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A long-range friction study

Long-range narrative (5–7 min read).

Follow the arc from lab work to policy outcomes, or jump ahead if you prefer.

Powers of Ten: From RNA to institutions

Kanav Jain’s work, mapped across scale. See how friction is measured, reduced, and governed from molecules to systems.

Key takeaways

  • Friction signals reveal where systems quietly offload risk.
  • Binding mechanisms turn values into enforceable decisions.
  • Each scale shift keeps the demand for clear ownership.

Scroll or swipe to move through the study.

  • Watch the HUD for scale, friction, and telemetry.
  • Tap, tab, or hover over nodes for quick readouts.
  • Want the gist first? Jump to the narrative summaries below.
Scroll Range 2010 → 2025
Hero Object Reaction coordinate diagram
Transition Geometry Voronoi morph (cells → blocks)
Friction Lens Energy → Workflow → Guardrails → Burden
Interaction Scroll + focus nodes

Four strata, one lens.

Each layer keeps the same friction framework as scale increases.

  1. 2010–2014 · Molecular

    Energy landscapes and binding curves

    Bench models map binding energy, transition states, and kinetic loss.

    Example: RNA binding, where reactions stall.

    Signal: binding energy, activation barriers.

  2. 2014–2019 · Clinical

    Workflow drag in care delivery

    Field audits isolate bottlenecks and rewire queues, handoffs, and clicks.

    Example: reducing intake steps to save minutes per visit.

    Signal: time-on-task, rework loops.

  3. 2019–2023 · Defense

    Guardrails for frontline clinicians

    Defense stacks translate risk into guardrails and support systems.

    Example: payment protection for first-generation physicians.

    Signal: exposure, volatility, loss.

  4. 2023–2025 · Institutional

    Policy-scale burden and civic mechanics

    Policy design traces compliance load to funding and mandates.

    Example: mapping how new rules add administrative lift.

    Signal: bureaucracy, compliance load.

Contour map illustration representing system shifts.

Static preview

Interactive stage loads as you scroll or when motion is available.

Follow how signals shift across scale.

Strata
  1. Molecular 2010–2014
  2. Clinical 2014–2019
  3. Defense 2019–2023
  4. Institution 2023–2025
Telemetry Friction signal by scale
  • Primary signal Binding energy
  • Friction vector Activation barriers
  • System impact Entropy shift

Scale

10^{-9} m (Nanometers)

Friction Metric

Gibbs Free Energy: High

Active Stratum

Molecular thermodynamics

2012: The energy cost of molecular binding.

Narrative strata

Molecular thermodynamics

Bench research focused on molecular thermodynamics and binding kinetics, modeling energy states and transition barriers, including RNA binding.

Clinical friction reduction

Clinical workflow engineering reduced administrative steps and queue lag in care delivery.

Systemic defense

Work addressed financial risk and system defenses for first-generation physicians.

Institutional mechanics

Work examined bureaucracy and policy, translating compliance requirements into measurable operational burden.