Indian Genes

In EP 13, we continue where we left off in EP 12 and Bernardo Kasturp dives deeper into consciousness and how this is central to our understanding of the world around us. He also answers questions posted on line and fascinates us with insights that are thought provoking and brilliant. THis is an episode that would be enjoyed as a continuation of EP 12 and we highly recommend that you listen in sequence.

Darsh Kodwani is our STAR guest and speaks exclusively to Indian Genes about the amazing open questions in Astrophysics today and gives us a better and deeper understanding on the The Big Bang and all the mysteries of the universe.

This is a great episode for any student interested in the subject or a non expert who is curious enough to know more about how it all began and where is it all going.

Darsh is a super achiever and has a PHD from the University of Oxford and has published several Academic papers on a range of topics related to Astrophysics and Data Science.

He has taught 6 courses at the University of Toronto ranging from 1st year introduction to Physics to Final Year graduation in advanced Quantum Mechanics and Electromagnetism.

He has also worked with Dr. Ulrich Klob on a robotic telescope based in Mallorca, Spain called PIRATE to collect and analyze data on Exoplanets,

Darsh has also worked at the University of Oxford to understand the early universe and explore novel mathematical and statistical techniques.

This is an episode you do not want to miss and it was an absolute pleasure having this very  interesting and informative conversation with Dash and we thank him for taking time out to from his busy sechedule to talk to us..

In EP 12 Indian Genes talks to Bernardo Kastrup's who has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on 'Scientific American,' the 'Institute of Art and Ideas,' the 'Blog of the American Philosophical Association' and 'Big Think,' among others.

In EP 12 Indian Genes talks to Bernardo Kastrup's who has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on 'Scientific American,' the 'Institute of Art and Ideas,' the 'Blog of the American Philosophical Association' and 'Big Think,' among others.

Sara Seager is the Class of 1941 Professor of Planetary Science, Professor of Physics, and Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her past research is credited with laying the foundation for the field of exoplanet atmospheres, while her current research focuses on exoplanet atmospheres and the future search for signs of life by way of atmospheric biosignature gases. Professor Seager is involved with a number of space-based exoplanet searches including as the Deputy Science Director for the MIT-led NASA mission TESS, as the PI for the on-orbit JPL/MIT CubeSat ASTERIA, and as a lead for Starshade Rendezvous Mission (a space-based mission concept under technology development for direct imaging discovery and characterization of Earth analogs). Before joining MIT in 2007, Professor Seager spent four years on the senior research staff at the Carnegie Institution of Washington preceded by three years at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. Her PhD is from Harvard University, and her BSc from the University of Toronto. Among other accolades, Professor Seager is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a 2013 MacArthur Fellow. In EP 11 Sara talks to Indian Genes on the latest on Exoplanet discoveries including the TESS mission and latest cutting edge research in her field.

Ashwing Vasavada from NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and a CALTECH / UCLA star, has been involved with the Mars Rover Curiosity for over eight years now and has virtually spent that time living on Mars through the Curiosity mission. If anyone knows the conditions on Mars, then it is Ashwin and in this episode he discusses in detail, the history of NASA’s space missions as well as how they were conceptualized, designed and deployed. He also gives a first hand account on the various missions like Viking, Voyager, Hope & Spirit, Perseverance and talks about NASA’s Mars 2020 missions and what could be expected moving forward. As the lead scientist for the Curiosity Rover Mission he explains the planning and technology that went into building the rover. He covers interesting facts like the engineering and design of the rover, its 17 cameras and lasers on board, and how this is used to collect rock samples, the difference between solar panels and nuclear powered rovers, how dust on the surface of Mars impacts these choices, the Chem Cam and how it was used, how and why airbags were used for the Hope & Spirit landings and many more details on the project. Ashwin also tackles broader areas like the possibility of life on the surface of Mars or below the surface as per latest available scientific data from those missions. This is a comprehensive discussion on all NASA missions and a lot of details mentioned in this episode have never been heard before or available online. This is an opportunity to have all your questions answered and give you a better understanding of these missions as he breaks down and systematically takes you through all the stages of the Mars missions, also spending time to answer questions posed to him by students online. This is a historic podcast episode and one you do not want to miss. From all of us at Indian Genes, we do hope you enjoy this exclusive episode and look forward to you also checking out our previous episodes.