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 the-scientist.com/a-low-cost-sel…

Foldscope workshop for women today at Mattuallayam.

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.

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

@wgilpin0 Hahahahahaha I love that I know exactly what you’re talking about. I was looking for Manu @PrakashLab but I think a lot of people are at BPS.

Will’s always done some of the coolest research at the intersection of ML, bio, and chaotic systems. Tons of potential applications here.

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

How a self driving car motivated us to build a new “universal diagnostics” platform. The arc of technology is unpredictable at best. m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbeg6m…

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

@PrakashLab I do worry about being drowned out…

Even before AI can on the scene, biomedical research had already become increasingly dominated by a relatively coarse level of reasoning. Perhaps that is more suited to this far more translational moment, but I nevertheless miss those deeper discussions.

12 years in the making - we are finally scaling up our “universal diagnostics” platform. m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbeg6m… Read about the global program here: news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/0… If you are passionate about bringing cutting edge tools to work for “everyone” - reach out and engage.

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

🎉 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: microcosmos.foldscope.com/author/A1bYOTJ… Instagram: @e.piperno

🎉 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: microcosmos.foldscope.com/author/8282 Facebook: El Nodo: Ciencia @elnodociencia YouTube: El Nodo: Ciencia @elnodociencia

Here are the biggest breakthroughs in biology this year. quantamagazine.org/the-year-in-bi…

Foldscope was featured in @QuantaMagazine’s “The Year in Biology”. We are incredibly honored! Tap below to read the full article 👇 quantamagazine.org/the-year-in-bi…

Happy Holidays from all of us at Foldscope Instruments! 🎄 Wishing you a season filled with joy... and plenty of curiosity, wonder, and discovery too! Thank you for exploring the microscopic world with us this year. Here’s to a bright, science-filled New Year! 🥳 #HappyHolidaysFromFoldscope #Curiosity #SeasonOfWonder

👀 Have you ever looked at your cat's fur from a microscopic view? #foldscopeexplorerkit #microscopyathome #cathairunderamicoscope

Big discoveries don’t need big tools 🔍 🌿 The Foldscope 2.0 is: 🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Kid-friendly
 🎒 Lightweight & travel-ready
 🔬 Made to zoom in and make science FUN 📲 Tap the link in our bio to grab your Foldscope 2.0 and start zooming into your own magnificent discoveries! #Foldscope #STEMeducation #ScienceIsFun

It is indeed that durable. We published that in the original foldscope PlosOne manuscript as figure one (the reviewers got a laugh out of that). That’s my shoe for demonstration! Or just give it a try yourself. @TeamFoldscope