In Other Words: Inspirational Videos - Cheryl Hayashi:"The Magnificence of Spider Silk"

On slight tangent of the more usual "bio-based economy" talk of late, I thought I would share something a bit more eclectic but nevertheless fascinating. Recently, linked up a slightly different TED talk dealing with spider silk. I found another TED talk given by Professor Cheryl Hayashi.

I had actually met Professor Hayashi once before. About 10-11 years ago, I invited her to Cal State Fullerton to give a talk about what she is researching. She graciously accepted back then. I can remember that back then everyone (from students to faculty members) was mesmerized by her professionalism, the exact mind displayed in her research, and most importantly the passion Professor Hayashi displayed for her research. I felt the spirit of her talk from back then in the following TED talk.

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In Other Words: A Life on Our Planet

I just watched this documentary together with my son and my wife. Different from David's typical approach of sparse objective commentary, this documentary movie is a personal witness statement that David Attenborough is making describing how our planet has changed in his life time. It's compelling, and urgent but still hopeful. Please, watch this documentary and share with your friends so they get the message!

Sustainable Living - One Step at a time: Toilet Paper

Introduction It's been a while since last, I posted here. Today, I want to introduce another blogging series which I call "Sustainable Living - One Step at a time" In the past, I have often written and talked about interesting new technologies and ideas in the biological field, some of which could be used to reduce the impact human kind makes on the environment. Although many dedicated brains are tackling these interesting challenges, there are even more who are not working in these kinds of fields. What can other people do to reduce one's impact on the environment? Generally, by adapting a more sustainable approach of living. Because so many habits and other aspects of life would need to be changed, many people may not feel that it is worth pursuing these efforts because the perceived sacrifices would be too big. Alternatively, one may not know where to start. I do not exclude myself it the latter group. So, instead of trying to do everything at the same tim...

Freely-Speaking: Quick note on bio-based antennaes

With my thesis defense coming up this Monday, I really did not have as much time to share all the interesting things I came across lately. But I did not want to miss the chance to make a quick note to myself and the readers of this site of an interesting paper, titled "DNA-based programming of quantum dot valency, self-assembly and luminescence" just published in Nature Nanotechnology . Grigory Tikhomirov et al. report "the self-assembly of quantum dot complexes using cadmium telluride nanocrystals capped with specific sequences of DNA. Quantum dots with between one and five DNA-based binding sites are synthesized and then used as building blocks to create a variety of rationally designed assemblies, including cross-shaped complexes containing three different types of dots...Through changes in pH, the conformation of the complexes can also be reversibly switched, turning on and off the transfer of energy between the constituent quantum dots." In other w...

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