Nilesh Tripuraneni
CALIFORNIA
Nilesh Tripuraneni, 18, of Fresno, formulated a set of hydrodynamic
equations investigating quark-gluon plasma (QGP) for his Intel Science Talent
Search physics project. QGP is a distinct super-hot state of matter believed to
have existed immediately following the Big Bang. Nilesh investigated particle
collision experiments that suggested that QGP behaves like an extremely low
shear viscosity super-fluid, and he established that the fluid's viscosity is
much more significant than its other properties. By modifying Navier-Stokes
equations, Nilesh was able to one-dimensionally model QGP's hydrodynamic
expansion and predict energy density fluctuations. His research provides a
potential method to better understand the first moments of the universe and
could aid in the development of a quantum theory of gravity. Nilesh attends
Clovis West High School where he is first in his class of 603. He plays guitar,
and also volunteers as a judge in regional science fairs. The son of Bhaskara
and Indira Tripuraneni, Nilesh plans to attend Stanford or MIT. For Nilesh,
finding pure discoveries reminds him "of the power of nature and the unique
ability of humans to discover things that will outlast us all."
|
