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The Chemistry of Your Smile: What Coffee, Wine, and Foods Are Really Doing to Your Teeth

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By Hayden Nelson, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago

Have you ever wondered why your teeth aren’t perfectly white? Or why coffee, tea, and red wine seem to leave their mark? The answer comes down to chemistry. Every sip and snack you take sparks tiny chemical reactions inside your mouth. That morning coffee? Its dark pigment slips into the tiny grooves in the surface of your teeth. The glass of red wine at dinner? Same story. Our teeth might look simple, but they’re surprisingly complex structures that react to what we eat and drink every day. Despite their smooth look, our teeth are actually made up of layers of tightly packed minerals with tiny pores that absorb pigments from the foods and drinks we love. Understanding the chemistry behind your teeth and their stains helps explain why some smiles stay bright while others fade, and how everyday choices can make a microscopic difference.

Continue reading “The Chemistry of Your Smile: What Coffee, Wine, and Foods Are Really Doing to Your Teeth”

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Blog Post

From the Lab to the Living Room: The Ethics of At-Home DNA Testing

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By Edita Music, C2ST Intern, Illinois Institute of Technology

Genetic testing. It sounds like something that can only be done in a fancy laboratory with microscopes and researchers in white coats. But it’s also something millions of people have done from the comfort of their living rooms.

Continue reading “From the Lab to the Living Room: The Ethics of At-Home DNA Testing”

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Blog Post

The Slimy Solution to Plastic Pollution

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By Hayden Nelson, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago

Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our packaging, our clothes, our water, and even our bloodstreams. In many ways, we’ve turned Earth into a giant tupperware container. The result? Millions of tons of plastic waste flow into the ocean each year, breaking down into microscopic confetti that fish mistake for food. Yet, beneath those same waters lies an unexpected ally. Seaweed, the slimy green (and sometimes brown) plant we love to avoid at the beach, could be the ocean’s quiet answer to plastic pollution.

Continue reading “The Slimy Solution to Plastic Pollution”

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Blog Post

Science Literacy: Ways of Thinking & Being

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By Ella Heckman, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

As our world is constantly changing with new technology, ideas, and discoveries, it can be intimidating to keep track of all of this new information, let alone understand and engage with it critically.  If you’re anything like me, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of information out there and mentally check out. The ability to understand and engage with science is essential for engaging with politics and policy, as well as with each other in our collective future. Let’s talk about science literacy in a way that doesn’t make us ashamed of what we don’t know and understand, and instead talk about it in terms of what we do know and how much more we can learn and do when we are scientifically literate. Once we learn what science literacy is we can go on to ask how we can become more curious, more rigorous, and more present people in our world.

 

Continue reading “Science Literacy: Ways of Thinking & Being”

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“Like Eating Chocolate”: A Discussion on Positive Gender Experiences with Dr. Will Beischel

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By Riley Henry, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Have you ever thought about how your gender might make you feel good? Gender can help bring out joy and happiness in ways you might not realize! I interviewed Dr. Will Beischel (they/them), an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. They research and teach about gender and sexuality, especially the positive aspects of LGBTQ+ life and how people’s identities are shaped developmentally by their social experiences. Let’s jump in and learn more about these positive gender experiences!  

Continue reading ““Like Eating Chocolate”: A Discussion on Positive Gender Experiences with Dr. Will Beischel”

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Blog Post

Science with Heart: Dr. Grace Muller’s Mission to Make Cardiac Research Accessible

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By Emily Krueger, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Biomedical research allows us to better understand how our bodies function, yet this information is often inaccessible to those outside of scientific spaces. These barriers limit our understanding of our bodies and health. Some scientists are working to close this gap and make sure that everyone has a fair chance to learn about science. Dr. Grace Muller is one such scientist. Dr. Muller is a biomedical researcher specializing in cardiac physiology and a faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. Her research focuses on understanding how the heart works during conditions like heart failure or during physiological challenges like pregnancy. Let’s learn more about Dr. Muller’s scientific journey and see how she is integrating her research with outreach initiatives! 

 

Continue reading “Science with Heart: Dr. Grace Muller’s Mission to Make Cardiac Research Accessible”

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