Diagnosing the Future: Proteins, Biosensors and Fundamental Science with Prof. Eleonora Macchia
In this episode, Prof. Eleonora Macchia discusses how fundamental research on protein interactions can be turned into ultra‑sensitive biosensors for early disease detection, highlighting her ERC project that moved from studying topological transitions of proteins to a clinical trial for pancreatic cancer screening. She explains the limitations of current diagnostic tools like ELISA and lateral‑flow tests, and how her transistor‑based sensor amplifies single‑molecule binding events into measurable electrical signals. Macchia also shares her interdisciplinary journey from physics and chemistry to bio‑electronics, emphasizing the need for frontier research and multidisciplinary collaboration to advance preventive medicine.
Climate Chronicles with Dr. Sophie Nuber
In this episode, Dr. Sophie Nuber, a climate and marine scientist at the University of Washington, discusses her journey into climate science, the emotional responses climate change evokes, and how she uses art and natural archives to communicate data. She...
The Skin We’re In: Microfluidics, Bubbles, and Healthcare Solutions with Prof. David Fernández Rivas
In this episode, Professor David Fernández‑Rivas discusses the role of engineers as problem‑solvers and the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration, especially between physics, chemistry, and bioengineering. He explains microfluidics—manipulating fluids at the micrometer scale—and its parallels with microelectronics, then delves into...