innovation | TechieTonics

WHaloCaMP Biosensor: Real-Time Insights into Animal Physiology

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 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.

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

September 11, 2024September 11, 2024 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.

High-Performance 2D Semiconductor Transistor Fabrication: h-BN Dielectrics and Metal Gate Tech

September 9, 2024September 9, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors hold enormous potential to transform the future of electronics. However, their full potential is hindered by a major challenge: interface defects that form between the semiconductors and insulating layers, which degrade overall performance.

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

August 26, 2024September 11, 2024 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.

Yarn-Based Weaving for Soft Robotics: Revolutionizing Healthcare

August 21, 2024August 21, 2024 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.

Neutron Innovation: Precise Temperature Measurement for Electronics

July 18, 2024July 26, 2024 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.

Interview: Dr. Boris Goncharov, a Senior Scientist at the Albert Einstein Institute, Germany

July 15, 2024July 15, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

I’m thrilled to introduce Dr. Boris Goncharov, a distinguished figure in the field of gravitational wave research. Currently, he is a Senior Scientist with the Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) group at the Albert Einstein Institute (AEI) in Hanover, Germany, where he is exploring the fascinating world of nanohertz-frequency gravitational waves.

From Urine to Water: The Latest Breakthrough in Spacesuit Technology

July 12, 2024July 12, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Of all the things in movie, Dune, I particularly got fascinated with the idea how the people used those suits to recycle sweat and urine into drinkable water. It got me thinking: why can’t we make this tech a reality? Well, it turns out researchers at Cornell University are on it! They’ve developed a prototype for a new urine collection and filtration system for spacesuits. Isn’t that awesome?

Interview: Dr. Artem Oganov, a Distinguished Professor at Skoltech, Russia

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

It is my honor to interview Dr. Artem R. Oganov, a world-renowned scientist whose expertise spans chemistry, crystallography, mineralogy, and materials science. He is the winner of many awards, including the prestigious European Mineralogical Union medal. And since 2017, he has been a proud member of the European Academy of Sciences.

Electronic Spider Silk: A Versatile Solution for Bioelectronics

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Super-thin and flexible electronics are here to stay. This tech will not only create but it will also revolutionize the use of gadgets. Since, it leads to unlimited possibilities for innovative and practical applications. Some of the them include but not limited to – wearable tech, portability, healthcare applications, space probes etc.

Nanoparticles Break Blood-Brain Barrier for Cancer Treatment: Targeting Metabolic Adaptability

May 7, 2024June 3, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Scientists at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, have crafted a tiny particle capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. The team envision to tackle both primary breast cancer tumors and brain metastases in a single treatment. Their investigations indicate that this approach can reduce the size of both breast and brain tumors in lab experiments.

mtDNA: Key Component of Energy Production and Trigger of Inflammation

March 13, 2024March 13, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Entity responsible for powering our cellular functions and in keeping us going is mitochondria. These powerhouses are little sausage-shaped organelles in most types of cells that have a nucleus. These organelles convert chemical energy from the food that we ingest into usable form of energy. This energy is termed as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the fuel that we require to carry out the regular activities at cellular level.

Artificial Life: Researchers Forge New Building Blocks

March 11, 2024March 11, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at the University of Cologne (UoC) have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by creating artificial nucleotides. Nucleotides forms the building blocks of DNA. So, if we go by the research, the innovative development will make way for potential advancements in genetic engineering as well as molecular biology.

Innovative SiPh Chip: Nanoscale Light Computing Breakthrough

February 21, 2024February 21, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Imagine a world where AI computations are not bound by the limitations of traditional power sources, that is, electricity but by the power of light waves. This is precisely the vision that researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have brought to life with their innovative chip design. This innovation will not only enable the chip to fast-track the processing speed of computers but it will also lessen their energy consumption.

Electron Dance: Creating Robust Continuous Time Crystals

February 2, 2024February 2, 2024 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at TU Dortmund University have achieved a breakthrough by creating a remarkably resilient time crystal. It exceeds the temporal stability observed in previous trials by millions of times. This accomplishment not only validates a captivating phenomenon proposed by Nobel Prize laureate Frank Wilczek approximately a decade ago but also echoes themes that have fascinated science fiction enthusiasts. The intriguing findings have been officially documented in the prestigious journal Nature Physics.