Twitter Refuses to Believe Girl Selected Into NASA, Notable Scientist Extends Help

Diksha Shinde NASA Controversy: The 14-year-old came to limelight after news agency ANI reported that she got selected as a NASA panelist. However, Twitter refused to believe the authenticity of the news owing to several reasons, the minor's age being the major one.

Soon after, notable Astrophysicist, Jackie Faherty tweeted that if Shinde really has a passion for Astronomy she will find some legitimate pathways for her passion.

On August 19, ANI tweeted the story of a class X student who bagged the opportunity of appearing as a panellist at NASA after repeated trials and submissions on theories such as the black hole and existence of God. However, netizens refused to believe the authenticity of the news and claimed it to be fake.

Aurangabad, Maharashtra | 14-yr-old Diksha Shinde was selected as panelist on NASA's MSI Fellowships Virtual Panel; panel meetings held from July 12-16

She says that she wrote a theory that was accepted by NASA after 3 attempts, she was asked to write articles for their website. pic.twitter.com/JElU0K37TA

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2021

Twitter acted on the allegations promptly and attached emails and other pieces of

Communication to Diksha Shinde of Aurangabad from NASA for her participation as a panelist on NASA's MSI Fellowships Virtual panel. Also attached is a notice of acknowledgment of her academic paper pic.twitter.com/XQnkQl6Rdw

— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2021 of Shinde being selected as a panellist. ANI editor-in-chief Smita Prakash, defending the report on Shinde, tweeted, “The story is not fake. We stand by it.”

Communication to Diksha Shinde of Aurangabad from NASA for her participation as a panelist on NASA's MSI Fellowships Virtual panel. Also attached is a notice of acknowledgment of her academic paper pic.twitter.com/XQnkQl6Rdw

— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2021

 

Shinde, who hails from Aurangabad, Maharashtra, claimed that she submitted a research paper on black holes last year, “which was liked and accepted at NASA.” The current attempt was reportedly her third attempt at submission, with previous papers “questioning the existence of god.”

She further claimed that she is set to begin her work of reviewing proposals and research with NASA soon and will receive a monthly honorarium.

NASA will train her once she turns 18, she claimed.

Amidst the controversy, notable Astrophysicist, Jackie Faherty tweeted that although she was unaware of how she was dragged into this "scam" but would help Shinde in legitimate pathways if the minor really had a passion for Astronomy.

She wrote, "I don't know why my name got tied into this but someone has created a scam using a 14 yr old girl in India and her dream of being a scientist. If Diksha really has a passion for Astronomy she can reach out to me and I'll find some legitimate pathways for her passion."

I don't know why my name got tied into this but someone has created a scam using a 14 yr old girl in India and her dream of being a scientist. If Diksha really has a passion for Astronomy she can reach out to me and I'll find some legitimate pathways for her passion. https://t.co/VLmtwRBmsg

— Jackie Faherty (@jfaherty) August 20, 2021

Read why Twitter is accusing the Diskha Shinde NASA story to be fake here.

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