Applied Scientist Awards

  A New Colour? Scientists Push the Boundaries of Human Perception Colour is something we often take for granted—sunsets are orange, leaves are green, and the sky is blue. But what if we told you that scientists may have discovered a new colour , one that no human has ever seen before? It sounds like science fiction, yet this breakthrough could be a glimpse into the future of how we perceive the world. The discovery stems from the complex science of optics and the human brain's interpretation of light. Our eyes rely on three types of cone cells, each sensitive to red, green, or blue wavelengths. Everything we see is essentially a blend of these. But under specific conditions—like through the manipulation of light polarization or through advanced materials such as "metamaterials"—scientists have been able to create stimuli that produce a colour experience outside the normal range of human vision. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a “forbidden colour” , one that...

  Rethinking Intercity Transportation Efficiency: A Deep Dive into the Double-Frontier Q-Cross-Efficiency Method In the modern era of rapid urbanization and growing intercity connectivity, transportation systems serve as the backbone of economic and social development. Yet, assessing the efficiency of intercity road transport remains a complex puzzle. Traditional performance metrics often fall short in capturing the nuanced interplay of resources, infrastructure, and operational practices. That’s where the Double-Frontier Q-Cross-Efficiency Method steps in — a powerful and innovative tool in the realm of performance evaluation. What is Q-Cross-Efficiency? Q-Cross-Efficiency builds upon the classic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) framework, offering a more comprehensive, peer-based assessment. Unlike traditional DEA, which measures efficiency relative to a single “best practice” frontier, Q-Cross-Efficiency incorporates cross-evaluation among Decision Making Units (DMUs), such...

  Introduction Eye diseases are a major global health concern, affecting millions of people and contributing significantly to visual impairment and blindness. Conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy are complex in nature, often arising from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. While each of these diseases manifests differently, emerging research suggests they may share common genetic roots. With the rise of genomic technologies and large-scale health data repositories, scientists are increasingly turning to gene-based and phenome-wide analyses to explore these shared genetic architectures. These advanced methodologies go beyond studying isolated genes or traits—instead, they provide a systems-level view that can uncover overlapping pathways, identify novel genetic contributors, and even connect eye diseases to broader systemic conditions. This blog delves into how gene and phenome-based an...

 The Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP) is a pioneering initiative aimed at transforming the way kidney diseases are understood and treated. It seeks to apply cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, such as single-cell biology, to precisely characterize kidney disease at a cellular and molecular level. The primary goal of KPMP is to provide tailored, individualized treatments for patients with kidney disease by identifying unique genetic, molecular, and environmental factors that contribute to the development and progression of kidney disorders. One of the key focus areas within this project is the study of the injured proximal tubule. The proximal tubule plays a critical role in the kidney's ability to filter waste and maintain fluid balance. Injury to these cells can significantly impair kidney function and lead to conditions like acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). By examining these injuries at a single-cell level, researchers can gain deeper...

  Neurocognitive Geography: Exploring the Nexus Between Geographic Environments, the Human Brain, and Behavior In recent years, the interdisciplinary field of neurocognitive geography has gained traction, blending insights from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and geography to explore how our spatial environments influence the human brain and behavior. While geography has long examined the physical and social structures of space, and neuroscience has mapped the brain’s functions, the fusion of the two opens a dynamic lens into how place shapes cognition—and how cognition, in turn, affects our navigation, memory, emotions, and decision-making. The human brain is not a passive recipient of environmental stimuli; it is an active interpreter. Research has shown that different landscapes—urban vs. rural, natural vs. built—can produce measurable changes in brain activity. For instance, time spent in green spaces has been linked to lower stress levels and improved cognitive function...

 If you’re a fan of skywatching or simply appreciate nature’s quiet wonders, tonight is a night you won’t want to miss. The Pink Moon , April’s full moon, is set to rise—and while it won’t actually glow pink, it holds a deeper meaning rooted in tradition and beauty. What Is the Pink Moon? The Pink Moon gets its name not from its color, but from the moss pink or wild ground phlox —one of the first spring flowers to bloom in North America. Native American tribes and early colonial settlers named each full moon to reflect what was happening in nature during that time. Thus, the April full moon became the Pink Moon , symbolizing renewal, growth, and the changing of seasons . When and Where to Watch The Pink Moon will reach its peak illumination around 7:49 PM EDT , but you can start watching it as it rises on the eastern horizon just after sunset. For the best view, head to an open area away from bright city lights, ideally with a clear view of the sky. Even a smartphone camera ca...

 As railways around the globe adopt smarter, more connected technologies, they open the door to unprecedented efficiencies and safety features. Smart railways utilize sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, automation, and centralized control systems to optimize everything from train scheduling to passenger experience. However, these digital advances come with a growing concern: cybersecurity . With data communication systems at the heart of this transformation, ensuring their security is not just a technical need—it’s a matter of national infrastructure protection. Risks and Vulnerabilities in Smart Railway Communication Smart railway systems heavily rely on data communication for command and control, signaling, monitoring, and passenger information. This includes train-to-infrastructure (T2I) and train-to-train (T2T) communications. Vulnerabilities can emerge from insecure protocols, unpatched software, misconfigured devices, and even insider threats. Attackers can exploit t...

  Introduction Text classification has become a cornerstone of natural language processing (NLP), playing a key role in applications like sentiment analysis, spam detection, and topic categorization. Traditional deep learning models such as CNNs and RNNs have shown impressive results, but new hybrid approaches that combine the strengths of multiple architectures — and even quantum computing — are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. One such cutting-edge innovation is the Multi-scale Feature Fusion Quantum Depthwise Convolutional Neural Network (MSFQDCNN) . This complex-sounding model integrates multi-scale feature extraction , quantum-inspired computing , and depthwise separable convolutions to deliver state-of-the-art performance in text classification. Let’s break this down. Understanding the Components 1. Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Text data comes in various forms — short phrases, long documents, informal posts — and understanding it requires analyzing patterns at...

  Introduction The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii , is one of the most commercially valuable crustaceans cultivated globally, particularly in Asia. Despite its high market demand, traditional aquaculture of this species is often challenged by heterogeneous growth rates, territorial behavior, and male-dominated dominance hierarchies. To address these issues, scientists have developed all-female monosex biotechnology as a promising solution for increasing productivity and profitability in prawn farming. This blog explores the field validation of an all-female monosex culture of M. rosenbergii , highlighting its benefits, methodology, and implications for sustainable aquaculture practices. Why All-Female Monosex Culture? In M. rosenbergii , females tend to grow more uniformly and exhibit less aggressive behavior compared to males. Although males grow larger individually, the dominance and aggression in mixed-sex populations often result in stress, cannibalism, ...