I am trying something new. I needed an outlet to write non-science pieces, so opened a Substack account. Here is my first post on the small mercies of performative patriotism. As usual, comments and feedback welcome.

While running downhill at full speed, I suddenly felt dizzy – not from exhaustion or lack of oxygen, but from being off balance. I realized it was my head bobbing up and down that was throwing me off. Once I found my bearings, it struck me how difficult it is for the human body to adjust to disturbances in sensory perception due to high-speed motion.

The 11th of February is celebrated annually as the international day for women and girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Instituted by the United Nations General Council, this day is marked to celebrate the contributions of women in science, and inspire new generations of girls into pursuing STEM careers. As a woman in STEM, this was news to me.

Recently, the BCCI, the cricket governance body in India, issued a mandate to the Indian team restricting the presence of family during important tours and events. This comes on the back of some rather shocking results, and it seems like the cricketers’ families are having to pay for it. It is highly unlikely that the BCCI would have implemented this policy based on cold, hard, scientific evidence.

While I was out on a walk one day, I noticed a woman talking to her baby in that slow, exaggerated, high-pitched voice we all use while talking to babies. Her exact words were “oh… are you feeling co-o-o-o-o-o-l-d? Oh poor ba-a-a-a-b-y! Mommy is sorry!”. A few minutes later, I observed a man playing with his dog and addressing it in the same way.

As I sat in the darkness unable to sleep, I reached for my phone. I could not bear the internal monologue of my brain, and needed some noise to drown it out. It dawned on me that I would much rather do something that is harmful to my eyes, than be alone with my thoughts. Why? Naturally, I turned to the internet to answer this question.