The Rooted Reflections

🤷‍♀️What is CRISPR? CRISPR is a revolutionary gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make very precise changes to DNA—the genetic code of all living things. It was originally discovered as a natural defense system used by bacteria to fight off viruses. Scientists realized they could use this system in the lab to "cut and edit" specific parts of DNA, just like editing a sentence in a document. Think of DNA as an instruction manual for life. With CRISPR, scientists can: delete faulty or harmful genes; insert helpful genes and correct mutations, which ultimately leads to more accuracy than older gene-editing methods. 🧬How was it discovered? The story of CRISPR’s discovery is one of scientific teamwork and unexpected findings. It all started with bacteria and a bit of curiosity about how they fight off viruses. Bacteria are constantly under attack by viruses, called bacteriophages. In the 1980s, scientists noticed strange, repetitive DNA sequences in the genomes of bacteri...

In a world filled with innovation and global connections, the question we must constantly ask is—are we leaving anyone behind? The United Nations sought to answer this challenge with a bold and ambitious blueprint known as the Sustainable Development Goals, or simply, SDGs. Launched in 2015, the SDGs are a universal call to action—a literal to-do list for the world, to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. There are 17 goals in total, and each one is deeply interconnected, reminding us that real progress in one area fuels success in others. They focus on addressing the most pressing challenges facing humanity — such as eradicating poverty, protecting the environment, promoting peace, and ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities and resources needed to thrive. The SDGs apply to all countries, encouraging collaboration, innovation, and inclusive growth, while balancing social, economic, and environmental priorities. The 17 Goals: A Global Compa...

Indian American astronaut and scientist Sunita Williams has once again captured global attention with her return to Earth after a mission failure aboard the ISS or the International Space Station. Her journey not only reflects resilience and dedication but also how she overcame adversity in the most serious of the times. Sunita Lyn Williams is a trailblazing Indian American astronaut, retired U.S. Navy officer, and one of the most accomplished spacewalkers in history. Born on September 19, 1965, Williams has made significant contributions to space exploration, notably serving as the commander of the International Space Station (ISS) during Expedition 33. With a remarkable total of nine spacewalks spanning 62 hours and 6 minutes, she holds the second-highest record for female astronauts in this domain. Williams has been a key member of several ISS missions, including Expeditions 14, 15, and 32, cementing her legacy as a pioneer in human spaceflight.  Williams graduated from the U.S....

If you think science is just for people in white lab coats shouting “Eureka!”—think again. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is everywhere, from helping NASA and ISRO launch rovers to fixing stuff in your own backyard. STEM provides individuals with the knowledge and skills which are needed to solve real world problems. But in many communities, access to STEM resources is limited due to lack of funding, inadequate school programs or just lack of interest at a whole. That’s where grassroots innovation steps in, proving that science doesn’t have to come from billion-dollar research labs—it can also come from a garage, a community center, or that one guy down the street who built a wind turbine out of bicycle parts. Grassroots innovation is all about people using STEM to solve real-world problems, without waiting for big corporations or government funding.  Examples of Grassroots STEM initiatives include: 1)Community makerspaces: Local makerspaces equipped with 3D...

Ever wonder why you have your dad’s nose but your mom’s temper? Or why your sibling got the perfect curls while you're stuck with a frizzy mess? Welcome to the wild world of genetics—the science of inheritance, mutations, and why we are the way we are. Genetics is the study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring. It’s like a biological instruction manual that determines everything from your eye colour to hair colour to how your body works. It explains why children look like their parents, why some people are more prone to certain diseases, and how species evolve over time. This field of science revolves around DNA, genes, and chromosomes, which together form the instructions for building and running living organisms. The instructions on how a particular gene expresses itself is written in DNA, a molecule found in almost each and every cell of your body. 1) DNA -DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid, which is basically life’s instruction manual, but in a secret code of four lett...

I was today years old when I found out ChatGPT consumes water. Yes!! ChatGPT, the generative AI platform consumes water!! With the rise of AI models like ChatGPT, there’s growing interest in their environmental impact. While discussions often focus on electricity use and carbon emissions, one lesser-known factor is water consumption. ChatGPT consumes a 500 ml of water every time it answers about 5 to 50 prompts sent in by its users. This water is being used in cooling down the supercomputers and the servers that generate heat after using electricity. Heavy electricity is used just for analysis and then to process the human-written text and then it is given to large language models like ChatGPT or Gemini.  It's not that hard to understand the fact that AI algorithms require tonnes and tonnes of energy, but recent studies have shown that AI consumes loads of water too. As you look into the numbers of how much water is required to call all data units and servers, even training AI like...