Title : MXene in LEO: A Technology Demonstration of Nano-Biomaterial Devices in the ISS with Axiom 4 Mission

Abstract

MXenes are a family of two-dimensional nanomaterials made of metal carbides/nitrides/carbonitrides. The inorganic compound of MXenes, first reported in 2011 (titanium carbide, Ti3C2TX-MXene), has found various terrestrial applications like supercapacitors, sensors, electromagnetic shielding, chemical sensors, wearable devices, biomedical and implantable devices, multifunctional coatings, etc. Some of the unique properties of MXenes (particularly, Ti3C2TX-MXene) are film-forming ability, hydrophilic behavior, low electrical resistivity, good elasticity, field-electron mobility of, and fast dynamic response behavior. The possibility of hundreds of unique stoichiometric MXene combinations, reported to date, results in achieving wide tunability of physical and chemical properties by varying ratios of metal and carbide/nitrides/carbonitrides. After exhaustive testing and validation of the MXene devices in terrestrial environment, the speaker and his team were the first to test the MXene devices with several stratosphere flights from 2022. Building on the results from real environment testing of MXene nanomaterial and its devices, MXene in LEO (MXene Material and Wearable Device Experiments in Low-Earth Orbit Space Habitat) was proposed as part of the IGNIS mission of the European Space Agency and Polish Space Agency, forming a part of the Axiom 4 mission. MXene in LEO is a unique technology demonstration in the low-Earth orbit (International Space Station) using multifunctional nanomaterial (MXene) and sustainable biomaterial (bacterial cellulose) to form nano-biomaterial devices for human health monitoring in space. The first objective of the experiment was to test the environmental stability of MXene nanomaterial inside the space station. The second objective was to test the possibility of detecting hand movement and pulse of the human subject wearing the MXene wristbands in the space station. With the accomplishment of both objectives, the technology demonstrator provides a foreground for wider usage of MXene nanomaterials in space applications and their direct impact on terrestrial activities.

Title : Exploring Fluvial activity around the circum-chryse basin on Mars

Abstract

The Chryse Planitia is an asymmetrical basin centred at approximately 45oW and 24oN, about 2000 km northeast of Valles Marineris. It has a diameter of ~1600 km and is 2-3 km below the mean Mars elevation. This basin receives deposits from several major outflow channel systems. Two principal groups of channels terminate in this basin. The first originates from chaotic terrains near the eastern end of Valles Marineris and flows northward for over 1000 km into the southern part of the basin. This group includes Ares Vallis, Tiu Vallis, Simud Vallis, and Shalbatana Vallis. The second group, dominated by Kasei Vallis, enters the basin from the west. As such, Chryse Planitia receives sediment and water input from two widely separated source regions spanning over 2500 km. In this seminar I will discuss the interaction of the major fluvial channels with the rim of Chryse Planitia basin. I will be discussing a new method for estimating the discharge, volume and timescales of fluvial activities around the circum-chryse region. This new method involves simulation for Unsteady flow analysis through which I would be exploring one of the largest dam-break scenarios in the solar system.

Title : Accelerator Mass Spectrometry - Current Understanding, Recent advancements and the way forward

Abstract

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) has revolutionized ultra-sensitive radio isotopic analysis across scientific disciplines. PRL Houses state-of-the-art 1MV Accelerator Mass Spectrometer for analysis of radioisotopes like 14C, 10Be and 26Al. This seminar explores the current understanding of AMS principles, highlights current status and recent developments in PRL-AURiS (PRL-Accelerator Unit of Radioisotope Studies) and the session will conclude with perspectives on future directions, exploring the possibilities of new isotopic targets, and broader interdisciplinary impact. Attendees will gain a comprehensive overview of AMS, its functioning principles, its evolving capabilities, and critical developments shaping the field. The seminar shall be in most general language - and shall be able to cater to a wide audience working in any field.

Title : Linear and Nonlinear Excitations in Rotating Dusty Plasmas across Coupling Regimes

Abstract

Dusty plasmas consisting of dust particles, electrons and ions, can be found in various states of matter (solid, liquid, and gaseous) [1-3]. They, therefore, cover a broad range of parameter space relevant to both astrophysics as well as laboratory environments. Studies of the collective excitations in dusty plasmas provide valuable insights into their static and dynamic properties, as well as how these excitations can be controlled for practical applications [4-7]. For example, investigations of these excitations in the strongly coupled limit can be relevant to ion trap systems where the phonon mode spectrum is manipulated to enhance quantum gate performance efficiency [8]. From an astrophysical perspective, recent dusty plasma experiments have observed nonlinear excitations, such as pinned, precures solitons, generated by a moving charged obstacle [9]. These observations motivate the idea of indirect detection of space debris in the ionosphere through such structures[10]. In this talk, I first discuss magnetoplasmon excitations in rotating dusty plasma equilibria that can be generated in the absence of non-conservative fields [1-2]. These magnetoplasmon signatures have been observed in the absence of a real magnetic field across a wide range of dusty plasmas parameter [1]. Then, I address the nonlinear excitations such as Korteweg-De Vries (KdV) Soliton, pinned, precursor solitons in non-rotating dusty plasmas. The characterization of KdV Soliton structures is presented in details under the existing models to test their reliability, and new models are proposed to overcome their limitations [6-7]. Finally, I discuss the pinned and precursor solitons, which are induced in the medium by a moving charged source, appearing at and ahead the source, respectively, under specific Mach number values. The potential applications of these structures for detecting space debris in the lower Earth orbit (LEO) region of the ionosphere are also outlined.

Title : From Suppression to Reprogramming: Precision Nanomedicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Beyond

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers, remain among the most challenging conditions to treat. Conventional therapies often work broadly across the body, suppressing the immune system in ways that can cause serious side effects and fail to provide lasting benefit. My lab is pursuing an altered path: nanomedicine designed to bring treatment directly to the source of inflammation. My lab engineer long-circulating lipid nanoparticles, including immunoliposomes, that selectively accumulate in inflamed tissues. These carriers allow us to deliver RNA-therapeutics like siRNA and miRNA, along with anti-inflammatory drugs, precisely where they are needed, reducing systemic toxicity and expanding the therapeutic window. This targeted approach not only calms harmful immune activity but also reprograms immune cells toward reparative states, offering the possibility of rebuilding tissue function rather than merely suppressing disease. Our work addresses multiple levels of immune regulation, including silencing key cytokines, modulating the NF-κB and JAK–STAT pathways, and investigating PAD inhibition to prevent early autoimmune triggers. Beyond treatment, the lab is developing early detection strategies to identify disease before irreversible damage occurs. By tracking biomarkers such as protein modifications driven by PAD enzymes, we aim to capture the earliest molecular signals of autoimmunity. At the same time, we are making efforts to integrate laboratory findings with retrospective patient data to understand how inflammation, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors shape treatment responses. Together, these efforts outline a translational roadmap that links mechanistic insight with clinical application.

Title : Exploration of the Venus and Lunar Ionosphere Using Radio Science Experiments

Abstract

Venus and the Moon, our two neighbouring celestial bodies, exhibit extreme contrasts in atmospheric conditions. Venus has a neutral density nearly 90 times that of Earth, while the Moon has an almost negligible atmosphere. Despite these differences, both bodies possess significant ionized layers capable of affecting radio signal propagation. This seminar will focus on the characteristics of these ionospheric layers as revealed through radio occultation experiments, with comparisons to Earth’s ionosphere. We will also discuss the implications of these findings for future exploration.