By Lindsey Ramirez, PhD, C2ST Correspondent

There’s nothing worse than an unwanted houseguest who eats your food and takes over your living space. Plants experience a similar invasion of their environment. 

Invasive plants are commonly non-native to a region and force out native species or have a negative impact on the functioning of that ecosystem. At first, the new species may provide food, a habitat for animals, and improve the soil quality. But what starts off as a symbiotic relationship can quickly change. Sometimes the new species has traits that are better suited for that environment, so it flourishes and eventually becomes invasive.

Continue reading “Science of Everything: Invasive Species”

By Lauren Chan, PhD, RD, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago

At the beginning of the year, I always hear about friends or family doing “Dry January”, or choosing not to drink alcohol for the month of January. This trend does not stop with January, also spanning to “Sober October” or other months. Some people are even exploring the Sober Curious movement and experimenting with abstaining from alcohol entirely. But are people actually changing their drinking habits, and how does alcohol intake impact health? 

Continue reading “Sober Curious: How Alcohol Impacts Your Health”

By Stephanie Sorich, C2ST Correspondent

Nervous laughter, or laughing when we feel uncomfortable, is likely not a behavior you think of when you think of successful socialization. It often slips out without us realizing it, a half-hearted “heh” disguised as social agreeability that we later shake our heads at on the drive home. So why do we do it?

Dr. Esther Yoon— or just Esther, as she prefers— is a licensed clinical psychologist at Northwestern Medicine who specializes in behavioral medicine. When asked about nervous laughter, she was quick to emphasize just how normal it actually is.

Continue reading “Science of Everything: Nervous Laughter”

By Alexian Heynez, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

When gene editing comes up, most people probably think about Marvel super soldiers like Captain America or the way that Jurassic Park brought back dinosaurs. Although these are some theoretical applications of gene editing and quite outlandish compared to what gene editing actually can do, they reflect the general public’s perception of this technology as a powerful paradigm-shifting one. The ability to artificially modify the DNA of living beings has massive implications, which is why scientists are having many intense conversations about when, where, and if we should use it. Join me in an exploration of the current state of gene editing technology and the ethical conversation surrounding its use.

Continue reading “CRISPR: Genetic Scissors, Scientists are Editing Genes?”

By Ezewani Nkwo, C2ST Intern, Northern Illinois University

Football culture at elite levels, such as the NFL and major college programs, heavily depends on protein. It is common in team nutrition programs, post-workout meals, and protein smoothies in the locker room. However, it’s not as straightforward as “more is better” when it comes to performance. All levels of athletes should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of protein.

Continue reading “Pros and Cons of Protein in American Football”

By Lindsey Ramirez, PhD, C2ST Correspondent

It’s February in Chicago, but today you ditch your winter coat and grab your shorts. Climate change has made unseasonably warm days like this common. While it is a pleasant surprise after a harsh winter, “climate change influences the probability and intensity of certain weather events” says Aaron Dernbaugh, the Director of the Office of Sustainability at Loyola University. These events include heat waves, droughts, hurricanes, strong winds, heavy rainfall, floods, and wildfires. Imagine dropping a rock in Lake Michigan and observing how far the ripples travel. The same idea applies to climate change — drought in California leads to wildfires and the smoke affects our air quality in Chicago.   Continue reading “Science of Everything: What Can an Individual Do About Climate Change?”