Thought Leaders
Size matters:The link between social groups and human evolution
Humans are social creatures; we live in family groups, socialise with friends, and work with colleagues. Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar’s ‘social brain hypothesis’ suggests that brain size is directly related to social group size in mammals. The bigger the group, the bigger the brain. In this interview with Research Outreach, we find out how Dunbar developed his theory as well […]
Photonic Inc: Creating relevant, scalable, and distributed quantum computing
Quantum technologies are an exciting prospect for our future and naturally interdisciplinary in solving complex questions. Dr Stephanie Simmons, Founder and Chief Quantum Officer at Photonic, is at the forefront of driving the technical vision for next-generation quantum technologies. Photonic is a leader in distributed quantum computing in silicon and designs and manufactures large-scale, distributed, and fault-tolerant quantum computers – transforming material […]
Resilience, scepticism, and mRNA: The story of Katalin Karikó
The COVID-19 pandemic presented the world’s governments and health organisations with a vaccination challenge on a scale it had never experienced before. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines were critical in the production and distribution of affordable vaccines across the globe. Katalin Karikó’s 40 years of research into mRNA was the cornerstone of what made this possible. In this interview, we find […]
Where is the magic? What exactly is a neural network and how does it work?
The futuristic sounding ‘multi-layer perceptron’ is a term sometimes used for a neural network, or artificial neural network to be more precise. They are everywhere today, eager to tell you which turn to take at the next junction, keen to confirm your face is indeed your face when you log in to your bank account, and duty bound in suggesting […]
Manijeh Razeghi: The curious life of communication physics
Professor Manijeh Razeghi of Northwestern University, USA, is a pioneer in the world of semiconductors and optoelectronic devices. She was central to the optical fibre telecommunication revolution in the 1980s and 1990s – an integral part of the subsequent information age. In this interview with Research Outreach, Razeghi reveals why she is just as passionate and curious now as when […]
The National Physical Laboratory: Driving innovation with new quantum standards
In today’s world, establishing global standards for quantum is paramount. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), alongside several partners, have launched the Quantum Standards Network Pilot, focusing on quantum in industry, new quantum technologies, and skills and training opportunities for the future. Rhys Lewis, head of Quantum Programmes at NPL, discusses aligning quantum advancements with industry standards and collaborations across sectors, […]
Proofig AI: An AI tool to ensure image integrity in scientific publications
Proofig AI is an innovative and reflexive AI-powered proofing tool, aimed at researchers, editors, institutes, and publishers. The tool aims to identify the improper usage of images in scientific publishing and beyond. Research Outreach spoke with Dr Dror Kolodkin-Gal, the founder of Proofig AI. He shares insight into the challenges scientific publishing faces with the publication of fraudulent manuscripts, and […]
Science, AI, and securing a sustainable future
Around 95% of the world’s population agree with the concept of sustainable development goals (SDGs) as a way of building a sustainable future in the face of the climate crisis. But SDGs come with a hefty price tag. Stefan Brunnhuber is a clinician and socioeconomist who believes the solution to this conundrum is a switch in the global mindset. Sustainability […]
Trust, truth, and representation. The New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is one of the oldest scientific organizations in the United States and has been a place to exchange ideas since 1817. In the 21st century, the science may have changed, but its mission remains: to drive innovative solutions to society’s challenges by advancing scientific research, education, and policy. In this interview with CEO and […]
The FMsquare Foundation: Forging a fuzzy future
The FMsquare Foundation is an organisation dedicated to spreading the holistic values of ‘fuzzy logic’ – a varied and reflexive ‘natural’ logic that accounts for infinite values and human imprecision in data processing. In an exciting interview with Research Outreach, Andreas Meier (Founder), Edy Portmann (President), and Witold Pedrycz (Ambassador) discuss their respective roles as fuzzy logic evangelists working with […]