Author: Pooja Kashyap

A CPD certified Fitness Trainer, Pooja also likes to spend time reading and blogging the latest research and discoveries in science and how technology is shaping the world. Besides writing, she enjoys reviewing books and taking interviews of creative/innovative people. Currently, she is located in Noida, India, where she actively participates in marathons as well. She is also on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Book Review: Regenesis by George M. Church and Edward Regis

Pooja Kashyap

Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves is an exhilarating journey that re-shapes our understanding of life itself. The book is written by George M. Church and Edward Regis. It was first published in 2012. The renowned geneticist and science writer collaborated to present an all-encompassing exploration of synthetic biology. And highlighting its thrilling potentialities along with obvious challenges. In this remarkable masterpiece, they have woven following three distinct levels of exploration.

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Interview: Dr. Yifan Zhu, Robotics Scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Pooja Kashyap

In the vast realm of the Intelligent Motion Lab, where the interplay of human ingenuity and technological wonders dance harmoniously, resides Dr. Yifan Zhu. A visionary soul, Dr. Zhu finds solace in the realm of robotics, under the wise guidance of Prof. Kris Hauser. Together, they delve deep into uncharted territories. Like a master sculptor shaping formless clay, Dr. Zhu’s focus lies in unravelling the secrets of deformable objects. Through painstaking analysis and intricate algorithms, he breathes life into these enigmatic entities, capturing their essence within a digital tapestry.

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Controlling Atomic Quantum Dots with a Solid-State Device: Quantum Microscopy

Pooja Kashyap

Physicists and engineers have been working on quantum technologies, like quantum microscopes, for years. The tool enables for in-depth study of the properties of quantum particles and states. Recently, a team from SQC/UNSW Sydney and the University of Melbourne has developed a solid-state quantum microscope. The microscope can manipulate and analyse atomic qubits in silicon.

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Interview: Dr. Enrico Donato, BioRobotics Scientist at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy

Pooja Kashyap

Dr. Enrico Donato is a Doctoral Researcher at the Brain-Inspired Robotics (BRAIR) Laboratory of The BioRobotics Istitute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. With an insatiable appetite for scientific exploration, he delves deep into the fascinating realm of soft robotics. His mind dances with algorithms, composing intricate control models that breathe life into these mechanical marvels.

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Robots making Autonomous Decisions on Extraterrestrial Missions: Learning to Learn

Pooja Kashyap

Rovers on Mars are constantly monitored and maneuvered by humans on Earth. However, robots on missions to Saturn or Jupiter’s moons can’t get timely commands from Earth. What if these machines could make decisions on the fly? Instead of waiting for an “order”, how about these bots making autonomous choice? Thinking on these lines of thought, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came up with a cool way for these robots to decide where and how to collect terrain samples on their own.

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Mysteries of Particle Collisions: Insights from Elastic Scattering

Pooja Kashyap

The world of quantum physics is filled with intricate interactions among elementary particles. Scientists are trying to find insights from these interactions. They call it the, elastic scattering. During elastic scattering, the particles involved exchange energy and momentum but do not undergo any particle creation or annihilation processes. The scattered particles typically change their direction and momentum after the collision but retain their original identities and properties.

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Minimal Organisms Shape Evolution: The Power of Simplicity

Pooja Kashyap

Genomes come in various levels of complexity. Of course, it also depends on the number of genes an organism possesses. A genome is set of genetic material or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) present in a living entity. It contains all the instructions necessary for an organism’s development, functioning, and reproduction. Not all living entities have equal number of genomes. Some bacteria, for instance, have very few genes, while plant and animal genomes can have tens of thousands.

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Interview: Dr. Maxwell Miner, Pharmaceutical Scientist at University of Turku, Finland

Pooja Kashyap

Dr. Maxwell Miner is a PhD candidate in the drug research doctoral program (DRDP) at the University of Turku working in the Roivainen group. In the realm of scientific exploration, his focus lies in the intricate art of crafting preclinical radiopharmaceuticals, harmonizing their elements to illuminate the hidden nuances of inflammatory diseases and gliomas within the captivating world of animal models.

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Book Review: Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut

Pooja Kashyap

“Timequake” by Kurt Vonnegut is a mind-bending book that was first published in 1997. The book explores the concept of “free will” and what it means to be human under the influence of relentless march of time. Vonnegut expounded dark humor and deep insights in the manner of “automatic writing”. Although, the book’s writing is done within the theme of “timequake”. A thought experiment, that is, everyone has to relive the same ten years of their lives over again because there happens to be a glitch in the universe.

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Computational Lithography empowering Microchip Advancements: Revolutionizing Chip Design

Pooja Kashyap

Semiconductor industry is soaked with one of the most ever-advancing technologies. The demand for smaller, faster, and more efficient microchips keeps the world of semiconductors on its toes. Computational lithography has totally revolutionized the field by meeting the desired level of precision and complexity in chip design.

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Chip-scale Optical Quantum Simulation System: Quantum Computing Milestone

Pooja Kashyap

A team of researchers have successfully simulated complex natural phenomena at the quantum level. Scientists at the University of Rochester’s Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences have developed a chip-scale optical quantum simulation system. Conventionally, photonics-based computing involves controlling the paths of photons. This time, the team led by Qiang Lin has taken a different approach. According to which, they have simulated the phenomena in a synthetic space. And they have manipulated the frequency, or color, of quantum entangled photons as time progresses.

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Lithography-Free Photonic Chip: Redefining AI Architecture

Pooja Kashyap

When it comes to data-heavy applications and sustainable computing, photonic chips have emerged as a promising technology. The use of photonic circuits, powered by laser light, offers an edge over traditional electronic circuits. Some of its remarkable advantages over electronic circuits are: Speed of light: Photonic chips make use of light to transmit and process information, which of course happens at the “speed of light”. Thus, leveraging the feature of light makes them move faster than electrons in electronic circuits.

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RNA-Guided Endonucleases in Eukaryotes: Genetic Tools found in Nature

Pooja Kashyap

An international team of researchers has identified a programmable RNA-guided system in eukaryotes. Eukaryotes encompass plants, animals, fungi, and protists. The newly discovered system is based on a protein called Fanzor. It uses RNA as a guide to precisely target DNA. The researchers demonstrated that Fanzor proteins can be reprogrammed to edit the genome of human cells. Compared to CRISPR/Cas systems, the Fanzor system is more compact and has the potential to be delivered more easily to cells and tissues as therapeutics.

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