Around the world, 15 million preterm and underweight babies born every year aren’t able to regulate their own body temperature and will die without support. In the developed world, modern hospitals have state-of-the-art incubators where these newborns can grow safely until they are ready for a world much colder than the womb. In the developing… Continue reading Finding the Sweet Spot
Tag: STEM
Work is Changing:
Why Some Grads Seek New Directions Maya Collins did everything “right.” She majored in biomedical engineering at a respected university, graduated with a 3.7 GPA. During college, she completed two co-op internships. One was at a healthcare startup, and she also did another in her university research lab. Her professors called her “resourceful” and “tenacious.”… Continue reading Work is Changing:
What Is Social
What Is Social Entrepreneurship and Why It Matters Now A Problem Worth Solving As a biochemistry student at Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia, Isabel Pulido never imagined she’d tackle global food security through refrigeration. Her inspiration struck during a visit to a rural community, where she watched a mother throw away half-eaten food simply… Continue reading What Is Social
Teen Inventor Changes Lives:
How Siddarth Nandyala’s STEM Innovations Bring Second Chances From a chance meeting in India to global impact, Siddarth Nandyala is inventing a better future. Have you ever met someone limited in life because they couldn’t afford something essential? During a family trip to India, thirteen-year-old Siddarth Nandyala met a boy about his age who was… Continue reading Teen Inventor Changes Lives:
From Frost-Forming Bacteria to Off-Grid Refrigeration:
Nature’s Cool Solution In our last post, we examined how Antarctic fish survive freezing waters using antifreeze proteins, which prevent ice formation in their bodies. But what about the opposite case? What if we could make water freeze more easily at slightly warmer temperatures, using less energy? Isabel Pulido solved that puzzle after experiencing firsthand… Continue reading From Frost-Forming Bacteria to Off-Grid Refrigeration:
How Cool is Supercooling!
Have you ever pulled a bottle of water from the freezer, twisted the cap, and watched in amazement as it crystallized right before your eyes? You’ve just experienced supercooling—one of the coolest (literally!) phenomena in science. So, what exactly is supercooling, and why does it happen? Quick Science Dive: What’s Supercooling Anyway? Water normally freezes… Continue reading How Cool is Supercooling!
Antifreeze Proteins:
Antarctic Fish Surviving Sub-Zero Waters We started this series by exploring Isabel Pulido’s NanoFreeze technology. Her breakthrough made refrigeration possible in areas without reliable electricity. This change enabled communities to preserve food for days, saving time, money, and work. NanoFreeze also helped reduce pollution and made it easier to ship goods like food and medicine… Continue reading Antifreeze Proteins:
Uncommon Ice
Different Types of Ice Learning about Isabel Pulido’s NanoFreeze technology, which is helping preserve food in rural Colombia, led me to take a closer look at the science of freezing. At first, it seemed simple—ice is just frozen water. But I soon found out that water can actually freeze into nearly 20 different solid forms,… Continue reading Uncommon Ice
Ice is Cool!
How Water Freezes (and Why It Matters) Ice—Simple Yet Strange Ever wondered why ice cubes float or why sidewalks become slippery when they’re covered in frost? Ice might seem ordinary, but it’s packed with fascinating mysteries. In our recent post, we introduced Isabel Pulido’s groundbreaking invention, NanoFreeze, which uses special proteins to freeze water at… Continue reading Ice is Cool!
Colder Ice:
Isabel Pulido’s Cool Innovation One afternoon in rural Colombia, Isabel Pulido watched a mother throw away half-eaten beans and rice. The family had no refrigerator—not because they couldn’t afford one, but because they had no reliable electricity. “I realized then that the biggest problem wasn’t just access to power,” Pulido recalls. “It was about food… Continue reading Colder Ice: