632nm

Dr. David Huang shares the remarkable journey of how a failed laser surgery project during his MD-PhD studies at MIT led to the invention of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), now used in over 40 million eye procedures annually. The story includes a pivotal moment when Professor James Fujimoto volunteered as the first human subject for OCT testing when no other students would agree to have an experimental laser pointed at their eye.The development of OCT was made possible by the 1980s telecommunications boom, which provided crucial fiber optic components. Dr. Huang's unique background combining computer science and medicine proved essential for creating this breakthrough technology. The conversation also explores OCT's rapid commercialization, its impact on treating age-related macular degeneration, and future developments including smartphone-based screening and potential applications for diagnosing brain and heart disease through retinal imaging.Reference Paper on OCT (Science 1991): https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.195716902:31 Understanding Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)04:09 The Evolution of Eye Imaging Techniques05:34 Technical Principles of OCT10:38 Development and Early Applications of OCT15:23 Challenges and Breakthroughs in OCT25:54 Clinical Acceptance and Advancements in OCT45:32 The Rise of Startups in Academia51:27 Future of Imaging Technologies54:02 Challenges in Developing OCT on a Chip57:27 Rival Optical Imaging Technologies01:05:54 Advice for Young ResearchersFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:Twitter @ https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky @ https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov @ https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin @ https://x.com/XinghuiYinSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWEBSITE: https://www.632nm.com

Origins of life researcher Anna Wang takes us on a fascinating journey through the latest theories about how life began, revealing why Darwin's "warm little ponds" are making a comeback and how ocean spray droplets may have served as nature's first test tubes. She explains why early cell membranes were more like soap bubbles - fragile and leaky - and how these imperfections were actually crucial for primitive life to function.The conversation explores the cutting edge of synthetic biology, where scientists are attempting to build artificial cells from scratch. Wang shares illuminating analogies, comparing their work to vegan cooking where researchers must recreate sophisticated biological processes without using modern cellular ingredients. She also discusses the ultimate goal of creating truly evolving systems, while acknowledging both the excitement and concerns surrounding such an achievement. Throughout the discussion, Wang emphasizes how the complexity of biological systems requires collaboration between physics, chemistry, and biology to unlock the mysteries of life's origins.01:58 The Current State of Origin of Life Research04:47 Challenges in Building Life from Scratch12:28 Energy Sources and Membrane Dynamics41:22 Membrane Dynamics and Chemical Gradients48:42 Challenges in Synthetic Biology59:16 Silicon in Biological Systems01:14:37 Reflections and Future AspirationsFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:Twitter @ https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky @ https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov @ https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin @ https://x.com/XinghuiYinSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWEBSITE: https://www.632nm.com

MIT Professor Dennis Whyte's path to becoming a fusion energy pioneer began with an unlikely source - a Ripley's Believe It or Not comic strip he read as a teenager in rural Saskatchewan. The comic described how a bottle of water could theoretically contain the energy equivalent of 100 barrels of oil through fusion, sparking a lifelong fascination that would shape his career.This fascination led Whyte to write his first high school paper on fusion energy and eventually become the first PhD student working on Canada's groundbreaking fusion project with Hydro Quebec. Now as Director of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Whyte is leading cutting-edge research in fusion energy, including the development of revolutionary high-field magnets that could make commercial fusion power a reality.Our conversation highlights his journey and how curiosity and inspiration led to a scientific career helping solve one of humanity's greatest challenges.01:40 Dennis' Journey into Fusion Research05:43 Understanding Fusion Reactions and Challenges15:02 Containing 100 Million Degree Plasma36:01 Why Deuterium-Tritium is the Sweet Spot45:08 Understanding Plasma and Bremsstrahlung Radiation52:45 Fusion Power Plant Challenges and Innovations01:31:36 Fusion Challenges and Material Science02:07:39 The Future of FusionFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Twitter @ https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky @ https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov @ https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin @ https://x.com/XinghuiYinSUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWEBSITE: https://www.632nm.com

Nobel laureate Jack Szostak takes us on a fascinating journey through his remarkable scientific career, from conducting dangerous chemistry experiments in his basement as a curious child to making groundbreaking discoveries about telomeres that would earn him the Nobel Prize. He reveals how a forgotten DNA sample in his freezer led to fundamental insights about chromosome stability, and explains why studying unusual organisms often leads to the biggest scientific breakthroughs.Beyond his work on telomeres, Szostak shares his current research into life's origins, including revolutionary ideas about how the first cells might have emerged and replicated their genetic material. He discusses his personal approach to choosing research directions, preferring to work in less crowded fields where he can think deeply about problems rather than competing in trendy areas. This philosophy, combined with his willingness to cross disciplinary boundaries, has enabled him to make transformative contributions across multiple fields of science.02:03 Early Career and Interest in Genomics03:32 Hot Topics in Biology and DNA Research05:40 Telomeres and Chromosome Behavior13:48 Telomerase and Its Role in Aging and Cancer18:12 Exploring Life Extension and Aging30:19 Origins of Life and Prebiotic Chemistry43:22 Challenges in Replicating Early Cells47:00 Exploring Protocells and Synthetic Biology54:51 Environmental Conditions for Origin of Life01:06:23 Interdisciplinary Approaches and Future Directions01:25:23 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:Twitter @ https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky @ https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov @ https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin @ https://x.com/XinghuiYinSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT...WEBSITE:https://www.632nm.com