Author Archives: beatriceco

Scientist renowned for study of adolescent brains named president of J. Craig Venter Institute

Anders Dale, a neuroscientist widely known for his insights about the brains of children and adolescents, has been appointed president of the J. Craig Venter Institute, the elite biomedical research center in La Jolla.The institute formally completed the move on Tuesday, luring Dale away from UC San Diego, where he has spent the last 21 years, often as one of the school’s most highly funded scientists.Dale, who is ranked among the 50 best neuroscientists in the world by Research.com, told The San Diego Union-Tribune he will shift to JCVI about $10 million of his current $14 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health.He declined to comment on the cuts the Trump administration is making to NIH grants.UC San Diego neuroscientist Anders Dale has been appointed president of the J. Craig Venter Institute in La Jolla. (Anders Dale)Venter, the institute’s founder, CEO and board chair, recruited the 60-year-old Dale, who at times has been a research partner. They share the belief that deeply assessing a person’s health should involve looking not only at a person’s genes but at their phenotypes as well.Phenotype refers to how one’s genetic makeup is expressed in observable traits, including eye color, height and blood type. The traits are determined by genomic makeup and environmental factors, which require deeper study, notably through imaging.This dual approach is a highly personal matter to Venter, who was awarded the 2008 National Medal of Science for the major role he played in sequencing the human genome.During a comprehensive physical in 2016, Venter learned that he — like many men his age — had early-stage prostate cancer that did not at that point pose an immediate health risk.The discovery was made by Dale, a neuroscientist and radiologist who was using highly advanced imaging equipment. “Having the combination of genotypes and phenotypes to predict disease is truly personalized medicine brought to life,” Dale told the Union-Tribune on Tuesday.Dale is better known for exploring brains through what are known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study and the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study.ABCD is the higher-profile project. In a written overview, the NIH says the study “is assessing brain development in children throughout adolescence, while tracking social, behavioral, physical and environmental factors that may affect brain development and other health outcomes.”Dale’s work in this area will continue at JCVI. He is moving his entire 23-person lab to the institute.He said the made the move in part because he likes the way the center is organized and run. It does not confer tenure, and no scientists have their own labs. Instead, they work together in teams. It’s largely the opposite of how big research schools like UCSD operate.Originally Published: April 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM PDT

Scientists sent beans into orbit and made ‘space miso.’ Here’s how it tasted

By Kathleen Magramo, CNN

(CNN) — Japanese cuisine wouldn’t be the same without miso — but astronauts wanting use the fermented soybean staple in space one day might have to get used to a difference in taste.

An experiment on board the International Space Station (ISS) has produced miso paste, thought to be the first food deliberately fermented outside Earth — a feat that scientists hope will shed light on the potential for life to exist in space, and broaden the culinary options for astronauts.

The “space miso” had a similar umami, or savoriness, to miso made on Earth. But according to the researchers who sampled it, there was a key difference: a stronger roasted and nutty flavor.

Scientists Maggie Coblentz from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Joshua Evans from the Technical University of Denmark sent a small container of cooked soybean paste to the ISS in March 2020, where it was left to ferment for 30 days before returning to Earth as miso.

The miso was kept in a container with sensors, which closely monitored temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and radiation, according to the peer-reviewed paper released in the journal iScience on Wednesday.

As part of the experiment, two other miso batches were fermented on Earth for comparison — one in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US and the other in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“We didn’t know what to expect — fermentation had never been done before in space,” Evans, the co-lead author of the study, told CNN.

“The space miso one was darker and clearly more jostled—which makes sense, as it had traveled much more than either of the earth misos. It was exciting to smell and taste the first bite.”

He explained some environmental features in space, in particular microgravity and increased radiation, could have impacted how microbes grow and metabolize, and in turn how fermentation works.

“By bringing together microbiology, flavor chemistry, sensory science, and larger social and cultural considerations, our study opens up new directions to explore how life changes when it travels to new environments like space,” Evans said.

