PrakashLab

Curiosity Driven Science

[William Gilpin @wgilpin0]

Our group discovered that reasoning models produce fractals when asked to solve hard problems. We can use nonlinear dynamics to probe the thinking processes of recurrent depth models on Sudoku, mathematics, and even ARC-AGI (1/N)
https://t.co/Q3u8OqylZf

[sameerUNO @SameerUno]

#Foldscope
Been doing street science again this week, and it feels so good. The reactions never get old. It's amazing to see kids still using their Foldscopes and searching for interesting things to observe.
@TeamFoldscope @PrakashLab @Edurafi

[Dr. Anupma Harshal W @dranuharshal]

@TeamFoldscope @PrakashLab sample form Joey got us exploring, we hav these lovely creatures right there gobbling up the green stuff in the water. Mighty, cute, slow moving bt wht gait can't get over it can't get around them, video by Ziva @lodhafoundation #LGP26 @GlobalAshoka

[Arnold Abakah @ArnoldAbakah]

Foldscope Ghana is onboarding new volunteers in preparation for multiple science campaigns in rural and sub-urban areas in Ghana, this month and beyond! Our team is continuously growing. We now have many volunteers across Accra and Kumasi and are super excited!

[ICGEB Cape Town @ICGEBCapeTown]

#Scienceforsociety with @ICGEB & @TeamFoldscope at Wynberg Girls Junior School in Cape Town 🇿🇦🔬🦠

[PrakashLab @PrakashLab]

@ChristianSardet Excited to get a signed copy..

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🎉 Congratulations to our February 2026 Foldscoper of the Month, La Tonya Miles! 🎉

📚 La Tonya Miles is a Student Support Specialist and 21st Century Site Director with over 10 years of experience in Pender County Schools. She has held diverse roles—from assisting in AIG and EC programs to planning and directing STEM camps—and brings energy, curiosity, and a love of learning to everything she does. She is also a wife and proud mother of twin boys and is passionate about creating engaging, hands-on educational experiences for her students.

🔬 Her research journey began in 6th grade when she studied the planets and created a diorama, sparking a lifelong love of science and a path of exploration and learning.

🧫 La Tonya’s relationship with the microscopic world was rekindled through using the Foldscope, which she found exciting, portable, and perfect for hands-on classroom activities.

💡 Introduced to Foldscope through the Fast and Curious Tour, La Tonya uses it to bring science to life for her students. The paper microscope provides a fresh and fun way to explore and experiment as students engage directly with the microscopic world.

🌟 For La Tonya, Foldscope represents learning and exploring on the go, helping her students discover new worlds beyond the classroom while fostering curiosity, wonder, and a love of science.

📸 Follow her work:
Microcosmos: https://t.co/IftFo78sJN
Facebook: https://t.co/CC4T5LDFo9
Facebook: https://t.co/P5zCzjd34T

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🙌 We’re excited to share that Holly Stuart, our Educational Specialist, will be representing Foldscope at the NCMLE Moving the Middle Forward Conference this Monday and Tuesday (March 23rd & 24th) in Charlotte, NC!🔬

She’ll be connecting with educators and leaders to showcase how Foldscope is making hands-on science more accessible, engaging, and impactful in classrooms all around the globe.

If you’re attending, be sure to stop by to learn how we’re helping magnify curiosity, one microscopic discovery at a time.

✨ More info about the @NCMiddle conference: https://t.co/8LqQYrvG4A
✨ More info about us: https://t.co/bx9bHAcRjb

#MovingTheMiddleForward #NCMLE26

[PrakashLab @PrakashLab]

Global catastrophe since many incredible programs are not currently being funded. Parasites don’t carry passports. Diseases spread across countries, being able to survey & address these pathogens in one part of the world benefits public health everywhere

https://t.co/UYUj0Bx6TO

[M. Pandiarajan @MMopatnsf]

Foldscope workshop for women today at Mattuallayam.

[PrakashLab @PrakashLab]

That smile speaks volumes - as always. CongratsFelix How (a lab alum) to be selected for TEDFellows 2026. From swamps at Stanford to villages in Madagascar - I have so many memories with Felix - but his joyful laugh is one that rings again & again. Let's go catch some mosquitoes.

