as browsing, streaming and multitasking efficiently. It runs on ColorOS 15, which includes system optimisation features aimed at maintaining smooth performance over time.

To manage heat during extended usage, the device includes a vapor chamber cooling system with graphite layers for improved thermal management. This helps maintain stable performance during gaming and heavy usage.

Camera and AI features

The smartphone is equipped with a 50MP main camera, supported by a 2MP monochrome sensor, along with an 8MP front camera. It offers AI-powered features such as portrait retouching, AI eraser, AI clarity enhancement and dual-view video recording.

These tools are designed to improve image quality, assist in editing and enhance overall photography experience for users.

Availability and after-sales support

The Oppo K14 5G will be available starting March 20 with launch offers including discounts and EMI options. The company is also offering a 30-day inspection and replacement policy in case of manufacturing defects, supported by its nationwide service network.

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OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 brings discounts on 15, 15R, 13, Nord 5 and tablets

OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 begins Jan 16 with discounts on phones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline stores.

Published

3 months ago

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January 13, 2026

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OnePlus has announced its Freedom Sale, offering discounts on smartphones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline platforms. The deals include the recently launched OnePlus 15 series, Nord lineup, Buds audio devices, and other gadgets.

When and where to shop

The OnePlus Freedom Sale starts on Jan. 16 and will run both online and offline. Shoppers can purchase smartphones through OnePlus.in, OnePlus Experience Stores, Amazon, as well as offline retailers including Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, and others. Tablets are available on Flipkart during the sale period.

Discounts on OnePlus smartphones

  • OnePlus 15: Launched at Rs 72,999, buyers can get an instant Rs 4,000 discount, lowering the effective price to Rs 68,999. Additional benefits include six months of no-cost EMI and a bundled OnePlus Nord Buds 3.
  • OnePlus 13: Originally priced at Rs 69,999, the phone receives an Rs 8,000 price drop, plus a bank discount of Rs 4,000, bringing the price down to Rs 57,999.
  • OnePlus 15R: Listed at Rs 47,999, buyers can avail Rs 3,000 off until Jan 26. After the date, the effective price is Rs 45,999.
  • OnePlus 13R: Launched at Rs 42,999, this device gets up to Rs 6,000 price cut and an additional Rs 1,000 bank discount.

Discounts on OnePlus tablets

  • OnePlus Pad 2: Rs 2,000 instant bank discount reduces the price to Rs 34,999.
  • OnePlus Pad 3: Eligible for a Rs 3,000 instant discount, making the price Rs 44,999. Purchases until Jan 26 include a free Stylo 2 stylus.
  • OnePlus Pad Go 2: Rs 1,000 price drop plus Rs 2,000 bank discount, now Rs 23,999.
  • OnePlus Pad Go: Price reduced to Rs 13,999 after Rs 3,000 cut and Rs 1,000 bank discount.
  • OnePlus Pad Lite: Available for Rs 11,999 after a Rs 2,000 price drop and Rs 2,000 bank discount.

Audio devices on offer

  • OnePlus Buds 4: Rs 700 price cut with Rs 300 bank discount, bringing the effective price to Rs 4,999.
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 3: Now Rs 9,999 after Rs 1,000 price drop and Rs 1,000 bank discount. No-cost EMI options are available for both Buds 4 and Buds Pro 3.

Additional discounts are also applicable to the Nord Buds series — including Nord Buds 3, Nord Buds 3 Pro, and Nord Buds 3R — and neckband devices such as Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC and Bullets Wireless Z3.

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