Furthermore, Evans said the research could “enhance astronaut well-being and performance,” and “invite new forms of culinary expression, expanding and diversifying culinary and cultural representation in space exploration as the field grows.”

Miso, the salty fermented bean paste, forms the base of many soups, sauces and marinades. Every region in Japan has its own special recipe.

It is traditionally made of soaked soybeans, water, salt and koji (a type of mold), and traditionally takes about six months to develop its distinct umami taste, with the flavors intensifying the longer it ferments.

Many fermented foods contain probiotics, live microorganisms that, when ingested, can work in conjunction with the existing good bacteria in the gut microbiome to help regulate the digestive system.

But Evans said the further analyses is still need to asses its nutritional value, including the macromolecular composition and bioactive compounds present in the space miso.

Coblentz, also a co-lead author of the study, said the miso fermentation on the ISS underlined “the potential for life to exist in space” by showing how a microbial community could thrive.

Scientists have long experimented with growing and harvesting fresh produce in space, including various types of lettuce and radishes. In 2021, the ISS even hosted a taco party to celebrate the harvest of the first chile peppers in space.

One Japanese company is also making a special brew of sake fermented in space. Asahi Shuzo, the company behind the popular Dassai brand, has paid Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for access to the Kibo experiment module, part of the ISS, to conduct tests.

The company is also developing space brewing equipment, with a planned launch date later in 2025.

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Cambridge Scientist Launches Free VR Platform That Eliminates the Fear of Public Speaking

