hello everyone so how are you doing today good that’s great so my name is
today good that’s great so my name is
today good that’s great so my name is Sabrina Sarkar and I’m a
Sabrina Sarkar and I’m a
Sabrina Sarkar and I’m a neuropsychologist I study the brain but
neuropsychologist I study the brain but
neuropsychologist I study the brain but my background is an electronics
my background is an electronics
my background is an electronics engineering and today I’m going to share
engineering and today I’m going to share
engineering and today I’m going to share with you the story of my journey from an
with you the story of my journey from an
with you the story of my journey from an electronics engineer towards numerous
electronics engineer towards numerous
electronics engineer towards numerous scientists and also tell you about the
scientists and also tell you about the
scientists and also tell you about the amazing symphony that exists between
amazing symphony that exists between
amazing symphony that exists between these two Phil’s so all of you must have
these two Phil’s so all of you must have
these two Phil’s so all of you must have noticed how your laptop heats up after
noticed how your laptop heats up after
noticed how your laptop heats up after working for some time the heat generated
working for some time the heat generated
working for some time the heat generated is so high that few days ago I even
is so high that few days ago I even
is so high that few days ago I even cooked an egg on my laptop so let us
cooked an egg on my laptop so let us
cooked an egg on my laptop so let us understand why this heat is coming from
understand why this heat is coming from
understand why this heat is coming from so your computer has a billion switches
so your computer has a billion switches
so your computer has a billion switches in it and in those switches the
in it and in those switches the
in it and in those switches the electrons need to jump over an energy
electrons need to jump over an energy
electrons need to jump over an energy barrier to cause current flow and when
barrier to cause current flow and when
barrier to cause current flow and when the switch is off the barrier is high
the switch is off the barrier is high
the switch is off the barrier is high and very few electrons go to the other
and very few electrons go to the other
and very few electrons go to the other side and when you want to turn on the
side and when you want to turn on the
side and when you want to turn on the switches we lower the barrier by
switches we lower the barrier by
switches we lower the barrier by applying a voltage so then more
applying a voltage so then more
applying a voltage so then more electrons can cross to the other side
electrons can cross to the other side
electrons can cross to the other side and the current increases however this
and the current increases however this
and the current increases however this way of switching has a fundamental
way of switching has a fundamental
way of switching has a fundamental limitation as to how low the supply
limitation as to how low the supply
limitation as to how low the supply voltage can be because of that reason
voltage can be because of that reason
voltage can be because of that reason billions of dollars of energy is used by
billions of dollars of energy is used by
billions of dollars of energy is used by the computer industry and just turn away
the computer industry and just turn away
the computer industry and just turn away as heat the first use calls the
as heat the first use calls the
as heat the first use calls the production of greenhouse gases which
production of greenhouse gases which
production of greenhouse gases which contributes to as global warming to
contributes to as global warming to
contributes to as global warming to solve this problem during my PhD I
solve this problem during my PhD I
solve this problem during my PhD I designed a new kind of switch where
designed a new kind of switch where
designed a new kind of switch where instead of making the electrons jump
instead of making the electrons jump
instead of making the electrons jump over an energy barrier
over an energy barrier
over an energy barrier I made them just sneaked through the
I made them just sneaked through the
I made them just sneaked through the barrier now you must be wondering how is
barrier now you must be wondering how is
barrier now you must be wondering how is it possible because we’re gonna just
it possible because we’re gonna just
it possible because we’re gonna just walk through a wall like that so while
walk through a wall like that so while
walk through a wall like that so while the classical physics says that you
the classical physics says that you
the classical physics says that you cannot but the quantum mechanics says
cannot but the quantum mechanics says
cannot but the quantum mechanics says that it is possible because every
that it is possible because every
that it is possible because every particle has wave properties these waves
particle has wave properties these waves
particle has wave properties these waves can penetrate to a wall using this
can penetrate to a wall using this
can penetrate to a wall using this technique I show that it is possible to
technique I show that it is possible to
technique I show that it is possible to overcome the fundamental limitations of
overcome the fundamental limitations of
overcome the fundamental limitations of present
present
present ecology and reduce the power by more
ecology and reduce the power by more
ecology and reduce the power by more than 90% okay good the sauce the power
than 90% okay good the sauce the power
than 90% okay good the sauce the power problem but there is another issue
problem but there is another issue
problem but there is another issue suppose yes this guy here
