My Perspective

All natural sounds including animal vocalisations have distinct temporal structure consisting of individual segments with variations over time that are either slow or fast. The ability to extract, represent, and detect an acoustic feature depends on the time window used for processing the acoustic signal. A short analysis window provides higher temporal resolution while a long analysis window provides higher spectral resolution. This aspect of auditory perception is ethologically important since fast and accurate response to acoustic stimuli is critical to the survival of many animals, for instance their ability to hunt prey and avoid predators.

Have you heard of "Tragedy of the commons"? In the context of Diwali, 'Tragedy of the commons' can be interpreted as that if each person or family does what is best for themselves (bursting fire crackers) even if it is bad (pollution) for the common resources (atmosphere) then the long term outcome is degradation (air quality) of these common resources. However, supporters have argued in the Supreme court of India that bursting of fire crackers is a religious activity. Hindu light the way to heaven for the forefathers to return back. So any suggestion to the effect of avoiding fire crackers is seen as anti-Hindu religion. The only solution to this conundrum is self restraint - it is essential to preserve the air that we breathe. Don't forget the millions who died gasping for a breath of oxygen during the pandemic. Diwali is a festival of lights not sound. Avoid bursting crackers for the sake of our environment.   Happy Deepavali or Diwali!

S N Sethuram has authored couple of novels - Navalla and Dahana - apart from many short stories. He has written and directed theatre plays - Nimitta, Gathi, Atheeta, and Uchchista - as well as written the screenplay and directed few television serials - Manthana, Dibanna, and Anavarana - for which he became most famous amongst people of Karnataka state (India).  Personally, I consider Sethuram as a stalwart of Kannada literature in the 21st century. Here is why. I like the depth of human emotions that he plumbs in his works. He holds a mirror to the society in his works and makes us question our values in our life. Though all his works are in Kannada, his stories transcend cultural barriers.

My friend Sooraj (Wistler) and I have developed a simple game. We recently launched it on Android titled "Arithmagic". Download here:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=games.wistler.arithmagic Please play the game and provide your feedback.

One of the oldest tricks in the book of a scamster is either a Ponzi scheme or a Pyramid scheme. Both are illegal in most countries but the scamsters disguise them to avoid getting caught. This video explains the difference between a Pyramid scam and a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scheme. MLM is legal as it is a direct marketing scheme. It also explains how to spot a pyramid scam that is disguised as a MLM scheme. Beware, if you are paying to join any Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scheme (like Q-NET or IM academy) so that you could buy products or recruit other members in the MLM then it is a Pyramid scheme disguised as MLM scheme. Folks who recruit others in to a pyramid scheme on social media tend to say their favourite book is "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". Do not fall for this they are just priming you to believe in what they say. The only way to earn money is through hard work in creating value either in the form of a product or as a service.  

Wellcome Trust, a biomedical research charity, conducted a review of PhD training [1]. The review found certain concerns were consistently reported that included numerous self-reported incidences of poor mental health. In their survey, 45% of PhD supervisors reported an increase in the number of cases of mental health issues in PhD students. The majority of supervisors believed better access to counselling or mental health support as well as information on where to find support if needed would help address this increase in mental health problems among the student population. I have the following questions in this regard:

Misophonia is a condition where people have extreme distress towards everyday bodily sounds like eating, chewing, breathing etc which are called trigger sounds. This causes the sufferers to avoid social situations like eating out in restaurants, going to the movies (due to popcorn munching) and thus they experience loneliness and isolation even within their home. A good overview of the problems faced by the sufferers is provided in the very popular Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast  (watch out for trigger sounds in this episode). Here, I am summarizing the findings of my research which was just published [1] recently that investigated the brain basis (neuropathophysiology) underlying this condition. 

I always felt that Rajya Sabha (RS) is being used as a backdoor to get politicians who lost either Lok Sabha (LS) or Vidhaan Sabha (MLA) elections. I mean Rajya Sabha is used as a political fiefdom. This must change for the better. We could use Rajya Sabha to allocate seats to citizens who have devoted their life for the betterment of the country viz. scientists, teachers, engineers, doctors, social entrepreneurs etc. We need to encourage people from different walks of life and professions to take up politics as a career. This would change the demographics of politicians in our country. I mean Rajya Sabha could do with few non-politicans who have dedicated their life to nation building.

I had a memorable experience - an adventure flying an aeroplane. My colleague Dr Yoshihito is a pilot. He flies an aeroplane every month to keep his pilot license active. So I got an opportunity to fly with him from Elstree Aerodrome.

NITI Aayog in India (the new avatar of Planning commission) predicted in 2018 that 21 major Indian cities would run out of groundwater as early as 2020; and more than 600 million people living in the states with lower water management would be impacted.  The best validation of this prediction is that a big city like Chennai ran out of its entire ground water table in 2019. So the need of the hour is

Veganuary might be over but the issue I wish to raise here is still relevant and important to all. Cows suffer a lot in the dairy industry. If you do not know about the dirty practices of dairy industry then please read on. For a cow to lactate (give milk) it has to bear offspring. So cows are artificially

In the commentary on the Rig Veda by Saayanacharya, a line translates as "Salutations to Sun-god who travels 2202 Yojanas in half a Nimisha". Some proponents interpret this to conclude that people during vedic age knew the accurate speed of light. We will now discuss the accuracy of this claim. This is how they come to this surprising conclusion.