About Me / Sona Popat

Economist Espresso • 18th September 2021

Fossil findings: New Zealand’s giant penguin

Fifteen years after its discovery by a group of fossil-hunting schoolchildren, a giant fossilised penguin has been confirmed to be a new species.

The Economist • 15th September 2021

How to toilet train your cow (and save the planet)

Convincing cows to do their business in a latrine makes their waste easier to collect—and prevents ammonia emissions.

The Economist • 8th September 2021

The effects of a warmer world are visible in animals’ bodies

Hundreds of species show signs of adapting to a warming climate.

The Economist • 1st September 2021

Some female hummingbirds have evolved to look like males

This helps them avoid harassment and makes mealtimes less stressful.

The Economist • 18th August 2021

A new prosthetic hand

It allows users to feel the sensation of touch—and is cheaper than anything else currently available too.

The Economist • 13th August 2021

Artificial chameleon skin can mimic its surroundings

A new camouflage technology using thermochromic crystals and silver nanowires.

The Economist • 4th August 2021

The Babylonians used Pythagorean ideas long before Pythagoras

No need for a protractor. Surveyors used Pythagorean triples to measure out land.

The Economist • 28th July 2021

Data don’t lie, but they can lead scientists to opposite conclusions

Choices of experimental design and analytical methods can influence results.

The Economist • 19th July 2021

Lead exposure during childhood has long-lasting effects

Higher levels of exposure seem to stunt social development.

The Economist • 10th July 2021

Songbirds can taste sugar. That may explain their ubiquity

Songbirds have reacquired sugar perception, an ability lost by their dinosaur ancestors. Scientists think this may have been instrumental in their evolution.

Journal of Young Investigators • 1st May 2021

Press Release: Microneedles to Help Overcome a Major Citrus Crop Disease

Huanglongbing disease has collapsed the citrus industry. Microneedles could allow treatments to be administered more effectively.

BlueSci Magazine • 19th April 2021

How to avoid being seen: learning from the octopus

Part of the "Weird and Wonderful" series, Sona Popat discusses how octopus camouflage has inspired scientists and engineers to develop hydrogels that can change shape and colour in response to light.

Journal of Young Investigators • 1st April 2021

Machine Learning can Help Predict New Uses for Existing Drugs

In an age of antibiotic resistance and viruses becoming more transmissible, new drugs need to be developed faster than ever. Sona Popat discusses a new machine learning framework developed to identify drug repurposing candidates and speed up the drug development process.

Girl Genius • 10th March 2021

nature-powered: solving food insecurity using science

In a collaborative article for Girl Genius Issue V, Sona Popat, Daisy Bissonette, and Sophie Tanker discuss how biofertilisers and biopesticides are being used to increase crop yields without damaging the environment - but is this enough to ensure food security for all?

iFeminist • 9th January 2021

Dr Kamala Sohonie: the scientist who paved the way for Indian women in STEM

Dr Kamala Sohonie was the first woman to work as a researcher at the Indian Institute of Science and the first Indian woman to complete a PhD in a scientific discipline. Sona Popat explores Sohonie's career and discusses how she paved the way for women studying science in India and across the world.

The Whiston Society • 22nd November 2020

K is for Kleptoplasty

Part of the "Alpha-bet you didn't know that!" series. From chloroplast thievery to animals engineered to photosynthesise, Sona Popat takes us on a tour of the fabulous world of kleptoplasty, the animal X plant intersection we aren't taught enough about.

Youth STEM Matters • 10th October 2020

What’s in a Name? How We Can Use Language to Combat Impostor Syndrome

This World Mental Health Day, Sona Popat argues that feelings of impostor syndrome stem from a lack of role models and our language choices, so re-framing our thoughts and pre-conceptions is essential to combat it.

Varsity • 26th June 2020

Black people put at risk by healthcare data biases

Sona Popat discusses the various ways in which biases towards white people in data used in scientific research and healthcare leave Black people and other minorities in palpable danger.

Varsity • 26th June 2020

We can’t forget that scientific research is steeped in colonialism

Sona Popat explores the historical relationships of Black people with scientific research and argues, along with Tedros Ghebreyesus, that the “hangover from a colonial mentality has got to stop”.

Young Scientists' Journal • 28th April 2020

Ethiopia Planted Over 350 Million Trees in 12 Hours

Planting trees is good for the environment—but how effective is it really? With continued deforestation and the Amazon rainforest burning at an alarming rate, is planting tree seeds and saplings really making an impact?

Sona Popat

Sona Popat

About Me

Science Writing

Fossil findings: New Zealand’s giant penguin

How to toilet train your cow (and save the planet)

The effects of a warmer world are visible in animals’ bodies

Some female hummingbirds have evolved to look like males

A new prosthetic hand

Artificial chameleon skin can mimic its surroundings

The Babylonians used Pythagorean ideas long before Pythagoras

Data don’t lie, but they can lead scientists to opposite conclusions

Lead exposure during childhood has long-lasting effects

Songbirds can taste sugar. That may explain their ubiquity

Press Release: Microneedles to Help Overcome a Major Citrus Crop Disease

How to avoid being seen: learning from the octopus

Machine Learning can Help Predict New Uses for Existing Drugs

nature-powered: solving food insecurity using science

Dr Kamala Sohonie: the scientist who paved the way for Indian women in STEM

K is for Kleptoplasty

What’s in a Name? How We Can Use Language to Combat Impostor Syndrome

Black people put at risk by healthcare data biases

We can’t forget that scientific research is steeped in colonialism

Ethiopia Planted Over 350 Million Trees in 12 Hours