Blog Post

The Science Behind the “Twisties”

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By Mya Whitton, C2ST Intern, DePaul University

The dramatic Olympic exit from popular American gymnast Simone Biles has reignited the conversation around mental health and athletes. During the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Simone Biles became the latest athlete to share her mental health struggles as she decided not to participate in two competitions. Her decision to leave these competitions during the Olympic Games was hard for many U.S fans to accept, but her decision to prioritize her mental health over the games was supported by many all over the world. Biles admitted to the world that she was suffering from the perilous “twisties”, a phenomenon foreign to most athletes, but known too well by fellow gymnasts. As athletes fight for a balance between their mental and physical health, Biles’ case of the “twisties” highlights the dangers associated with lacking this balance. Continue reading “The Science Behind the “Twisties””

Blog Post

Guyana Pt. 2: Camera Trapping

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By C2ST Staff

Many animals are very cryptic and will run or hide at the first sign of trouble. Humans are (comparatively) smelly and noisy, making us very bad candidates to do anything stealthily. Camera traps don’t actually capture anything except for photos, videos and a whole lot of data. Instead, infrared sensors detect movement or changes in the heat signature of the environment around them, at which point they begin to capture photos or video footage. Continue reading “Guyana Pt. 2: Camera Trapping”

Blog Post

Are We Sinking?

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By Mya Whitton, C2ST Intern, DePaul University

After the tragic collapse of a 12-story beachfront condominium in Surfside, Florida earlier this year, structural engineers and scientists have pointed out several potential reasons as to why this incident occurred. Some experts are pointing to land subsidence (gradual sinking of the land) and the overwhelming reality of climate change. The disaster in Florida, (likely one of the most recent and observable interactions between structures and climate), will most likely not be the last as our planet continues to break all the wrong records. Continue reading “Are We Sinking?”

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The Midewin Prairie

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By C2ST Staff

The Midewin (pronounced mi-DAY-win) National Tallgrass Prairie is located about 60 miles south of Chicago on Historic Route 66. Many trails are available for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Midewin offers an expansive 30-mile trail system — 8 miles for hiking and 22 miles for multi-use — Open to the public free of charge.  It is a hidden gem in our backyard that must be visited as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary.  C2ST recently hosted longtime Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie volunteers Greg DuBois, Ron Kapala, and Christina L. Sammet, Ph.D., for a discussion that took us on a  journey to explore restored wetlands, prairies, and observe wildlife. 

Learn about the history and geography of this very special place less than an hour from the city in the videos below. Be sure to check out our transcript of Q&As that didn’t make it into the videos! Continue reading “The Midewin Prairie”

Blog Post

Going Full “Circle” with Jonathan Pereira

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By Rowan Obach, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Jonathan Pereira is the executive director of Plant Chicago, a nonprofit helping to cultivate local circular economies. The organization connects people from all across the food chain to help reduce waste and make sure as much of our waste is being reused as possible. Jonathan obtained a BS in Geology and an MEd in Science Education. He continues to work with local businesses to try and get as many individuals involved and educated about circular economies. I was able to learn more about him and his role in the following interview.  Continue reading “Going Full “Circle” with Jonathan Pereira”