Core Concept of Realology - Realology is the study of flow and deformation of materials, primarily used to measure viscosity for intended functions, applicable to materials between liquid and solid states [4][5] - Realology is essential across various consumer products and industries, ensuring desired texture and performance, such as lotions, motor oils, and cement [5][6] - Materials measured by realology are classified as non-Newtonian fluids, where flow properties are tailored for specific applications [9] Medical Applications and Cardiovascular Disease - Blood is a non-Newtonian fluid with shear-thinning properties, and its viscosity is crucial for healthy blood flow; abnormal viscosity can lead to clots, aneurysms, or inflammation [10][11] - Measuring blood's rheological properties can provide a method for early detection of cardiovascular diseases [12] - Studies indicate that up to 46% of individuals over 40 years old have some form of coronary atherosclerosis, and heart disease accounts for one quarter of deaths in the United States [13] - Despite over a hundred years of research correlating blood viscosity to cardiovascular disease, blood rheology is not widely used as a diagnostic tool [15] Call to Action - The speaker encourages spreading awareness about realology to improve cardiovascular disease diagnosis and outcomes [16][19][20] - The speaker's work involves developing a small, portable microfluidic chip to simplify rheological measurements, aiming to make the technology more accessible to doctors [17]