suppose yes this guy here
suppose yes this guy here who is trying to just sneak to the
who is trying to just sneak to the
who is trying to just sneak to the barrier and go to the other side of the
barrier and go to the other side of the
barrier and go to the other side of the wall but by the time he reaches the
wall but by the time he reaches the
wall but by the time he reaches the other side of the wall can you imagine
other side of the wall can you imagine
other side of the wall can you imagine how you’d look like oh so that’s what is
how you’d look like oh so that’s what is
how you’d look like oh so that’s what is happening to the poor electrons because
happening to the poor electrons because
happening to the poor electrons because the electron waves decay as we pass
the electron waves decay as we pass
the electron waves decay as we pass through the barrier the current gets
through the barrier the current gets
through the barrier the current gets reduced so if we have to overcome this
reduced so if we have to overcome this
reduced so if we have to overcome this problem we’ll have to make the barrier
problem we’ll have to make the barrier
problem we’ll have to make the barrier very very thin and that is why I use an
very very thin and that is why I use an
very very thin and that is why I use an atomically thin channel material which
atomically thin channel material which
atomically thin channel material which is hundred thousand times smaller than
is hundred thousand times smaller than
is hundred thousand times smaller than the thickness of your hair by using this
the thickness of your hair by using this
the thickness of your hair by using this material I showed it is possible to
material I showed it is possible to
material I showed it is possible to reduce the decay of electron waves
reduce the decay of electron waves
reduce the decay of electron waves significantly another advantage of using
significantly another advantage of using
significantly another advantage of using this material is that you can also make
this material is that you can also make
this material is that you can also make the size or the length of your switch
the size or the length of your switch
the size or the length of your switch very small because in the world of
very small because in the world of
very small because in the world of electronics the rule of thumb is that
electronics the rule of thumb is that
electronics the rule of thumb is that thinner your switch smaller it can also
thinner your switch smaller it can also
thinner your switch smaller it can also be in slant and being small is beautiful
be in slant and being small is beautiful
be in slant and being small is beautiful because smaller your switches more and
because smaller your switches more and
because smaller your switches more and more of the switches you can fit inside
more of the switches you can fit inside
more of the switches you can fit inside the chip and thus can increase the
the chip and thus can increase the
the chip and thus can increase the functionality of your chip I really call
functionality of your chip I really call
functionality of your chip I really call this new generation of electronics the
this new generation of electronics the
this new generation of electronics the brainy electronics because all these
brainy electronics because all these
brainy electronics because all these capabilities make them very smart they
capabilities make them very smart they
capabilities make them very smart they consume a miniscule amount of power they
consume a miniscule amount of power they
consume a miniscule amount of power they occupy a very small area and they can
occupy a very small area and they can
occupy a very small area and they can lead to multiple functionalities so
lead to multiple functionalities so
lead to multiple functionalities so during my PhD while I was developing
during my PhD while I was developing
during my PhD while I was developing these new kinds of devices for
these new kinds of devices for
these new kinds of devices for electronic computations I also got
electronic computations I also got
electronic computations I also got interested in other non electronic
interested in other non electronic
interested in other non electronic computational systems and of course the
computational systems and of course the
computational systems and of course the most amazing one is a biological
most amazing one is a biological
most amazing one is a biological computer that sits above our shoulders
computer that sits above our shoulders
computer that sits above our shoulders and that’s your brain the human brain
and that’s your brain the human brain
and that’s your brain the human brain which is this amazingly complex organ
which is this amazingly complex organ
which is this amazingly complex organ and the boss of our body it weighs just
and the boss of our body it weighs just
and the boss of our body it weighs just three pounds but is the brain that makes
three pounds but is the brain that makes
three pounds but is the brain that makes us what we are today and if we peep
us what we are today and if we peep
us what we are today and if we peep inside the brain you will see that is
inside the brain you will see that is
inside the brain you will see that is formed of
formed of
formed of hundreds of billions of computational
hundreds of billions of computational
hundreds of billions of computational elements call neurons and these neurons
elements call neurons and these neurons
elements call neurons and these neurons they communicate with each other using
they communicate with each other using
they communicate with each other using electrical and chemical signals so the
electrical and chemical signals so the
electrical and chemical signals so the brain it does all its functions but