Newswise — Dr Chris Macdonald creates free virtual reality platform that transforms users into skilled and confident public speakersLast month was World Speech Day, a day where we are called upon to embrace public speaking opportunities. Unfortunately, this call to action is unlikely to be widely embraced given that the majority of people are affected by speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking. Fortunately, however, there is now a free and highly effective solution.At Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, researchers are using emerging digital technology to enrich and accelerate learning. Their Immersive Technology Lab received a national innovation award for a project that uses VR to better translate and visualise emissions data. They launched a free online platform where users transform into skilled and confident public speakers. On the platform, tailored course material develops key skills and life-like virtual reality training environments build confidence.Lab Director and platform founder, Dr Chris Macdonald, explains, “In physical reality, a user might be practising a presentation alone in their bedroom but on the new virtual reality platform, they can experience the sensation of presenting to a wide range of increasingly challenging photorealistic audiences.”Impact at scale:By developing a method that converts smartphones into VR headsets, Dr Macdonald has made sure that the platform is accessible to all. For reference, only 5% of UK households have a VR headset but 99% have smartphones. And while VR headsets can cost thousands, a device mount (pictured below) costs around £15. A device mount could be thought of as a low-cost ‘conversion kit’ that transforms a user’s smartphone into a functional VR headset. Importantly, the platform has been built in such a way that whether a participant is using the latest standalone VR headset or an old smartphone inserted into a device mount, they will get the same content and the same experience.Impact at speed:As recently revealed in the academic journal, Frontiers, the platform has been clinically proven to significantly increase levels of confidence for most users after a single 30-minute session. And, in the most recent trial with students from Cambridge and UCL, it was found that a week of self-guided use was beneficial to 100% of participants; the platform helped all users in one or more of the following ways: to feel more prepared, more adaptable, more resilient, more confident, to be better able to manage nerves, and to feel less anxious. Further findings will be revealed at the upcoming International Conference on Research in Psychology at Oxford.User-centric design:A user-centric iterative process ensured that the platform would work ‘in the wild’. In between each rebuild thus far, the platform has hosted over 50,000 practice presentations from remote beta users. To further stress test the software and hardware, in-person events were organised, one of which involved over 1000 members of the public using the platform in suboptimal conditions in a demo room in Cambridge. To further expand and deepen the participant pool, the lab went on tour. This included stops at the largest science and technology events such as New Scientist Live as well as less formal settings such as a local market, library, community centre, church, and even someone’s living room.Dr Macdonald says, “I wanted to build something that is not only highly effective but that can and will be used by those who need it the most. As a result, it was essential to gather diverse user feedback from a variety of settings. The lab cannot develop in a silo, it needs to work closely with end users. Through constant public engagement, we can maximise our positive impact and ensure that we remain deeply grounded in public service.” World firsts:Multiple firsts were achieved to make the platform uniquely accessible and effective.To increase accessibility, it was essential that the platform worked on both Android and iOS operating systems. To achieve this, a first-of-its-kind, dual-compatible VR player was created. As a result, not only is this the first time that this treatment is available for free worldwide, but it is also the first time it is accessible via multiple devices and multiple operating systems. In short, many firsts were completed to achieve impact at scale.The efficacy is increased with Overexposure Therapy (the ability to repeatedly practice in extreme scenarios that one is unlikely to encounter in real life, such as hyper-distracting stadiums—a concept Dr Macdonald pioneered). It provides the psychological equivalent of running with weights or at high altitudes; it builds extra adaptability, grit, and resilience.Dr Macdonald explains, “Prior to a presentation, most students tend to practice on their own, in a highly-controlled environment—normally in their bedrooms to an ‘audience’ of zero. As a result, it will feel like a significant ‘step up’ when they present to even a small group of people—and even a subtle audience gesture can throw them off. By contrast, students who use the VR platform can practice in a different venue every night to a wide range of highly distracting audiences and fear-inducing scenarios. They can, for example, practice in a stadium in front of 10,000 animated spectators, with loud noises, stadium lights, and flashing cameras. Accordingly, a subsequent presentation to a small group can feel like a significant ‘step down’. The data shows that this process not only increases confidence, adaptability, and resilience but also the enjoyment of public speaking. Students are enjoying the challenge of pushing themselves and progressing to each new level. This increased enjoyment is highly encouraging because we know that fear and anxiety are maintained or worsened through avoidance.”“In addition to the range of presentation-style audiences, the platform also provides more specialised environments and challenges, such as reading a teleprompter in a virtual TV studio or responding to questions in a job or radio interview. To offer additional support on perfecting your scripts, I built and embedded an AI coach. And beyond the main platform that is now freely available via a dedicated website, I have created licensing plans and an app for healthcare providers. I am also collaborating with organisations that seek to support specific groups such as children who stammer; the goal is to create more targeted treatment options for those who need it the most.”“Speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking impact most people, and it is becoming increasingly more common over time. This is concerning because we know that it is detrimental to mental health, physical health, academic attainment, and career progression. Therefore, the problem is prevalent, it is getting worse, it is causing harm, and ultimately, it is capping human potential. However, this no longer needs to be the case. If you or anyone you know would like to become a skilled and confident public speaker, there is now an effective and accessible solution—please do make use of it.”“It is very promising to see how effective the platform is given that we already know ways to make it even more effective. However, to continue its development, expand it long-term, and launch additional features and platforms, we need funding. Therefore, I encourage philanthropists and sponsors to reach out. We are data-driven and uniquely committed to impact at scale. With the right funding, together, we could transform millions of lives.”“The platform has immense potential to empower individuals to overcome their fear of public speaking, ultimately enhancing not only their quality of life but also their capacity to become a driving force of positive change in the world.”“I set out with a simple but ambitious mission: make the most effective treatment for the most common fear and make it freely accessible to all. Today, with the launch of the free platform, I believe I have achieved that. Please do use it. It will transform your life and greatly expand your opportunities.”To contact Dr Chris Macdonald, click here.To access related press images and videos, click here.Dr Chris Macdonald established the multi-award-winning Immersive Technology Lab to investigate the transformative potential of emerging technologies for education and healthcare. Chris is a Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. Chris was recently crowned the winner of the 40 Under 40 Award in the Science and Innovation category.User feedback:“When practising my presentations, I sometimes find it difficult to visualise the people I’m speaking to, but this platform gave me the opportunity to see the crowd and get comfortable speaking in front of them.”-Toluwalase Agoro, Cambridge University Student“I usually practice talks alone in my room which makes it very difficult to imagine my audience so I found using the VR headset was very useful … it made the practice much more effective.”-Rowena Davies, Cambridge University Student “The Platform was very user-friendly and surprisingly easy to experience with just a smartphone. What stands out about this technology is definitely the great accessibility.”-Andrea Rogolino, Cambridge University Student“The VR Public Speaking Platform is remarkably easy to use. You just pop on the headset and suddenly it feels like you are facing an audience in real life. And most importantly, it works. I have gone from dreading presentations to feeling genuinely prepared. I have been able to keep my head up while speaking to the audience and felt more confident. It is a really powerful tool.”-Tadala Mzengo, Cambridge University Student

