Year: 2024

Book Review: We Are Electric by Sally Adee

Pooja Kashyap

Sally Adee in “We Are Electric: Inside the 200-Year Hunt for Our Body’s Bioelectric Code, and What the Future Holds” takes us into our inner most layer which is but a hidden circuitry that powers nearly all forms of life. Even the tiniest cellular functions are governed by intricate electrical signals. This bioelectricity influences everything from our health to our consciousness. This book made its debut in 2023, and I’ve been jotting down my thoughts on it for the past couple of months. Today, I finally decided it was time…

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DNA Origami: Tiny Toolkit for Big Innovations

Pooja Kashyap

Super interesting research about DNA has lately surfaced. The blue print of life is not only a research material for biology but now, it is also utilized for building tiny robots! Doesn’t it sound futuristic? With a groundbreaking technique called DNA Origami, scientists at The University of Sidney are turning this sci-fi feat into a reality.

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Book Review: Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter (I/II)

Pooja Kashyap

Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter was first published in 1979. Famously known as GEB, the book touches upon everything – consciousness, self-reference, computer science, formal systems, proofs, mathematics, abstract structures, codes, language, music, storytelling, conversations etc. At the beginning, I’d like to mention that I’m not qualified to review this book, as I lack a background in mathematics. Despite my difficulty in understanding complex concepts, from what little I’ve grasped, I believe this is one of the most profound works I’ve encountered so far.

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Psychedelics Stimulate Hippocampal Cells to Alleviate Anxiety

Pooja Kashyap

When I first read “DMT: The Spirit Molecule” by Dr. Rick Strassman, I thought developing psychedelic inspired drugs without any “hallucinating” side-effects to cure anxiety related problems could be a game changer. Interestingly, I came across research by Cornell University, where researchers did come up with psychedelics to excite cells in hippocampus to reduce anxiety.

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WHaloCaMP Biosensor: Real-Time Insights into Animal Physiology

Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at the Janelia group created an innovative way for engineered protein biosensors & bright, fluorescent Janelia Fluor (JF) dyes to work together. Aim of the new biosensor is to measure physiological signals in live animals. The revolutionary sensor, WHaloCaMP, can track multiple physiological signals in live animals, unlike its previous version. And when it comes to illumination, the detector can emit bright far-red light. This light can penetrate deeper into tissues than the other (existing) wavelengths.

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Cloud Messaging Platforms: Market Growth, Tech Trends and Leading Players

Pooja Kashyap

The trajectory of cloud-based messaging platforms is on an upward trend. As industries globally adopt advanced technologies, the demand for sophisticated applications is also increasing. As per Market Research Future, the Cloud Communication Platform market industry is projected to grow from USD 19.38 Billion in 2024 to USD 82.21 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.80% during the forecast period (2024 – 2032). While Mordor Intelligence estimates it to reach USD 40.13 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 18.44% during the forecast period…

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Interview: Dr. Sukriti Hans, Material Scientist at LIST, Luxembourg

Pooja Kashyap

In a rapidly evolving world where technological advancements meet the growing demand for sustainability, Dr. Sukriti Hans stands at the forefront of materials research. Currently a Junior R&T Associate at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Dr. Hans is playing a pivotal role in developing high-resolution characterization methods that can redefine the future of materials science.

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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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