Piercing through the Sky

Image source: ISRO

Chandrayaan 3 was launched yesterday (14/07/23, 14:35 IST) by the Indian Space Research Organization. It was indeed a fulfilling experience to watch our country's yet another pride as it pierced through the sky signifying the limitless capability of the human brain and scientific technology. The countdown would have held the breath of every Indian watching it, either online or at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. Students from many schools and colleges in the country witnessed the live launch.

Chandrayaan 3 as stated by the ISRO chairman S Somnath is a failure-based model rather than a success-based model. The team has taken into consideration everything that can possibly fail and then designed it accordingly to eliminate the flaws. This mission is advanced to the previous two in the sense that along with a safe take-off and clean exit from the Earth's orbit, it is also planned to perform a soft landing on the lunar surface. It also consists of a Rover that will come out of the lander and move over the surface of the moon in order to analyze it. 

The Lunar surface is studied through the analysis of elements on it. This is done with the help of spectroscopic and polarimetric techniques. When light comes in contact with any form of matter, it produces signals depending upon whether the light is emitted, absorbed or scattered by the particles in the matter. These signals are specific for certain elements and thus help in identifying what the material is made of. Lasers are used as light sources in these advanced spectroscopic techniques. Polarimetry is concerned with the direction in which light bends on coming in contact with matter, it helps in studying several physical aspects of the material.

The lander would be landing over the Lunar south pole for its unique composition and presence of ice water. The lander and rover will generate electricity for their movement with the help of the solar panels built over it. The landing on the moon is calculated such that the Sun's rays would directly fall on the panels for a period of 14 days. 

The complex programming, navigating parameters, precise calculations, accurate designing and working, propulsion composition are all a huge effort of teams of scientists, Engineers, technicians, belonging to several institutes in the country. It's really mind boggling to just imagine the process: sending out something from the Earth with the help of kilotons of explosives burning away per minute, to travel to thousands of miles straight upward until it starts moving around the orbit, followed by its insertion into the orbit of moon which is almost 2 lakh miles away from the Earth, its smooth landing over the farther portion of the moon and continuous monitoring of the parameters and the data received from it. But there are people and the technology they have built that makes this happen. 

©Neha Kanase

 'There's plenty of room at the bottom', but what if all of us go there?

First attempt at 3D illustrations

This blogpost was in my draft folder for quite a long time. I thought of putting it out now that I have tried making my first 3D science illustration. Although it might look like a 'Bundi cha ladu' to some people, this is an illustration of how a gold nanoparticle looks under the electron microscope. 

There was a time, during my student life when I was really fascinated by the world of Nanotechnology. I had been listening to talks by Nano scientists and researchers and I admired their work and experiments. The fact that amazed me the most was that if you scale down to the Nano level then the properties of the material change. I found the application of quantum dots, carbon nanotubes and graphene really cool. I decided to step into the field, as the famous quote by Richard Feynman: There's plenty of room at the bottom. Soon, I realized that there were too many people at the bottom. Every 4th scientist was synthesizing and working on nanoparticles. Thousands of papers were available on every application. Several nanomaterials had already been explored. 

I dropped the idea and began searching for something unique (the search is still going on). I do not know if that's the thing with anyone else or not, but I sometimes get into this mode of 'Is there anything left to be researched'? Then I go into the 'we know that all' mode of 19th century classical physicists. 

There might be many 'still unexplored' realms of modern science out there. There might also be a successor of Quantum mechanics or something really entirely new waiting for us somewhere. Who knows. 

Continuing with the Nano story. It's still nanoparticles, not the car. By the way, the car got its name from Nanotechnology because of its size. Also, the particles in Mayonnaise are Nano-sized, that is the reason it has that unique soft and creamy texture. Moving ahead. There's Nanorobotics and Nanomedicine. There's something called viral Nanotechnology. It seems that viruses lie exactly within the Nano range. So, they can be employed for synthesis of Nanoparticles by removing the genetic material and inserting our material of interest in its protein coat. For instance, a drug molecule. 

But what if a virus is pathogenic? To overcome this problem there is a very interesting solution. For example, plant viruses modified to nanoparticles could be used in animal cells. Since, viruses are host specific, plant viruses wouldn't have the receptors for the animal host to cause pathogenicity.  A quality of the virus being used for our benefit. Similar to a situation where people use our own virtues against us! 