32 Indian and other South Asian-origin Fellows elected to American Association for the Advancement of Science

– ADVERTISEMENT – The prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science, AAAS, announced March 27, 2025, it has added 471 newly elected scientists and engineers as 2024 Fellows. At least 32 of them from the United States and around the world, including India, Canada, and Singapore, are of Indian origin, News India Times calculated going by their names.
Ravi Allada PHOTO: medicine.umich.edu
“This year’s Fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities,” Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D., AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals, is quoted saying in the press release. Election as a Fellow honors members whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications in service to society have distinguished them among their peers and colleagues, AAAS said.
Being an AAAS Fellow is a distinguished lifetime honor within the scientific community. This latest class of scientists, engineers and innovators are spread across 24 AAAS disciplinary Sections.
– ADVERTISEMENT – “At a time when the future of the scientific enterprise in the U.S. and around the world is uncertain, their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering,” Parikh added.
The Fellows are recognized for their achievements across disciplines, from research, teaching and technology to administration in academia, industry and government to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.
AAAS first launched this lifetime recognition in 1874, about 25 years after the association was founded. Last year, the AAAS Fellows program celebrated its 150th anniversary.
Following is the list of Fellows of Indian and other South Asian-origin presented by  Section affiliation:
Atmospheric & Hydrospheric Sciences
Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Biological SciencesRavi Allada, University of Michigan
Gaya K. Amarasinghe, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Debabrata Chakravarti, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Harmeet Malhi, Mayo Clinic
Nadia D. Singh, Oregon State University
Arun Srivastava, University of Florida College of Medicine
Ramaswamy Subramanian, Purdue University
Sandhya Dwarkadas PHOTO: engineering.virginia.edu
EngineeringSandhya Dwarkadas, University of Virginia
Satyandra K. Gupta, University of Southern California
Srinivas Katkoori, University of South Florida
Prabhas V. Moghe, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Krishnaswamy Nandakumar, Louisiana State University
M.N. Srikanta Swamy, Concordia University (Canada)
Deepak Vashishth, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Geology & Geography
Mark Mahalingam Baskaran, Wayne State University
Venkataraman Lakshmi, University of Virginia
Bimal Kanti Paul, Kansas State University
Information, Computing & Communication
 James B. D. Joshi, University of Pittsburgh
Anant Madabhushi, Emory University School of Medicine
Nalini Venkatasubramanian, University of California, Irvine
Medical Sciences
Kalpana S. Katti, North Dakota State University
Robin Patel, Mayo Clinic
Arvind U.K. Rao, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Pavan Reddy, Baylor College of Medicine
Mitnala Sasikala, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (India)
Abhay R. Satoskar, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Anish Thomas, National Cancer Institute, NIH
Physics
Mani L. Bhaumik, Retired
Jagadeesh S. Moodera, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Social, Economic & Political Sciences
 Chandra Muller, The University of Texas at Austin

Viswanath, Harvard University / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

The new Fellows will receive a certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin (representing science and engineering, respectively) to commemorate their election and will be celebrated at a forum in Washington, D.C. on June 7, 2025. The 2024 Fellows class is also featured in the AAAS News & Notes section of the journal Science in March 2025.