Category Archives: Science and Health

El Paso events: Science Festival, Borderland BeerFest, Big El Paso Fair

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Here’s a roundup of some culture and civic events in the borderland in the coming week.El Paso Science FestivalFamilies are invited to spark curiosity and ignite a love for science during the El Paso Science Festival on Saturday-Sunday, April 5-6, at the El Paso Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days and features more than 100 interactive exhibits and hands-on activities designed to engage students from pre-K to eighth grade. The festival will also include a main stage with science demonstrations every two hours and a speaker series with hourly talks from leading scientists sharing insights on discoveries and real-world challenges. Information: elpasoscience.orgBorderland BeerFest DeadBeach Brewery will host the return of Borderland BeerFest from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at 3200 Durazno Ave. The free event will showcase independent craft breweries from El Paso and throughout Texas, New Mexico and California. This year’s festival also includes more non-alcoholic offerings and a partnership with the Upper Valley Farmer’s Market, which will bring more than 30 local vendors to the site. DJs and local bands will perform. The event is open to all ages. Information: deadbeach.comStorybook Studio at UTEP’s Rubin Center Families with young children are invited to explore art, storytelling and hands-on creativity during Storybook Studio on Saturday, April 5, at the Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts, 720 Dawson Road. The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center on the University of Texas at El Paso campus, and features a child-centered visit to the exhibition MUD+CORN+STONE+BLUE, led by UTEP art education students and faculty. Children ages 3-10 and their families can enjoy read-aloud activities focused on themes like agriculture and the environment, followed by art-making in the auditorium. Information: Rubin Center.
Big El Paso FairThe Big El Paso Fair continues to offer family-friendly fun through Sunday, April 13, at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta Drive. The fair features amusement park rides, live entertainment and fair food. It is scheduled to be open from 5 to 11 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday-Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online. They cost $30 for super saver wristbands, which offer unlimited access to rides, and $15 for general admission. Parking is free at Ascarate Park. Information and tickets: bigelpasofair.com
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Family Eid PartyThe Islamic Center of El Paso is hosting a family-friendly festival to celebrate Eid al-Fitr following Ramadan. Activities include laser tag, a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting and race track. There will be dinner provided as well as a Craze frozen yogurt truck. Entrance is free and the event takes place 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the mosque’s grounds, 143 Paragon Lane. Dress code: Casual attire, though shoulders, back and chest area should be covered. Information: icelpaso.orgTexas Epilepsy Walk — El Paso Take part in the annual Texas Epilepsy Walk – El Paso from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at Eastwood Park, 3110 Parkwood St. The free event begins with check-in at 8 a.m., followed by a brief presentation and a walk around the park at 9 a.m. Participants are encouraged to register individually or as part of a team and to consider donating or fundraising to support the Epilepsy Foundation Texas. Proceeds help fund local programs for individuals living with epilepsy. Information: epilepsyfoundationtexas.org or aannelus@eftx.orgThe 2024 season of Viva! El Paso opens at 8 p.m. Friday, June 21, at McKelligon Canyon. Performances are Friday and Saturday through Aug. 3.“Viva! El Paso” auditionsAspiring performers have a chance to be part of “Viva! El Paso,” the long-running outdoor musical celebrating the region’s history, with auditions scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Officer David Ortiz Recreation Center, 563 N. Carolina Drive. Actors, singers and dancers ages 16 and older are invited to audition. Singers should bring prepared music, while dancers should wear comfortable clothing for movement. Auditionees must bring a photo ID, Social Security card, headshot and performance resume. Information: 915-307-0617 or 915-276-5681.
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Coming UpThe fall FloraFest native plant sale returns Saturday, Sept. 28, to the University of Texas at El Paso campus offering a chance to support the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens while enhancing your home through the purchase of water-conserving native plants. (Photo courtesy of the University of Texas at El Paso)FloraFest at UTEP: FloraFest, El Paso’s signature native plant sale, returns from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens on the University of Texas at El Paso campus. The spring sale offers a wide variety of native and native-adapted plants — many in bloom and ideal for planting before summer heat sets in. Shoppers can seek gardening advice from local Master Gardeners and horticulturists while supporting the maintenance and operation of the gardens. Plants sold are often unavailable at local retailers and are well-suited for the region’s climate, helping conserve water and support pollinators. Information: utep.eduPublic Art Program Master Plan community meetings: The City of El Paso’s Public Art Program is updating its Master Plan, and residents are invited to help shape the future of public art across the city. The Museums and Cultural Affairs Department will host a series of open-house meetings Monday-Thursday, April 7-10, at various locations to gather input and share details about the new plan, which will guide public art development over the next decade. Community feedback collected through these events and an online questionnaire will help inform strategic decisions about how public art enhances El Paso’s cultural and visual landscape. 

All meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. at the following locations: 

Monday, April 7: Dorris Van Doren Branch Library, 551 E. Redd Road

Tuesday, April 8: Esperanza Acosta Moreno Branch Library, 12480 Pebble Hills Blvd.

Wednesday, April 9: Northgate Transfer Center at Metro 31, 9348 Diana Drive

Thursday, April 10: Sylvia A. Carreon Community Center, 709 Lomita Drive

Information: epmcad.orgEl Paso Comic Con: El Paso Comic Con returns Friday-Sunday, April 11-13, to the El Paso Convention Center with a guest list that includes Vincent D’Onofrio, known for his roles in “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Daredevil,” and WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter. Actor Sean Gunn of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Gilmore Girls” is also set to appear, alongside voice actors and comic book artists. VIP passes, which include early entry, autograph line access and other perks, are $150 and available online only. General admission ranges from $25 to $80. Full event details and the Q&A panel schedule are available online. Information: elpasocomiccon.comUTEP football spring game: Fans of the University of Texas at El Paso football program can get a first look at the 2025 Miners under second-year head coach Scotty Walden during the team’s annual spring game at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at Sun Bowl Stadium. The scrimmage marks the culmination of spring practices, which are otherwise closed to the public. More than 30 new players and five new coaches — including offensive and defensive coordinators Mark Cala and Bobby Daly — join 67 returners this season. A key storyline this spring is the competition at quarterback, with returning players and highly touted recruit Malachi Nelson battling for the starting role. Admission to the spring game is free.Mark Your Calendar Las Artistas Spring Show and call for artists: Las Artistas is accepting applications until Thursday, May 15, for its 55th annual Art & Fine Crafts Show, set for Nov. 15-16 at the EPIC Railyard Event Center in South El Paso. The juried show features work from painters, sculptors, mixed media artists and other fine arts professionals, attracting collectors from across the region. A $35 jury fee and five images, including a booth shot, are required. Meanwhile, the organization’s Spring Show takes place Saturday-Sunday, April 26-27, at the El Paso International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana Ave. Admission is free. Information: lasartistas.org

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Scientists Seek To Cultivate ‘Spare’ Human Bodies For Medical Miracles

Bodyoids is a biological structures created from human stem cells. Medical research is facing a severe shortage of human bodies and organs. In a new MIT Technology Review article, Stanford scientists propose a solution to bypass this “major bottleneck” ethically, avoiding the exploitation of living beings. The idea, however, is expected to be controversial. According…

Examining the Legacy of Baruch Spinoza in the History of Science

Image: Baruch Spinoza, via Wikimedia Commons.
On a classic episode of ID the Future, join host and geologist Casey Luskin and historian of science Michael Keas for a lively conversation puncturing a series of anti-Christian myths about the history of science, including the Dark Ages myth, the flat-earth myth, the myth that humanity was rendered insignificant by the discovery of the size of the universe, and the simplistic revisionist history of Galileo and the Inquisition. What about the claim in the Cosmos TV series reboot that in abandoning his traditional Jewish faith, 17th-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza was able to provide an improved framework for doing science? As Keas argues, the truth is just the opposite. Spinoza, he says, abandoned a key tenet of Judeo-Christian theology that had proven vital to the birth of science. Download the podcast or listen to it here.

Dig Deeper

‘Consecrate the heavens’: Catholic NASA scientist seeks to place cross on the moon

CV NEWS FEED // By the end of the decade, a cross may stand on the surface of the moon — a bold effort to unite advanced space engineering with a public act of Christian witness.

Led by Catholic entrepreneur and NASA scientist Justin Park, the Cross on the Moon Coalition’s HOPE-1 project aims to send a physical symbol of faith beyond Earth’s atmosphere as a public witness to Christ and a reminder that “God is the center of the universe.”

Park told CatholicVote that the MoonCross is rich in symbolism, noting its role as a sacred consecration and a cultural message. 

“It is a sacrifice to God. It is a testament to the power of faith,” he said. “It stands for peace and unity. It is a monument from God that radiates his mercy and love.” 

