Diet, Gut Bacteria, and Metabolic Disease: Strategies to Promote Healthy Microbial Communities at Geek Bar Beta Chicago’s SCIENCE! Tuesday

The human body is inhabited with trillions of microorganisms, many of which live in the gastrointestinal tract. These microorganisms in the gut are referred to as the gut microbiota and recent research findings indicate that they play a major role in the development of obesity and cardiovascular disease. For example, consumption of “westernized” diets that are typically high in fat is believed to cause microbial dysbiosis, or a disruption of healthy microorganisms in the gut and has been associated with obesity.

Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy with Dr. Kristina Martinez”

Why Being Poor Can Also Make You Sick at Geek Bar Beta Chicago’s SCIENCE! Tuesday

It is well-known that there is strong relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes.

Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy with Dr. Paula Skye Tallman”

The Ecology of Industry at Geek Bar Chicago’s SCIENCE! Tuesday

Is it possible for our industrial activities to ever exist in harmony with nature?

Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy with Dr. Weslynne Ashton”

Bio-Inspired Climbing Robots at Geek Bar Chicago’s SCIENCE! Tuesday

Like robots? How about robots inspired by nature, robots that can climb surfaces, perch on rails, and do so seemingly undetected? In the robotics community, there is considerable interest in mobile robots that can climb and perch on a wide variety of building surfaces. These robots can be useful for sensor placement and long-term surveillance. The key is the design of controllable attachment mechanisms that can easily turn the adhesion on and off, to allow the robot to move across a surface. There have been numerous solutions for climbing specific wall types (e.g. electromagnets for ferromagnetic walls); however, these robots have limited usefulness in the real world as they tend to be too specialized.

Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy with Dr. Matthew Spenko”