Metal Organic Frameworks can act as relatively stiff and robust sponges with subtle flexibility that favors selective guest (gas) inclusion. MOFs are among the top candidates being considered for CO2 capture applications. MOF entered the scene as a more functionalizable sorbent than traditional sorbents such as zeolites, wherein CO2 sorption faces stern competition from water. Researchers have been designing a MOF that can capture CO2 from humid streams for decades. Recently, such a MOF scalable to tons and engineered to capture multi-tonnes of CO2 is demonstrated. Though MOF’s use as an industrial sorbent is on the cards - Has the magic MOF been identified? In this presentation, we will explore the directions.

Modern astronomy started four centuries ago with Galileo’s invention of the astronomical telescope. In the past century, astronomical observations using different wavelengths of electromagnetic waves revolutionised our understanding of the Cosmos. Recently, observations using subatomic particles such as neutrinos and cosmic rays also have emerged as powerful means of probing the Cosmos. The newest frontier of astronomy is observations of gravitational waves — the elusive ripples in spacetime predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago. This lecture will take a walk through the different frontiers of astronomy.