Park’s vision for MoonCross emerged through personal grief and a moment of spiritual clarity. Having lost his mother at a very young age, he struggled to make sense of her suffering and the family’s seemingly unanswered prayers for her healing. Years later, she visited him in a dream, appearing as an angel and helping him come to terms with her passing and recognize his calling to become an evangelist for Christ.

“My mother helped me reconcile with God,” Park said. “We don’t always know why The Lord does what he does, but now I have a mission.”    

He believes his calling goes beyond our planet.

“Faith has no boundaries,” Park said, “and God has destined us for greater things.”

Park emphasized the extreme standards required for any object headed to the moon.

“We need to use the lightest metal composites possible because every pound is literally a million dollars,” he said. “Anything you send to that Moon must go through a stringent process of acoustic vibrations testing, vacuum chamber testing, and thermal threshold testing.”

To further refine the design, Park said the team is planning a university design competition to improve on the current model.  

Catholics and all Christians have been very supportive of the project because they “understand what the cross means,” according to Park.

“The space community is less supportive, especially those who don’t understand or appreciate Christ’s sacrifice for our sins,” he said.

The project hasn’t been without its critics, and some are wary of mixing religion with space. But Park says this has only strengthened his resolve.

“I believe religion and space exploration go hand in hand because they are both searching for the truth,” he said.

Still, Park believes the MoonCross is already sparking important conversations — especially around culture, theology, and unity.

“Living in Washington, D.C., I’ve had many conversations with people from around the world about what this mission means,” he said. “The real uncertainty is less about faith and science clashing, and more about the theology of what we are doing.”

When it comes to criticism, Park said he responds based on where each person is coming from.

“Do they believe in God? If not, I highlight how important religion has been to the history of human culture,” he said. “If they don’t like space, too bad, space exploration is happening. If they don’t understand how this helps people, I get them to acknowledge that this feeds people spiritually and gives us hope, which is what the world needs more now than ever.”

When asked what he hopes the cross will communicate when it stands on the moon, Park responded simply: “God’s love for the planet.” 

But he also sees it as a call to action. 

“I hope that Christ’s message of peace, love, and fellowship will touch people in their hearts and compel them to donate to the Coalition,” he said. “That way, they can be a part of history and do something greater than themselves.”

He hopes this mission will inspire not just spiritual reflection but also renewed care for one another — and for the planet.

“We strive to inspire humanity by building this Jesus-focused community that envisions a brighter future, in space,” Park said. “People will hopefully be encouraged by this endeavor to be better stewards of the planet, or, at least treat their fellow man with dignity.”

While some look to space exploration primarily as a way to move naturally destructive activities like mining off the earth, Park has a different vision. 

“I see this as a chance to elevate humanity to new heights,” he said, “and spread the gospel of the Lord throughout the solar system, starting with the Moon.”

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.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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.

Groundbreaking Discovery: Scientists Develop Method to Electrically Control Spin in Ultra-Compact Devices with Altermagnetic Quantum Materials

