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.
861: Engineering Novel Solutions for Data Storage and Energy Management in Electronics - Dr. Eric Pop
In this episode, Dr. Eric Pop, a Stanford professor and former Intel engineer, discusses his interdisciplinary work at the nexus of nanomaterials, electronics, and energy management. He explains how phase‑change materials enable low‑power data storage by toggling between amorphous and...
Episode 147: Miniature Living Robots - Maria Guix
In this episode, host Claire Asher talks with Maria Guix, a senior researcher at the University of Barcelona, about bio‑hybrid robotics that combine living cells—such as muscle tissue or sperm—with synthetic scaffolds to create miniature robots. Guix explains how these...
292: Move Over Perovskite - There’s a New Solar Kid in Town
In this episode, Matt and Sean Ferrell shift focus from perovskite to kesterite, a newer solar‑cell material that could become a cheaper, less toxic alternative to current technologies. They explain kesterite’s historical roots, its manufacturing challenges, and why it may...
Megan Engel: Harnessing Machine Learning to Build Better Molecular Models
In this episode, Professor Megan Engel discusses how machine learning and modern optimization techniques can streamline the creation of coarse‑grained molecular models, building on the challenges faced by the original oxDNA developers. She explains shortcuts that reduce the labor‑intensive parameterization...
844: Applying Physics and Nanotechnology to Understand Mechanics and Shape in Biological Systems - Dr. Sonia Contera
In this episode, Dr. Sonia Contera discusses how physics and nanotechnology can illuminate the mechanics and shape of biological systems, from molecular assemblies to whole organs. She explains her interdisciplinary approaches—such as nanoscale imaging and mechanical probing—to study pancreatic tumors,...