By Ella Coley, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

Clostridiodes difficile, more commonly called C. diff is a bacteria many people carry in their gut without issue. However, if given the chance to grow out of control, it can cause one of the world’s most debilitating and hard-to-treat infections. An estimated half a million cases of C. diff infections occur in the U.S. every year, and around 30,000 of those affected die. Creating a widespread and accessible vaccine against this bacterial infection would help protect those in vulnerable populations and reduce others from spreading it.

Continue reading “The Future of Infection Control: mRNA Vaccines for C. diff”

By Frances Clinite, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Did you receive a call or text about participating in a poll during this past election? Did you respond? Perhaps you were skeptical or felt they lacked validity. Recently, polling organizations have received criticism because presidential election predictions seem far from actual results. In the 2020 election, the polls reported the largest errors seen in 40 years, leading many people to distrust them. However, polling is deeply woven into the history of United States elections. Contrary to their use today, the first polls were never even intended to predict election outcomes.

Continue reading “Election Crystal Balls: Are Presidential Polls Accurate?”

By Rowan Dunbar, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Chicago

Have you ever felt that your doctor didn’t hear you during the ten to fifteen minutes they spent with you? Did you feel lost or concerned about what happened during your appointment? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are entitled to self-empowerment in the form of self-advocacy! Self-advocacy is when you communicate your concerns or ask for the resources you need to succeed. Self-advocacy becomes an irreplaceable skill during medical visits because patients who speak up for themselves feel more satisfied with their healthcare and have better health outcomes. 

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By Zyara Morton, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Many feelings of nostalgia can arise when one thinks about their time in elementary through high school. For me, one of the most crucial aspects was going to the end of my street at 6:15 AM on the dot every morning for that familiar, bright yellow bus. School buses have been an integral part of U.S. school systems for decades, providing millions of children with reliable transportation every day. However, between the global climate crisis and public health concerns, individuals are becoming more interested in how transportation can be made more sustainable. School buses are at the forefront of this conversation, and there is a new method to help students get to school the green way: going electric.

By Mackenzie Smith, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

The question “How about this crazy weather?” has dominated small talk throughout the ages. While humans and weather have often been at odds throughout history, many recognize that the world’s climate today looks different than it once did. People may notice shorter winters compared to 70 years ago and more intense tropical storms. As the world changes, we need to address the question of how to grow the food that feeds us in more adverse conditions. Knowing this can help us tackle the issue of rising oceans overtaking farmland and harming crop production. Thanks to cutting edge research, scientists interested in this problem have discovered the key reason why certain plants are better at surviving in saltwater.

Continue reading “The Secret of Seaside Plants: Exploring How to Grow in Saltwater”

By Zyara Morton, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

When thinking about ancestry, one can imagine a large apple tree. This tree has various branches, each with its own unique sets of smaller branches and red apples attached to the ends. Over time, these apples ripen and then fall. Eventually, the seeds from these apples are deposited into the soil—growing a whole new apple tree with its own unique set of branches, and shiny red apples. As you may have already guessed, the branches represent different categories: mammals, reptiles, insects—and the apples represent all living beings. Evolutionary scientists analyze these trees; investigating when certain branches came into, and others faded out of, existence. However, how are they able to trace back these ‘apples’? The answer to this is through the amazing practice of DNA analysis! 

Continue reading “Tracing Back the Apple: What DNA Analysis Can Tell Us about Evolution”