In recent years, the field of spintronics has emerged as a promising frontier in the world of electronics. This revolutionary approach to technology moves beyond the traditional reliance on electron charge to leverage the intrinsic spin of electrons for data storage and processing. Spintronics offers the tantalizing prospect of creating devices that are not only faster than their conventional counterparts but also remarkably more energy-efficient. However, one of the critical barriers that researchers have faced in this domain lies in the necessity of magnetic fields to manipulate electron spins, a requirement that complicates the integration of spintronic components into tiny devices. Breaking new ground, a research team led by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has presented an innovative methodology that circumvents this limitation. In a landmark study published in the journal Materials Horizons, the team unveiled how an altermagnetic bilayer system could be driven by an external electric field to control spin polarization. This groundbreaking approach holds the potential to redefine the landscape of spintronic devices, equipping them with capabilities that could transform the future of computing. At the core of this transformation lies the intriguing concept of altermagnetism, a unique form of magnetism wherein the spins of electrons within a material orient in opposite directions. This distinct arrangement results in the cancellation of any substantial macroscopic magnetization, a characteristic that sets altermagnetism apart from conventional magnetic materials like ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. The dual-spin configurations allow for non-collinear spin currents, making altermagnetic materials particularly suited for applications in advanced spintronic technologies where precise spin manipulation is paramount. The team’s experiments focused on a bilayer system composed of ultra-thin layers of chromium sulfide (CrS), a material recognized for its altermagnetic properties. Through meticulous application of an electric field, the researchers discovered that the spin polarization could be fully reversed, achieving an impressive spin polarization rate of up to 87% at room temperature. This remarkable finding showcases the potential for all-electrical manipulation of spin states in a practical, room-temperature environment, which could lead to a new generation of compact and efficient spintronic devices. The pivotal mechanism behind this discovery centers around what the researchers term “layer-spin locking.” In their bilayer structure, each layer can conduct currents of opposite spin polarization independently. When an electric field is applied, it selectively modifies the energy levels in the structure, allowing for finely tunable spin-polarized currents. The experimental setup resembles two conveyor belts operating at different speeds, each carrying electrons with opposing spins. By varying the voltage applied, one layer can dominate over the other, effectively flipping the spin state of the electrons and providing unprecedented control over spin currents. The excitement surrounding this finding is palpable. Dr. Rui Peng, the lead author of the study, emphasizes the significance of controlling spin solely via electrical means, a breakthrough that could eliminate the complications of integrating magnetic fields in small-scale devices. This finding brings to life a vision of ultra-compact spintronic devices that promise higher efficiency and performance, marking a significant stride towards realizing functional applications in everyday technology. The implications of this research extend far beyond theoretical exploration. The potential applications are vast, including next-generation computing systems that rely upon rapid data processing and memory storage capabilities, as well as innovations in quantum technologies that demand precise control over quantum states. The altermagnetic materials and methods put forth by this research could stimulate novel approaches in material design and integration strategies for spintronic devices. As exciting as this discovery is, the research team is already laying the groundwork for further investigations. The next step involves experimental validation and the prototyping of devices that harness this newly discovered ability to control spin with electric fields. The researchers are delving into the possibilities of integrating their bilayer system with real-world electronic circuits to demonstrate its feasibility within commercial applications. The ambition behind this work is clear: to develop practical, manufacturable spintronic devices that can outperform the capabilities of existing silicon-based electronics. Assistant Professor Yee Sin Ang, who co-led the research, underscores the potential of this study to serve as a blueprint for transforming the landscape of modern computing. With a focus on efficiency and speed, the team is poised to make a significant impact in a field characterized by rapid advancement and technological promises. The urgency to develop such transformative technologies could not be higher. As the world grapples with the demand for faster computing and increased energy efficiency, all-electrical spintronics emerges as a central player in the unfolding narrative of technological innovation. This research stands as a testament to the pioneering spirit of scientists working at the intersection of materials science and engineering, illuminating a promising path toward ultra-fast, energy-efficient computing. Moreover, the collaborative efforts between SUTD and other esteemed institutions—including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University, and A*STAR Singapore—highlight the global nature of this scientific endeavor. By pooling expertise from various sectors of research, the team maximizes its potential to realize breakthroughs that can yield real-world benefits. This research not only represents a major step forward in understanding and leveraging altermagnetism for spin control but also places the spotlight on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing pressing technological challenges. As the quest for next-generation spintronic devices unfolds, the innovations developed in this study may serve as a catalyst for future advancements in electronics that redefine how we understand and utilize information storage and processing. In summary, the team’s pioneering research into altermagetic bilayers and the all-electrical control of spin currents signifies a watershed moment in the evolution of spintronics. The prospects for integration into practical applications underscore the potential to transform computing philosophies, paving the way for a future characterized by exceptional efficiency and unprecedented performance. With the momentum building around these discoveries, the global scientific community eagerly anticipates the outcomes of ongoing research and prototype development in the realm of altermagnetic materials. As this field continues to evolve, it may very well shape the future of electronics as we know it. Subject of Research: Electric field control of spin polarization in altermagnetic bilayersArticle Title: All-Electrical Spin Control: The Rise of Altermagnetic SpintronicsNews Publication Date: October 2023Web References: Materials HorizonsReferences: Not availableImage Credits: Credit: SUTD Keywords Spintronics, Altermagnetism, Electron Spin, Electric Field Control, Room Temperature Spintronics, Chromium Sulfide. Tags: advancements in magnetismaltermagnetic quantum materialsaltermagnetism in device applicationselectrically controlled spin manipulationenergy-efficient data processingfuture of computing with spintronicsinnovative methodologies in spintronicsmagnetic field alternatives in electronicsSingapore University of Technology and Design researchspintronics technologytransformative electronics researchultra-compact spintronic devices

The best new science fiction books of April 2025

April sees the release of a new space opera trilogy from Neal AsherAlamy Stock Photo
When the sun is out, it’s just about warm enough here in north-east London to read outside – which means it’s time to crack out the best new science fiction and find a sheltered spot. I love the way the genre continues to tackle the biggest issues of our day, whether that’s ageing or artificial intelligence. Top of my pile is Lucy Lapinska’s look at how a robot might deal with being freed from human governance, but I’m also looking forward to Nick Harkaway’s latest, set in a world where a drug can (for a huge price) stop you from ageing, but it will also make you grow very large. And I’m keen to try out Sayaka Murata’s strange and disturbing vision of the future, Vanishing World.