brain it does all its functions but
brain it does all its functions but consumes only 20 watts of power similar
consumes only 20 watts of power similar
consumes only 20 watts of power similar to a mere lightbulb but if we were to
to a mere lightbulb but if we were to
to a mere lightbulb but if we were to design a hypothetical supercomputer to
design a hypothetical supercomputer to
design a hypothetical supercomputer to simulate the brain it will consume 10
simulate the brain it will consume 10
simulate the brain it will consume 10 gigawatts of power enough to light up
gigawatts of power enough to light up
gigawatts of power enough to light up 500 millions of those lightbulbs so the
500 millions of those lightbulbs so the
500 millions of those lightbulbs so the brain can be thought of as an ultimate
brain can be thought of as an ultimate
brain can be thought of as an ultimate example of low power computational
example of low power computational
example of low power computational system however at present we understand
system however at present we understand
system however at present we understand very little as to how the brain computes
very little as to how the brain computes
very little as to how the brain computes or how the brain works
or how the brain works
or how the brain works if we could understand the brain that
if we could understand the brain that
if we could understand the brain that could revolutionize the way electronic
could revolutionize the way electronic
could revolutionize the way electronic computations are done today but that’s
computations are done today but that’s
computations are done today but that’s not the only reason not even the main
not the only reason not even the main
not the only reason not even the main reason I got interested in the brain a
reason I got interested in the brain a
reason I got interested in the brain a billion people around the world they
billion people around the world they
billion people around the world they suffer from different brain diseases is
suffer from different brain diseases is
suffer from different brain diseases is afraid near Parkinson’s alzhiemer’s
afraid near Parkinson’s alzhiemer’s
afraid near Parkinson’s alzhiemer’s depression and there’s no effective cure
depression and there’s no effective cure
depression and there’s no effective cure for them if we could understand the
for them if we could understand the
for them if we could understand the brain that will help us develop new
brain that will help us develop new
brain that will help us develop new methods and new cures to come back those
methods and new cures to come back those
methods and new cures to come back those brain diseases so why is it so difficult
brain diseases so why is it so difficult
brain diseases so why is it so difficult to understand the brain the electronic
to understand the brain the electronic
to understand the brain the electronic circuits we develop them ourselves so we
circuits we develop them ourselves so we
circuits we develop them ourselves so we know all the individual components and
know all the individual components and
know all the individual components and how those components are connected to
how those components are connected to
how those components are connected to each other but Mother Nature has
each other but Mother Nature has
each other but Mother Nature has designed the circuits in the brain and
designed the circuits in the brain and
designed the circuits in the brain and so complicated so intricate that we
so complicated so intricate that we
so complicated so intricate that we human beings have not been able to
human beings have not been able to
human beings have not been able to decipher them yet and if we zoom into a
decipher them yet and if we zoom into a
decipher them yet and if we zoom into a small region of the brain we will see
small region of the brain we will see
small region of the brain we will see that it’s form of a dense jungle of
that it’s form of a dense jungle of
that it’s form of a dense jungle of biomolecules which will look probably
biomolecules which will look probably
biomolecules which will look probably similar to the gumball in Seattle so in
similar to the gumball in Seattle so in
similar to the gumball in Seattle so in my present research I’m developing a
my present research I’m developing a
my present research I’m developing a super resolution technique that helps us
super resolution technique that helps us
super resolution technique that helps us to decipher those dense jungles and look
to decipher those dense jungles and look
to decipher those dense jungles and look into the molecular building blocks of
into the molecular building blocks of
into the molecular building blocks of the brain so in the images here you are
the brain so in the images here you are
the brain so in the images here you are seeing two proteins in red and green
seeing two proteins in red and green
seeing two proteins in red and green they occur in a region where two neurons
they occur in a region where two neurons
they occur in a region where two neurons connect to each other the region is
connect to each other the region is
connect to each other the region is named synapse so if you just look at
named synapse so if you just look at
named synapse so if you just look at these proteins using a conventional
these proteins using a conventional
these proteins using a conventional light microscope you’ll see two
light microscope you’ll see two
light microscope you’ll see two overlapping blobs and not much
overlapping blobs and not much
overlapping blobs and not much information is real
information is real
information is real and that’s the left image but when you
and that’s the left image but when you
and that’s the left image but when you use the super resolution technique the
