When Science Stood Still: How S. Chandrasekhar Predicted the Existence of Black Holes

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

Discover the remarkable true story about the man who discovered the science of black holes and persisted in his theories against the disbelief of the scientific community in this nonfiction picture book perfect for fans of Counting the Stars and What Miss Mitchell Saw.

When scientists get things right, science leaps forward. When they get things wrong, they learn from their mistakes, and science continues to advance. But sometimes, even when scientists get it right, nobody pays attention. Then, for a while, science stands still.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was a brilliant scientist with eyes fixed toward the stars. As a young man, he developed the theory that would eventually lead to the discovery of black holes. But when he presented his findings to the world’s leading Western scientists, they scoffed at his ideas. Chandra knew he was right. But would anyone listen?

Learn the true story of a relentless scientist and his cosmic discovery that had to wait for science to change its mind.

About the Author

Shruthi Rao writes books for children, including Kadooboo!: A Silly South Indian Folktale, When Science Stood Still, and many others. She loves books, trees, hikes, benches, and hanging out with her family. Sixteen of her books for children have been published in India. She lives in California. Learn more at Shruthi-Rao.com.

Srinidhi Srinivasan is a children’s book illustrator based in South India. Though she graduated with a bachelor’s in computer science engineering, she realized that drawing and creating magical worlds were what tickled her heart. She loves telling diverse stories of characters who have their own say in the world. When she is not drawing, you can find her lost in a book or scribbling in her sketchbook as her tea gets cold. Visit her at SrinidhiDraws.com.