This mechanism is really interesting. I guess the best part about science lies in its process: the way it works!

©Neha Kanase

 

 The Path of Excellence

Everyone wants to rise to excellence, but only a few make it to the top. Probably, because they are courageous enough to pay the price it requires to get there. Maybe, being mediocre is easier. Not that, it is a bad thing to practice, but it definitely is the safest way to play the game. And, why risk life unnecessarily, when you can very well live in the comfort zone wrapped around like a winter blanket? But some people cannot breathe without thriving for excellence, from the day they are born. 

There was one such boy. He always stood first in every examination he appeared for, be it at the school level or during higher studies. He never returned without getting a gold medal. He published his first research papers at the age of eighteen. Despite being a high-ranked government official, his love for science made him pursue research outside his office hours.  As some people say, he lived for science. 

A groundbreaking discovery in the 1930s, made through an experiment led by him, gave Indian science a new dimension in the Global frontier. He soon became the Director of a prestigious institute in the country and developed an entire department over there. Later, he founded his own research institute where the upcoming generation of scientists would get the freedom of pursuing their research. Founder of the science academies and the first scientific journal of India, recipient of several awards and honors. His students later became huge pillars of modern science in India.

Although this sounds like a superhero story, the journey wasn't that straightforward and simple. There were many twists, turns, fights, and threats. Huge obstacles blocked his path on several occasions. There was a point when his whole existence was shattered. Yet, he stood up and began it all over again. Not that the forces which came his way were usually external. Many times, his inbuilt traits also got him into trouble. But, his goal was something much bigger than himself as well as others: Building true science in the country and inculcating in the next generation, a scientific attitude, courage, and an undying spirit to move ahead despite all the odds. He continued to pursue his vision till his last breath.

It's all about overcoming challenges and moving ahead. Making great discoveries might not be a prerequisite for excellence. Our daily work if done with the utmost skill, improving bit by bit and practicing over and over again, might also one day lead to the excellence that people talk about. 

Maybe, his life would have been a bit easier had he kept his standards low and dreamt small. But then, we wouldn't have known him the way we do today: Sir C.V. Raman.

©Neha Kanase

  

Forensic: The science of solving crime

1. Forensic Science

When someone says 'crime investigation' or 'criminal activity', the first thought that comes to many peoples' minds (not all) is Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie: for readers and True detective, Fargo, CID: for serial watchers. I fall in neither of the two categories. What got me really interested into crime investigation was my academic course work in Forensic Science. 

This subject has a lot of cool and interesting stuff in it. I was amazed to know how things work in a forensic laboratory. Although, I am not sure if the actual work is that interesting or not, but nevertheless, I enjoyed studying for the course. (Thanks to the Professor for that).

From securing the crime scene , collection of evidences, their analysis in the laboratory and finally presenting the evidences in the court testimonial, its a long journey altogether. It seems that physical evidence plays a very crucial role in solving any case. Even if the physical evidence is destroyed, like for example, wiping of blood. But with the help of modern techniques blood traces can be detected even if they are in ppb or ppm range.

Forensics basically makes use of most of the basic principles of individual identity. Like finger print and DNA. These are unique traits of an individual which play an important role in identification and linking a person with another or with the crime scene. These cases are investigated by studying the pattern on one's fingerprint or by matching the sequences in one's DNA. Just like matching the pieces of a jig saw puzzle.

2. Fingerprint analysis

3. STR matching in DNA. STR's are unique sequences in DNA

                                                                                 

Also things like handwriting or a person's voice or the way people pronounce certain words all come under individual traits. You may say that a person may just change his way of writing or manipulate his/her voice, but using modern scientific technology, these minute changes can also be detected by amplifying the signal multifold.

4. Amplification of the audio signal and its conversion to electrical signal

Another important aspect is the ballistics. Interestingly, this is also an individual trait. Even if  2 similar bullets are shot from 2 identical guns with an equal force, yet the marks that are formed on the bullet, once it comes out of the gun will be different in both the cases. These are called striation marks. Other studies include, the projectile of the bullet, the type of the blood stain pattern caused when the bullet hits a person, the angle of impact of blood with the surface and the number of blows given to a person.

