16/06/2026 16:38 - Tecnologia
Astrónoma profesional trabajando en un observatorio moderno con visualización de la Vía Láctea mostrando corrientes estelares fusionándose
Argentine astronomer Amina Helmi has been awarded the 2026 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics, one of the most prestigious honors in global science. The announcement was made by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and the award ceremony will take place in September 2026 in Oslo, Norway.
Helmi built her academic career in Europe, becoming a world-leading figure in the study of galactic formation and dynamics.
The Kavli Prize is considered one of the highest distinctions in astrophysics worldwide. Established in 2005 by Norwegian philanthropist Fred Kavli, it is awarded every two years in Oslo.
The prize recognizes scientists who have made transformative discoveries in astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience. It is often compared to the Nobel Prize in terms of prestige within the scientific community.
Helmi's research revolutionized astronomy by demonstrating that the Milky Way was not always as calm and orderly as it appears today. Instead, it formed and grew through collisions and mergers with smaller galaxies that occurred billions of years ago.
The prize was awarded for discovering the fossil evidence proving that the Milky Way was built through "hierarchical accretion" – absorbing smaller structures. The recognition is shared with astronomers Vasily Belokurov (Russia) and Rodrigo Ibata (England).
During her doctoral research in 1999, Helmi detected a group of stars near the Sun that moved differently from the rest. These stars were the remnants of a galaxy that had been absorbed by the Milky Way billions of years earlier.
This work marked a turning point in modern astronomy. Over time, the scientific community named these stellar traces the "Helmi Streams" – streams of stars that still move together, preserving the memory of the galaxy they once were.
Using data from the Gaia satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA), Helmi identified the last major merger experienced by the Milky Way.
Her research revealed that approximately 10 billion years ago, our galaxy collided with and absorbed another galaxy. This discovery resolved one of astronomers' biggest questions about the Milky Way's origin.
According to Helmi, after that enormous collision, no major mergers occurred, giving the galaxy enough time to stabilize into the orderly form we observe today.
The Gaia satellite, launched by ESA in 2013, is a space mission designed to create the most precise three-dimensional map of our galaxy. It has measured the positions and motions of over one billion stars.
Gaia's data enabled Helmi and her team to identify patterns in stellar movements that revealed the Milky Way's turbulent past – like finding fingerprints left behind by ancient cosmic crimes.
Hierarchical accretion is the process by which galaxies grow by absorbing smaller galaxies. Our Milky Way, for example, has "devoured" numerous dwarf galaxies throughout its 13-billion-year history.
This process leaves traces: streams of stars that retain the motion patterns of their original galaxies – like fossil footprints of the Milky Way's violent past.
Helmi's work transformed our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve. She proved that galaxies are not born as complete structures but build themselves gradually over cosmic time.
Her discoveries laid the foundation for understanding how galaxies interact throughout the universe and what role these mergers play in cosmic evolution.
Bahía Blanca is a major port city in Buenos Aires Province, known for its universities and scientific institutions.
National University of La Plata (UNLP), founded in 1897, is one of Argentina's oldest and most respected public universities. It has produced numerous distinguished scientists across various fields, including several Nobel Prize nominees and internationally recognized researchers.
Helmi's journey from Argentine public education to the highest echelons of global science demonstrates the quality of scientific training available in Latin America's public universities.
The 2026 Kavli Prize places Amina Helmi among the most influential astronomers of her generation. Her career path – from Bahía Blanca to the University of Groningen – represents immense pride for Argentine science and serves as an inspiration for new generations of researchers worldwide.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