Our science fiction hub is where you can read all of our round-ups, reviews and interviews with leading sci-fi authors.

An intriguing-sounding new novel from the author of the bestselling Convenience Store Woman. Amane lives in a society where children are conceived by artificial insemination and raised by parents in “clean”, sexless marriages. When she and her husband hear about an experimental town where residents are selected at random to be artificially inseminated en masse and children are raised collectively and anonymously, they decide to try living there.

We loved the first Titanium Noir novel from Nick Harkaway here at New Scientist, set in a world where the megarich can take a drug that stops them from ageing, but grows them to huge – titanic – proportions. In this latest from Harkaway, who’s fresh from continuing his father John Le Carré’s legacy in Karla’s Choice, he tells the story of detective and Titan Cal, who is investigating the murder of a young woman in a rundown holiday town.Advertisement

This is the first in a new space opera trilogy from Asher, following the story of Captain Blite, whom somebody keeps trying to kill. A mysterious black diamond, left to him by a “dark AI”, is keeping him alive, but each failed attempt on his life generates temporal anomalies. Blite sets out to uncover the dark diamond’s true nature…

For Jamie Pike, Fairharbour is a city stuck in perpetual winter. For Esther Pike, it is stuck in constant summer. In both versions, oppressive powers have taken control after a cataclysm, forcing a city that was once united to fall apart. Jamie and Esther find a way to communicate across their fractured worlds, but can they solve the mystery of what split Fairharbour?

Highly rated by our sci-fi columnist Emily H. Wilson, this is set during humanity’s final days and follows the story of Abigail, a robot built in the image of David’s late wife. The law is about to change, however, and soon Abigail will be free to go where she likes and do what she wants. There have been a number of interesting fictional takes on robot ethics and freedoms lately, and I’m keen to read this “robot emancipation” tale.
Abigail is a robot that is about to be emancipated in Lucy Lapinska’s novelGetty Images/iStockphoto

Time travel counts as sci-fi, for me, so I am planning to chill out with this time-travelling romance, in which student Joe is dreaming of a future where he’ll be a renowned writer. Meanwhile Esi (who is from the future) sets out on a time-travelling tour to witness history’s greatest moments – which includes Joe falling for Diana, the subject of his famous love poems. But (of course!) destiny is sent awry by Esi’s arrival, and she and Joe start falling for each other instead…

In this speculative thriller, an injection has been invented that delays ageing. Of course, the super-rich are spoiling things, taking an upgrade that extends human life still further. The population is skyrocketing when a dangerous side-effect of the vaccine emerges, and the planet is under threat…

This sounds like a fun thought experiment: humanity has been reduced to the height of a handspan, making the world into a place full of peril, but also of abundance. Giles wakes in his new body on a remote coastal path and sets out on a quest to find his loved ones.

New Scientist book club

Love reading? Come and join our friendly group of fellow book lovers. Every six weeks, we delve into an exciting new title, with members given free access to extracts from our books, articles from our authors and video interviews.

Ray Nayler is a fabulous writer – I loved his previous novel, The Mountain in the Sea, and he wrote me a great comment piece for New Scientist arguing that governments should use speculative fiction to predict the future. In this terrifying-sounding latest, the president of the authoritarian Federation maintains his grip on power by downloading his mind into a succession of new bodies, while western Europe has plumped for AI-powered prime ministers rather than human governance. However, an artificial mind is malfunctioning, and disaster is looming.

Set against the East London marshes, this story moves from 100 years in the future, when outsiders are living off-grid away from a corrupt government and a city wracked by climate change, back across three centuries, as Ess journeys into the past to save her present.

The art and science of writing science fiction course: England

Explore the world of science fiction and learn how to craft your own captivating sci-fi tales on this immersive weekend break. Hosted by New Scientist comment and culture editor Alison Flood, along with author and former New Scientist editor Emily H. Wilson.

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Topics:Science fiction