(Building 223, DTU, Denmark, where CEN.PK was when Vijay did his PhD). PE-2 and CEN.PK exchange pleasantries and share how their weekends were spent. PE-2 said that it has been super busy catching up the recent developments in the field of synthetic biology and artificial life as it is worried that mankind may eventually create synthetic life. To worry is a human trait but somehow … Continue reading PE-2 and CEN.PK meeting 2 – Evolve
A meeting of an uncommonest kind (at the museum of sound and image from Campinas) This is a fictional conversation between the yeast strains PE-2 and CEN.PK. Pun is intended. CEN.PK: Howdy ! How’s life at your end ? PE-2: Hiya. All work and no play is making me a dull person ! CEN.PK: Oh, poor you. I’m truly sorry. I had thought … Continue reading PE-2 and CEN.PK meeting 1: Invite
(at Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro) Prepaid cards are used in buses. I have not yet seen a single female bus driver. Gender fluidity is seen everywhere. Examples include women riding motor bikes, going to the gym. I hear that violence against women is common, that women are hooted at, on the streets. Pharmacy stores are open 24 hours. There are far too many of … Continue reading Vicissitudes of thoughts
It will be nearly two months since I had left Brockwood. I feel that the time is ripe now to share my ‘first impressions’ on Brazil. Day 1 The flight from Heathrow took off an hour later than the scheduled time and the captain did not make up for the lost time, in the air. I arrived in Sao Paulo on Wednesday October 22 and I had to take the airport … Continue reading Being a foreigner at UNICAMP in Brazil
Mineral Composition of the Sugarcane Juice and Its Influence on the Ethanol Fermentation: Magnesium seems to aid bioethanol production. The authors analysed the composition of sugarcane juice from three different places in Brazil. The authors recommend keeping the Mg2+ conc. above 600 mg/L to prevent the reduction in the yield. The Point of it all: A PhD student from the US shares his experience on his project. He writes: “Wrestling with a research question is a rewarding … Continue reading Research news – 1
The director of IIT Delhi who resigned recently due to dirty politics writes: “Care needs to be taken that the internal differences are not exploited by the outsiders to affect our functioning” The Hindu A former editor at ‘The Hindu’ submited a resignation letter which was very thoughtful. “There were no selection procedures or prior consultation or evaluation of candidates that are normally … Continue reading To retire
The pious priest – Anon There was once a pious young priest Who lived almost wholly on yeast; ‘For’ he said, ‘it is plain We must all rise again, And I want to get started, at least.’ Opportunity by Harry Graham When Mrs Gorm (Aunt Eloise) Was stung to death by savage bees, Her husband (Prebendary Gorm) Put on his veil, and took the swarm, He’s … Continue reading Comic Verses
What the ears cannot hear the eyes can… Continue reading Visualising music
The thrills and the perils of pursuing the unknown… Continue reading Scientific publishing
300 million women and girls are forced to defecate outside Bangladesh, has reduced open defecation from 19% to 3% in just two years by decentralising sanitation programmes Nearly half of India’s 1.2 billion people have no toilets at home Everyday 200,000 tonnes of human feces are deposited in India, left in the open References Guardian: Lack of toilets puts India’s health and rural women’s safety at risk … Continue reading Nature’s call
Perpetual Motion of Thought 