Published in ILLUMINATION·Nov 12, 2021Digital tools and workflow for managing my research activitiesWhile the research work itself might seem a daunting task at times, I feel that the tools available to us should make it much easier. As I look at it, due to the advancement of technology, there have been two big jumps over the past years or so in terms…Research7 min read
Oct 9, 2021A week in Coastal KarnatakaWhen we think of beaches in India, Goa is the first thing that comes to mind isn't it? Of course, the beaches in Goa are beautiful, the crowd makes it look international and quite happening indeed! But, keep in mind that the Arabin sea coast is pretty long and further…Karnataka4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Oct 6, 2021Open source, Jupyter, and cloud-based computing in AstronomyIf I say the majority of computing done today is in the cloud itself it won’t be an exaggeration. Look at Google, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, or streaming services like Netflix! Ever wondered how these things work? What is this cloud and how can it be beneficial when compared to traditional…Python7 min read
Jun 12, 2021Book review- “Land of Jade: A Journey From India Through Northern Burma To China”Books related to travel are on high priority in my reading list. When a book contains the details of travel in the remote lands, coupled with the experiences with rebel groups and the people inhabiting these places, the book becomes a must-read. So, once I got my hands on the…Book Review5 min read
Jun 12, 2021The Valley of Flowers in UttarakhandThe Nanda Devi Valley of flowers is one of the most beautiful places in the inner Himalayas. Situated at the altitude of 3500+ m and beyond, this meadow attracts a lot of people both from India and around the world. My plans to visit this place materialized only in June…Valley Of Flowers Trek11 min read
May 6, 2021I tested positive and recovered from COVID-19After avoiding the SARS-CoV-2 for a year at least, I tested positive for COVID 19 on 16th April 2021. My infection was most probably picked up during the travel I undertook in the week previous to that. The experience was really a shaky one with 5 days of stay in…Covid 196 min read
Apr 18, 2021Weekend trip to the Khaliya top in MunsyariBeing nested in the hill city of Nainital, the Himalayas have never ceased to fascinate us. As a group of research fellows, we all share a similar fascination and have never missed a chance to trek into the inner Himalayas whenever time permits us. …Travel7 min read
Mar 26, 2021My experience with the Amazon Kindle e-reader.Amazon Kindle is an e-reader designed to read books on the go. For people, who have never come across an e-reader, it is a device slightly larger and wider than the cellphone, with the ability to display text and images as e-ink rather than the traditional LED displays that we…Kindle5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Mar 4, 2021How Private Companies Are Getting Ahead in the Space RaceBack in the 1950s, the era of space travel was in infancy. The two superpowers United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) were competing against each other and when Sputnik entered space, followed by the Laika event and then finally Yuri Gagarin becoming the…Space Travel7 min read
Feb 12, 2021Trip to “God’s own country!”Kerala fascinates everyone in this country. I doubt if there is any part of this country that deserves the attention that Kerala gets on the tourist maps, rightfully so. Be it the beautiful beaches, lush green hills, or the backwaters, the state although small in size makes a huge impression…Kerala12 min read