use the super resolution technique the
use the super resolution technique the arrangement of the two proteins it
arrangement of the two proteins it
arrangement of the two proteins it unfolds beautifully we are currently
unfolds beautifully we are currently
unfolds beautifully we are currently using this technique to understand the
using this technique to understand the
using this technique to understand the components of the brain in more details
components of the brain in more details
components of the brain in more details and how they are connected but knowing
and how they are connected but knowing
and how they are connected but knowing the structure is not good enough you
the structure is not good enough you
the structure is not good enough you also need to know how the components
also need to know how the components
also need to know how the components function as to how the neurons talk to
function as to how the neurons talk to
function as to how the neurons talk to each other but there are hundred billion
each other but there are hundred billion
each other but there are hundred billion neurons in our brain to understand how
neurons in our brain to understand how
neurons in our brain to understand how these neurons they work in an ensemble
these neurons they work in an ensemble
these neurons they work in an ensemble to give rise to a thoughts of
to give rise to a thoughts of
to give rise to a thoughts of perceptions of behavior we need to
perceptions of behavior we need to
perceptions of behavior we need to record from billions of neurons at the
record from billions of neurons at the
record from billions of neurons at the same time a very formidable task the
same time a very formidable task the
same time a very formidable task the techniques for being recording that up
techniques for being recording that up
techniques for being recording that up existing now you can record from only a
existing now you can record from only a
existing now you can record from only a very small fraction of the neurons an
very small fraction of the neurons an
very small fraction of the neurons an example of such techniques are the
example of such techniques are the
example of such techniques are the optical sensors or the electrodes
optical sensors or the electrodes
optical sensors or the electrodes there are also techniques which can
there are also techniques which can
there are also techniques which can record from the whole brain but they
record from the whole brain but they
record from the whole brain but they measure only an average effect an
measure only an average effect an
measure only an average effect an example of such technique is the
example of such technique is the
example of such technique is the magnetic resonance imaging so we do not
magnetic resonance imaging so we do not
magnetic resonance imaging so we do not have any technology right now which can
have any technology right now which can
have any technology right now which can measure from each and every neuron of
measure from each and every neuron of
measure from each and every neuron of your brain an ideal solution would be if
your brain an ideal solution would be if
your brain an ideal solution would be if we could make a tiny device that can go
we could make a tiny device that can go
we could make a tiny device that can go into each and every neuron of your brain
into each and every neuron of your brain
into each and every neuron of your brain and measure the activity from there
and measure the activity from there
and measure the activity from there now the brain electronics could solve
now the brain electronics could solve
now the brain electronics could solve this brain problem not the conventional
this brain problem not the conventional
this brain problem not the conventional electronics because conventional
electronics because conventional
electronics because conventional electronics will be too big and they
electronics will be too big and they
electronics will be too big and they will not fit inside the neuron moreover
will not fit inside the neuron moreover
will not fit inside the neuron moreover they will dissipate so much heat that it
they will dissipate so much heat that it
they will dissipate so much heat that it will just fry up the brain cells so if I
will just fry up the brain cells so if I
will just fry up the brain cells so if I can cook an egg on my laptop you can
can cook an egg on my laptop you can
can cook an egg on my laptop you can well imagine what those electronics will
well imagine what those electronics will
well imagine what those electronics will do to your brain but the devices that I
do to your brain but the devices that I
do to your brain but the devices that I had been developing are extremely
had been developing are extremely
had been developing are extremely low-power moreover they are extremely
low-power moreover they are extremely
low-power moreover they are extremely small so they can easily fit inside a
small so they can easily fit inside a
small so they can easily fit inside a neuron in addition since they are made
neuron in addition since they are made
neuron in addition since they are made up of this ultra-thin material they are
up of this ultra-thin material they are
up of this ultra-thin material they are flexible and soft and they form a
flexible and soft and they form a
flexible and soft and they form a compatible interface with our soft
compatible interface with our soft
compatible interface with our soft biological systems now you must be
biological systems now you must be
biological systems now you must be wondering how this technology can be
wondering how this technology can be
wondering how this technology can be used to record the activity of the brain
used to record the activity of the brain
