As humans, we apply logic in our day-to-day lives. Along with the information we gain through our senses, logic helps us make decisions that lead to our success and survival. In his Perspective, A. P. De Silva discusses how molecules can display logic, sense, numeracy and utility and communicate with humans using light signals. De Silva explains more in the interview below. 

1. Please explain, for a non-specialist, the significance of your article. 

Molecular sensors gather medically and environmentally important information within biological cells or in fluids like blood. Molecular logic gates can perform information processing in small spaces, leading to arithmetic operations and identification of populations of small objects. We show how a simple set of cartoons can be used to organize the different strands of research in these areas in terms of one design principle. 

2. What has motivated you to conduct this work? 

As mentioned above, the needs of medicine and information technology can be addressed with chemistry principles. This ability of chemistry remains a great motivator for the development of useful molecular systems. 

3. Where do you see this work developing in the future? 

The current successes in designing useful sensors encourage us and others to target other species in various situations. The current crop of molecular logic gates have to address the problem of integration. We are side-stepping this by pushing forward with real-life applications of simple molecular logic gates which are barred for semiconductor devices owing to their larger size. This is molecular computational identification (MCID). 

4. Are there any particular challenges facing future research in this area? 

Regarding sensors based on photoinduced electron transfer designs, some avenues for future growth will be determined by the availability of selective receptors for various species. Regarding molecular logic gates, the above-mentioned issue of integration is a limitation with regard to public acceptance. However, the direct usefulness of methods like MCID may help with hearts and minds.