[PrakashLab @PrakashLab]

@draparente @wgilpin0 I miss you both. I am in Malawi - with some colorful fish.

[Dr. Anupma Harshal W @dranuharshal]

Thanks @PrakashLab #foldscope @TeamFoldscope #STEMEducation @LodhaEducationFoundation for this opportunity to share STEM concepts in a fun n exploration mode #HVTFoundation Indebted 2u team @GlobalAshoka @AshokaUniv 4the #LGP Mentoring role #Exploringthemicrocosm @KotakEducation

[PrakashLab @PrakashLab]

How a self driving car motivated us to build a new “universal diagnostics” platform. The arc of technology is unpredictable at best.

https://t.co/AVQxreaj8L

[PrakashLab @PrakashLab]

@arjunrajlab Exactly. I think mathematics faces the same issue.

[PrakashLab @PrakashLab]

12 years in the making - we are finally scaling up our “universal diagnostics” platform. https://t.co/AVQxreaj8L

Read about the global program here: https://t.co/gBvpLPKfsw

If you are passionate about bringing cutting edge tools to work for “everyone” - reach out and engage.

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

With a Foldscope in hand, science is always within reach. Explore, discover, and learn anytime, anywhere.

Tap the link in our bio to learn more.


#Foldscope #AccessibleScience #STEMEducation

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🎉 Congratulations to our December Foldscoper of the Month, Enrico Piperno! 🎉

📚 Raised in Houston, Texas, by an Italian family, Enrico went on to study physics and mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He is deeply interested in building new tools for science and has worked at CERN developing and testing a CO₂ refrigeration system for particle detectors. Currently, he is a part of Manu Prakash’s Lab, where he is helping design and build an ocean-tracking microscope to quantify carbon flux throughout the world’s oceans.

🔬 Enrico’s curiosity for science began early, but his first meaningful exposure to microscopy came in high school through a friend who owned a microscope. Although he had learned about microscopes in class, he had never had access to one himself.

🧫 Together, they explored pond water samples, and he was amazed by the tiny animals living beyond what the human eye can see. That moment left a lasting impression and sparked a sense of wonder that continues to shape his scientific journey.

💡 His first encounter with Foldscope came through a Mark Rober video featuring Manu Prakash, where the paper microscope and paperfuge were showcased. Soon after, Foldscope became his first personal microscope, one he could take with him wherever he went.

🌟 For Enrico, Foldscope represents the idea that innovation can come from everyday materials and that anyone can be a scientist. It reflects his belief in accessible science and his passion for creating tools that expand how we explore and understand the world.

📸 Follow his work:
Microcosmos:
https://t.co/fX2o9DZHFL
Instagram:
@e.piperno

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🎉 Congratulations to our November’s Foldscoper of the Month, Juan Morales-Trejo! 🎉

📚 Juan is a natural sciences teacher and science communicator from Mexico. Since 2019, he has been promoting the use of the Foldscope microscope through his initiative, El Nodo: Ciencia, and the hashtag, #FoldscopeTeamMx, helping bring hands-on science to classrooms and communities across the country.

🔬 Juan’s first exposure to research came during high school through field practices in his biology class. Those early experiences sparked his interest in science and eventually shaped his academic and professional path.

🧫 His first encounter with the microscopic world was in secondary school, where a single microscope was shared by nearly 40 students. Observations were done one by one, with hands behind their backs to avoid damaging the equipment, while viewing a tiny Paramecium. That moment left a lasting impression on him about how limited access to scientific tools can shape learning experiences.

💡 In late 2018, Juan purchased his first Foldscope version 1 after discovering it through a TED Talk by Manu Prakash. From that moment on, Foldscope became a central tool in his teaching and outreach work.

🌟 For Juan, Foldscope has been a turning point both professionally and personally. It represents the idea that science should be accessible to everyone, especially when it comes to tools that allow us to explore, understand, and protect the environment around us. Through his work, he continues to show that access and curiosity can transform science education.

📸 Follow his work:
Microcosmos:
https://t.co/PfvvPqA0bS
Facebook: El Nodo: Ciencia @elnodociencia
YouTube: El Nodo: Ciencia @elnodociencia