The Sciku Project

a deep understanding
of the chemistry of ice
cracks in our matrix

by John Hawkhead

Whilst the poem above was written by the author, the below background to it was provided by Google AI:

Ice as a Matrix

Ice, the frozen form of water, can act as a matrix or a medium to hold other substances in place. 

Applications:

• Cryopreservation: Ice matrices are used in cryopreservation techniques to freeze and preserve biological samples by embedding them in ice, which helps to minimize ice crystal formation and damage to the samples. 

• Material Science: Ice matrices can be used for encapsulating or embedding materials for research purposes, such as studying the properties of materials in a frozen state or for creating composite materials. 

• Protein Analysis: Ice matrices are used in techniques like IR-MALDI (Infrared Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization) to analyze proteins in frozen samples. 

• Film Production: Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) uses water ice as a matrix for producing thin films of materials like polyethylene glycol (PEG). 

Further reading:

‘Structure of Ice’, LibreTexts Chemistry, available: https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)/15%3A_Water/15.02%3A_Structure_of_Ice

‘Chemistry of Ice’, 2020, NBC News Learn, YouTube, available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQOTV8d6QLA

‘Structures of Ice’, 2025, Zumdahl, S.S., Encyclopaedia Britannica, available: https://www.britannica.com/science/water/Structures-of-ice

Author bio:

John Hawkhead (@haikuhawk.bsky.social) is a writer and artist from the south-west of England. His work has been published globally over the last 25 years, including three books of haiku / senryu: ‘Small Shadows’ and ‘Bone Moon’ (available from Alba Publishing. http://www.albapublishing.com/) and ‘Four Horse Parable’ (available from Nun Prophet Press).

Read more of John’s sciku here!

Yes to gratitude
Negativity bias;
Dino threats begone

by Debbie Lee

Brains are both tricky and powerful. In this article, Mark Travers talks to “negativity bias”, how it works and how we can overcome it.

Once upon a time, this bias was a survival mechanism of human psychology. Helped us avoid predators like dinosaurs. However, in modern relationships, negativity bias can erode connection, happiness and trust. This is true even in healthy partnerships, minor annoyances become grievances, plus acts of kindness may be misinterpreted.

Travers suggests 3 ways to counteract negativity bias:

1. Instead of fixating on problems (rumination or replay), retrain your brain to balance the narrative (reflect, recognise, reframe).
2. Avoid assuming the worst of intentions, try cognitive reappraisal (a technique that helps us pause and reframe thoughts before reacting).
3. Strive against a confirmation bias, argue the opposite side. Eg: challenge our own assumptions (try not to default a negative mindset or outlook).

Further reading:

‘3 Ways ‘Negativity Bias’ Harms Your Relationship — By A Psychologist’, 2025, Travers, M., Forbes, available: https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2025/03/26/3-ways-negativity-bias-harms-your-relationship—by-a-psychologist/

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more sciku by Debbie: ‘Technomancy’, ‘Toxic Male’, and ‘Language of fungi’.