5. Analysis of blood stain pattern

6. Firearms: projectile and striation marks

   

Several white collar crimes like manipulation of will, property papers, forgery of signatures on cheques, are solved using forensics. But now a days due to increased popularity of forensics, the nature of crime is also changing. As if the criminals also have come to know about these techniques, due to the advances in the internet technology. Just like, whatever solution one comes up with for killing mosquitoes, they somehow become smarter and still manage to survive. May be that's part of the game: every problem has a solution which in turn is followed by another problem.

But again, instead of just sitting ideally and staring at the problem, it is better to strive for the solution: in the right direction

©Neha Kanase

References

1: Mcm_Mag_Issue5_Forensicscience

2. Image 2: Cambridge assessment English

3. Image 3: Researchgate.net

4. Image 4: Sound on Sound

5. Image 5: PBworks

6. Image 6: Indiamart

 

 The sooner you learn to 'put up' with Math, the simpler life becomes!

The one subject I feared throughout my school life was mathematics. Not that I couldn't solve math problems. I was very well able to solve them after a little amount of practice and 'paying attention'. But there was always this fear of being wrong or making some silly mistake during exams that kept holding me back.

I had thought that the tenth board exam would be the last paper of mathematics I would give. But alas, it wasn't too long before I realized that, mathematics had not left me despite me turning my back.

Physics just denied to move ahead without math. Gregor Mendel had to forcefully push it into biology. Mathematical and Physical chemistry were there too as if carbon and hydrogen compounds weren't enough. I had to study math.

Then, during graduation as well, there was always something to integrate or derivate. There were always equations to solve and theorems to remember. This time mathematics had taken the form of Thermodynamics, Nuclear and Quantum Mechanics. It just kept changing forms every year but never left me. One very famous form is the 'General aptitude'.

After so many years I have finally realized that mathematics is indeed an integral part of life. It is omnipresent and omnipotent. Even if you take arts or commerce you need math. Even if you learn music you need math to calculate beats and rhythm to produce a symphony. Same thing goes for dance, cooking and sports.

You need to know math to manage your finances, you need to know math to construct anything new, you need math for programming, machine leaning and AI. you need to know math so that you do not look stupid and most important you need to know math because you have got brain and mathematics is a good way to use it, before it completely stops working.

Never make the mistake of 'leaving mathematics' its just an illusion. Just learn to be at peace with it, you will be rewarded. This is true for everything in life. If you have to overcome something in life and if there isn't any other choice, then you just have to go through it, well happily go through it. 

Sometimes, It doesn't matter if you do not know how an amoeba digests its food or how aldehydes get oxidized to acids. But it does matter if you do not know how to tackle problems: in mathematics as well as in real life.

©Neha Kanase

 THE 'GET THROUGH'

After almost two years of online learning, we finally started with our practical work. It all felt a bit different at the beginning since the mind had become habitual to virtual learning. But then it didn't take us long enough to enter our 'laboratory zone'. 

The practical courses in the master's level are much different from those in the undergrad. We have to do all the calculations and check proportions of solutions required for every experiment and prepare them accordingly. Unlike the ones in undergrad where we would get all the ready made solutions. Whatever you have learnt till now, everything comes into the picture. Checking out the references, a few discussions, applying math, errors followed by rectification, and then finally you land up with your ideal solution and begin the experiment.

Its kind of cool since you get to use a lot of your brain. Also the fundamental concepts behind the experiments are strengthened due to this activity. Moreover, you don't waste the solution since you know how much of your time has gone into making it.

In a laboratory there are lab assistants who look after everything that is needed in the lab, from cleaning, maintenance to preparing regents and monitoring working of instruments. In Marathi, these people are often addressed as 'Mamas'. Once it so happened that we ran out of the iodine solution which was needed for a particular experiment. When I went to mama and asked him, he opened a small diary in which preparation method of each solution was written in short forms. In an easy to remember way. We followed that procedure, prepared the solution and continued with our experiment. I was amazed. 

I realized that there is a lab behind our lab which is responsible for the smooth functioning of everything. This lab could be anywhere: back office employees in the corporate, back stage artists, workers, bowlers who aren't the actual players but help cricketers practice. The list goes on and on.