used to record the activity of the brain cells so when a neuron becomes active
cells so when a neuron becomes active
cells so when a neuron becomes active and wants to talk to other neurons the
and wants to talk to other neurons the
and wants to talk to other neurons the voltage inside the neuron increases and
voltage inside the neuron increases and
voltage inside the neuron increases and I have shown that my devices are
I have shown that my devices are
I have shown that my devices are 10,000 times more sensitive to changes
10,000 times more sensitive to changes
10,000 times more sensitive to changes in voltage compared to conventional
in voltage compared to conventional
in voltage compared to conventional electronics so this technology I
electronics so this technology I
electronics so this technology I developed initially for solving the
developed initially for solving the
developed initially for solving the power crisis of information technology
power crisis of information technology
power crisis of information technology but I aim to unleashes great potential
but I aim to unleashes great potential
but I aim to unleashes great potential to solving a major challenge in
to solving a major challenge in
to solving a major challenge in understanding the brain function now
understanding the brain function now
understanding the brain function now suppose we get to a point that you can
suppose we get to a point that you can
suppose we get to a point that you can measure the activity of each and every
measure the activity of each and every
measure the activity of each and every neuron from our brain the implications
neuron from our brain the implications
neuron from our brain the implications are huge with that knowledge it will be
are huge with that knowledge it will be
are huge with that knowledge it will be possible to replace damaged a
possible to replace damaged a
possible to replace damaged a dysfunctional part of the brain with
dysfunctional part of the brain with
dysfunctional part of the brain with artificial implants suppose the
artificial implants suppose the
artificial implants suppose the connecting link between two neurons is
connecting link between two neurons is
connecting link between two neurons is broken it will be possible to bridge
broken it will be possible to bridge
broken it will be possible to bridge that gap using an electronic chip
that gap using an electronic chip
that gap using an electronic chip designed to mimic the functionality of
designed to mimic the functionality of
designed to mimic the functionality of that connection again these devices have
that connection again these devices have
that connection again these devices have to be extremely small and low power and
to be extremely small and low power and
to be extremely small and low power and with such devices going beyond just
with such devices going beyond just
with such devices going beyond just repairing broken brains it will be
repairing broken brains it will be
repairing broken brains it will be possible to even augment our brain and
possible to even augment our brain and
possible to even augment our brain and enhance its capabilities so the
enhance its capabilities so the
enhance its capabilities so the electronic devices they work much faster
electronic devices they work much faster
electronic devices they work much faster than the brain cells because electrons
than the brain cells because electrons
than the brain cells because electrons are super light and they can run very
are super light and they can run very
are super light and they can run very fast but the computations in the brain
fast but the computations in the brain
fast but the computations in the brain they involve movement of heavy ions or
they involve movement of heavy ions or
they involve movement of heavy ions or structural changes of proteins which
structural changes of proteins which
structural changes of proteins which takes time so if we could replace parts
takes time so if we could replace parts
takes time so if we could replace parts of our brain with electronic
of our brain with electronic
of our brain with electronic counterparts it will be possible that
counterparts it will be possible that
counterparts it will be possible that maybe you’ll be able to think faster
maybe you’ll be able to think faster
maybe you’ll be able to think faster maybe we’ll be able to make ourselves
maybe we’ll be able to make ourselves
maybe we’ll be able to make ourselves more intelligent enhance our memory and
more intelligent enhance our memory and
more intelligent enhance our memory and expand the world of our imagination so
expand the world of our imagination so
expand the world of our imagination so all these things will not happen very
all these things will not happen very
all these things will not happen very fast and it will take time but I believe
fast and it will take time but I believe
fast and it will take time but I believe that it is possible and how soon that
that it is possible and how soon that
that it is possible and how soon that happens depends on how curious we are
happens depends on how curious we are
happens depends on how curious we are how passionate we are in making new
how passionate we are in making new
how passionate we are in making new discoveries because we can solve the
discoveries because we can solve the
discoveries because we can solve the brain and transcend it beyond these
brain and transcend it beyond these
brain and transcend it beyond these biological limitations and then go on to
biological limitations and then go on to
biological limitations and then go on to solve the other mysteries in the
solve the other mysteries in the
solve the other mysteries in the universe thank you very much
universe thank you very much
universe thank you very much you
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