Computational Lithography: Illuminating the Future of Semiconductor Manufacturing

Pooja Kashyap

Tech behind computational lithography has revolutionised the way semiconductors are fabricated. By harnessing the power of computer algorithms and simulations, chip designs have become more efficient and powerful than ever before. Its ability to optimize lithographic processes have given a huge boost to the overall performance and energy efficiency of electronic devices. As we move forward, computational lithography is expected to merge with other technologies and re-shape the future where technology knows no bounds.

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Interview: Dr. Yaqing Shen, Material Scientist at KAUST, Saudi Arabia

Pooja Kashyap

I’m excited to introduce Dr. Yaqing Shen, a highly accomplished scientist in the field of Material Science and Engineering. Her groundbreaking research on advancing the use of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors in commercial field-effect transistors (FETs) caught my attention. Despite her hectic academic responsibilities, Dr. Shen graciously agreed to an email interview, where she shared insights into her work and career.

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Interview: Dr. Fengxin Sun, Fiber Scientist at Jiangnan University, China

Pooja Kashyap

I’m excited to introduce Dr. Fengxin Sun, an Associate Professor at the Key Laboratory of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University in Wuxi, China. Dr. Sun completed his Ph.D. in textile materials at Donghua University in Shanghai in 2017 and spent time as a joint Ph.D. student at the Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University in Australia. His research covers a fascinating range of topics, from textile material evaluation and functional textile development to mechanical modeling and simulation of soft materials.

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Yarn-Based Weaving for Soft Robotics: Revolutionizing Healthcare

Pooja Kashyap

Globally, electronics engineers are busy developing devices that are flexible, adaptable, and built for high performance. These devices are designed for real-world applications, including – robotics, healthcare and wearable technology. Similar efforts are underway in developing smart textiles as well. Interestingly, these fabrics can detect environmental changes or perform specific functions.

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Book Review: The Robots of Dawn by Issac Asimov

Pooja Kashyap

“The Robots of Dawn”, published in 1983, is the third novel in Asimov’s Robots series, following “The Caves of Steel” (1954) and “The Naked Sun” (1957). Isaac Asimov is one of my favorite science fiction writers. Even after nearly four decades, his work remains incredibly relevant today. His plots are fast paced and characters feel so lifelike, even the robots, which are portrayed with such depth and realism. With positronic robots in the mix, he crafts stories that explore the loopholes in the Three Laws of Robotics, which he himself…

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Book Review: A Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Pooja Kashyap

I have love-hate kinda relationship with “A Hundred Years of Solitude”. The book was written by Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez in 1967. It felt like I had been “reading” this manuscript for a “100 years”. Before picking up this book, I had just finished “Pedro Páramo” by Juan Rulfo, which captivated me with its brevity and intensity. These two books are often compared for their exploration of similar themes such as memory, history, and the supernatural, in a mix of magical realism. Although “A Hundred Years of Solitude” weaves…

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Interview: Dr. Eunhye Baek, Research Scientist at Tsinghua University, China

Pooja Kashyap

I’m excited to introduce our latest interviewee, Dr. Eunhye Baek, whose impressive academic journey and cutting-edge research make her a standout in the field of electrical engineering and nanotechnology. Dr. Baek studied Electrical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) from 2007 to 2010. In January 2011, she joined Professor Yoon-Ha Jeong’s group at POSTECH, where she focused on the biological functionalization of silicon nanowire BioFETs to detect biomolecules with high sensitivity.  

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CAMs: Key Players in Modulating Post-Stroke Immune Responses

Pooja Kashyap

When a blood clot blocks an artery, it leads to an ischemic stroke. The blockage or ischemic stroke prevents blood and oxygen from reaching areas of the brain. This gives rise to one of the following symptoms: According to the statistics, the older one gets, the higher the risk of experiencing ischemic strokes. Although, neuroscience has helped us understand what happens in the body during a stroke. However, we have no idea how the immune system helps with recovery after a stroke.

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Book Review: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

Pooja Kashyap

It took me a while to read “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque, but I’m glad I finished and experienced it. It is deeply moving and well-written novel. Published in the late 1920s, it deals with the profound and lasting impact of war on soldiers. The book, surely, is out in its genre for its powerful portrayal of the effects of war.

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Biomimicry: Mantis-Inspired Biomimetic Vision System

Pooja Kashyap

A self-driving car approaches a street with a parked car and a cyclist waiting to cross. The car detects the cyclist moving but has difficulty judging the distance and speed of both the stationary parked car and the slow-moving cyclist, leading it to miscalculate the necessary response and causing a collision. This is similar to how some insects see the world: their eyes are good at noticing movement and seeing a lot at once, but they struggle to tell how far away things are. However, this is not the case…

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Black Hole Mergers: Dark Matter Might Be the Missing Link

Pooja Kashyap

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is one of the farthest probes that we’ve sent so far. As of July 2024, it’s a whopping 24.4 billion kilometers away from Earth, making it the most distant human-made object ever. Yet, there are things in the space that we have absolutely zero clue. Yes, I’m referring to – Dark Matter. Dark matter helps slow the black holes down and lets them come together for supermassive black hole mergers, at least the recent research says so. Typically elusive, this invisible matter seems to play…

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Protein FAM110A’s Role in Cell Division Unveiled: Microtubule-Actin Interaction During Mitosis

Pooja Kashyap

An international research collaboration led by Prof. Dr. Robert Grosse, Dr. Libor Macurek, and Dr. Zdenek Lansky has uncovered a new mechanism of crosstalk between microtubules and the actin cytoskeleton during cell division. They revealed unique characteristics of the previously unexplored protein FAM110A, enhancing understanding of critical processes related to developmental disorders and cancer.

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Neutron Innovation: Precise Temperature Measurement for Electronics

Pooja Kashyap

We are constantly surrounded by electronics. From LEDs to batteries, these electronics have become part of our lives. And so, more advanced and intricate components are needed to make them more efficient and reliable. However, as these components become increasingly sophisticated, getting reliable temperature measurements of specific elements inside an object can be a challenge.

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