As a student I have often seen and myself participated in fights and debates between Physics and Chemistry students as to which subject is more superior . There is this very famous argument among Organic and Analytical Chemistry people about superiority of the subject. This is also evident among various branches of Engineering, types of doctors, architects, designers and many more. 

These demarcations were made so that we could study our subjects with ease. May be now we have become so used to the boundaries that we have forgotten that all these fields were born out of the same womb of Scientific Technology or of 'Necessity' to be more precise. We all are interdependent in this little world we have created, be it to solve the existing problems or to create new ones to solve 😄 . May be one day we will realize the importance of contributing and working together, Until that fine day, let's just Get through.

©Neha Kanase

Image source: iStock

Happy Mole( 6.022*10^23) Day!  But where did the number come from?

1. Mole: the SI unit for amount of a substance. Mole is also the name for a small burrowing mammal.

The mole concept is one of the most fundamental concepts in Chemistry. Every year October 23rd is celebrated as the Mole day from 6.02 am to 6.02 pm since the date makes the number 10/23. 

Just like a set of 12 is a dozen, a set of 100 is a century, similarly, 1 mole is a set of 6.022*10^23. For the sake of convenience, Carbon-12 is considered as a standard for calculating this number. Earlier oxygen-16 was taken as the standard, but since the mass of Carbon-12 is exactly 12.000gm, a whole number unlike oxygen which is 15.994, carbon-12 is chosen. The calculations are much easier with carbon 12. Moreover the number of protons and neutrons is same in Carbon-12, 6 each.

2. one mole of everything contains same particles just like one dozen and one century 

So one mole is the amount of a substance that contains as many number of particles as there are atoms present in exactly 12 gm of Carbon. 12gm of Carbon is nothing but 1 mole of Carbon-12. But how many atoms are present in 12 gm of Carbon? 

For example, if a big block is made up of tiny blocks and you want to find the number of tiny blocks in it, you divide the area of the big block with the area of a single tiny block. Similarly for calculating the number of atoms in carbon 12 we need to divide 12 gm of carbon with the mass of one atom of carbon-12. The mass of 1 atom of carbon is  1/12th the mass of 12 atomic units of carbon and masses of all other atoms are calculated relative to this standard. 1 atomic mass unit=1.6605*10^-24gm. So when 12 is multiplied with 1.6605*10^-24, we get the mass of 1 atom of carbon which is 1.992684*10^-23. This was experimentally proved using a mass spectrometer. It is an instrument that ionizes the sample into fragments. The mass and charge on these fragment is then analyzed. 

12gm of carbon divided by 1.992648*10^-23 gm gives us the number 6.022*10^23 atoms which is the Avogadro constant named after the scientist Amadeo Avogadro.

In short, for carbon, mass of 1 mole=12gm, mass of 1 atom in that 1 mole =1.992684*10^-23gm and number of such atoms in 12gm of carbon=6.022*10^23.

But you know what the interesting part is? one mole remains the same even when the substance is changed. Whether you take Oxygen, nitrogen, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Helium anything, the number of atoms in 1 mole of all these remain the same. That is why it is a constant. 

For example mass of 1 mole of oxygen is 15.994gm. The mass of 1 atom in it is 2.66*10^-23. So the number of atoms is the ratio of these 2 quantities i.e. 6.022*10^23. 

1 mole of any substance contains the same number of particles. But back then, during the times of Avogadro, there weren't any mass spectrometers. Many techniques were used to calculate this number including the random motion of suspended particle( Brownian motion). Avogadro was famous because of his law, equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal number of molecules. The accurate determination of the Avogadro number was possible only after Robert Mullikan calculated the charge on an electron. The charge on one mole of electrons was known at that time 96485C/mole which is the Faraday constant named after Michael Faraday. The charge on a single electron was found to be 1.602*10^-19C. If you divide these two quantities, you get the Avogadro's number, which is 6,022*10^23 particles in 1 mole of electrons. 

Just to get an idea of how big this number is, 602213670000000000000000

Although its is a huge number, but the size of the particles is very very tiny. Just to take our imagination at a bigger level: One mole of each one of us contains the same number of particles!!!

©Neha Kanase

References

1. How Was Avogadro's Number Determined? - Scientific American

2. NCERT Class IX Chemistry textbook part 1

3. Image 1: labtopiainc.com

4. Image 2: Lumen learning