Book Review: Stoner by John Edward Williams

Pooja Kashyap

Stoner is an academic novel written by John Edward Williams. It was first published in 1965. The book happens to be his third novel, first two being – Nothing But the Night (1948) and Butcher’s Crossing (1960). The novel, Stoner, follows the life of William Stoner, a working-class student who becomes a professor of English literature at the University of Missouri. It explores his struggles both at personal as well as professional front as he navigates through his career and relationships.

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Omega-3 Slow ALS Progression: Fatty Acid has Neuroprotective Effects

Pooja Kashyap

Recent study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that a diet high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) may have potential benefits for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling muscle movement.

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Book Review: A Universe from Nothing by Lawrence M. Krauss

Pooja Kashyap

A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing is a voyage to the forefront of cosmology. The book is written by acclaimed physicist Lawrence M. Krauss and was published in 2012. Krauss has beautifully blended his observational prowess, theoretical ingenuity, and technological advancements while framing the concepts and notions in his book. The idea that the universe emerged from random quantum fluctuations is, indeed, fascinating.

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Targeting Folate Receptors in Gliomas: A New Way to Detect Brain Tumors

Pooja Kashyap

Recent research conducted by Maxwell Miner from the University of Turku in Finland, working at the Turku PET Centre, sheds light on the potential of folate receptors as a valuable tool in the field of brain tumor imaging and treatment. Folate-based radiopharmaceuticals are a type of medical imaging agent that combines folate – a form of vitamin B9 – with a radioactive substance.

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Europa’s Slow Interior Evolution: Insights into the Jovian Moon’s Dynamic History

Pooja Kashyap

The surface area of Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, is slightly smaller than Earth’s Moon. Yet it has garnered a lot of attention from scientists as a potential site for extra-terrestrial life. Here are some of the reasons, why it is considered as potential for hosting life: Surface and Ice Shell: The surface of Jovian moon is covered by a layer of ice that is believed to be several kilometers thick. When it comes to the entire solar system, its icy crust is one of the smoothest. This implies that…

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Game-Changing Diode Enhances Quantum Computers and AI Performance: Quantum Leap

Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have created a ground-breaking superconducting diode, which is a crucial element in electronic devices. This innovation has the potential to not only enhance the development of quantum computers for industrial applications but it will also boost the performance of artificial intelligence systems.

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Book Review: The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov

Pooja Kashyap

The Naked Sun is a captivating and enjoyable murder mystery that remains highly readable, even after several decades. It was published in 1957. And it is the second instalment in Asimov’s ‘Robot’ series, succeeding The Caves of Steel, which was released three years prior. Asimov here presents a plethora of thought-provoking concepts, by exploring the boundaries of science, space, technology, psychology, and societal dynamics.

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Interview: Dr. Ore Gottlieb, an Astrophysicist at Northwestern University, Illinois

Pooja Kashyap

Dr. Ore Gottlieb is a theoretical high energy astrophysicist. Currently, he is occupying Rothschild/CIERA Postdoctoral Fellowship position in Astrophysics at Northwestern University. His recent work on “Dying stars’ cocoons could be new source of gravitational waves” caught our attention and so we tried to touch base with him for an interview. We got lucky, as he agreed to spend some time with us.

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DNA Damage Repaired through Antioxidant Enzymes: Genetic Restoration

Pooja Kashyap

At the fundamental level, function of human cell is to convert nutrients into energy and useful products that sustain life. In the process, these cells give out certain waste products that otherwise cause harm to the inner environment. For instance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecule is one of the natural byproducts of cellular metabolism. ROS are highly reactive molecules that contain oxygen atoms with unpaired electrons.

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Interview: Dr. Kai Wang Materials Scientist at The Penn State

Pooja Kashyap

Dr. Kai Wang is PhD, Principal Investigator, and Assistant Research Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Penn State. His recent work on intelligent and efficient panchromatic imaging for artificial retina biotechnology, caught our attention and so we tried to touch base with him for an interview. We got lucky, as he agreed to spend some time with us. Dr. Wang, here, talks about his quest to understand the mechanisms of cognition within the neural topological structures of the brain. And how these natural intelligences can be influenced…

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Protein-based Nano Device to Influence Cell Behaviour: Synthetic Biology

Pooja Kashyap

Conventional methods in synthetic biology for cell-based therapies focus on using specific proteins to achieve a desired effect in cells. For instance, cancer treatment involves certain proteins to kill cancer cells. while, some proteins are used to help tissues regenerate after an injury. This process, however, is lengthy as it takes time for the proteins to be produced and break down. Additionally, it requires a lot of energy from the cells.

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Dying Stars’ Cocoons Disturb the Fabric of Space-time: Gravitational Waves

Pooja Kashyap

Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects. The main source of detecting gravitational waves are the mergers of binary systems consisting of black holes and neutron stars. Till now, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo detector have successfully identified gravitational waves.

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