Scian Melt 14

Science and Society:

Sunil has his blog on Medical developments including Avian flu in China and how it is being managed. Sowmya has an elaborate blog on the role of Radon in your lives and on Dishwashers and Suds, a blog exemplifying 'scientific curiosity as part of our lifestyle'. I have been making some attempts to find out the 'how of supercooling' by looking at two of its examples: Hand Warmers and Clouds.

Sujatha has written a vey nice blog on Caserean Sections in India: analyzing from both the mother's perspective as well as from the doctor's perspective. Gurcharan Das argues for how burgeoning prospects for education in India can help position it as a powerful knowledge economy. On a related note, Sujatha narrates the story of Noor: a foot-soldier on war against illiteracy.

from small to big:

Aswin gives us the deal with the Big Bang theory. On the smaller end, Selva has blogged on Quantum Computing and Cryptography and how you can hide your secrets.

India:

Abhinandan carries a discussion on the recent denial of visa to Indian scientists by US immigration authorities, its consequences, and the barriers to science caused. At the same time, India isn't doing too badly for herself. Amardeep blogs on India's new digital library project in progress, much like Gutenberg. Even as we progress in our sciences, our failings in leaving Indian women in tatters is a cause of woe and concern: from Uma of the other india blog and Peppy of the perpetualmisfit blog. This is not all, as Dilip blogs on two cases of rape and homicide that have come before the justice system only to slip away without notice. But then Dr. Indumathi bridges both issues: A scientist with a social conscience (link courtesy: Selva). Talking of integrity, Prashant blogs on Why are Indian politicians this corrupt? claiming they aren't quite as corrupt as they are just effectively playing a game of survival in a system whose rules are larger than themselves.

Link to Previous Scian Melts can be found on the announcement blog. For future nominations write to melt [at] thescian [dot] com