By Bianca Loglisci, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

You’re likely familiar with the frowned-upon chemical compound carbon dioxide, CO2– a dangerous greenhouse gas that when released into the atmosphere in large amounts can drastically escalate the effects of climate change. But did you know that CO2 can be helpful in certain conservation efforts? Scientists have recently discovered and started implementing a new method of controlling invasive carp species in freshwater ecosystems. In some cases, CO2 may not be so bad after all!

Continue reading “Closeup on Carp: CO2 for Ecological Innovation”

By Sneha Das, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Clinical trials have become a widely recognized household term, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization defines clinical trials as research that evaluates the human health outcomes of new tests and treatments like medicines, vaccines, medical devices, and surgical or behavioral procedures. This blog will take you on a fascinating journey of how clinical trials have developed over time.

Continue reading “Ships to Shots – The Remarkable Evolution of Clinical Trials”

By Nik Sultana, Illinois Institute of Technology

I am an assistant professor of computer science at Illinois Institute of Technology, where I work on developing cutting-edge techniques in computer networking and applying them to solve problems in other scientific fields and cybersecurity. During summer 2023 I had the good fortune of visiting Fermilab, the United States’s renowned research facility dedicated to high-energy particle physics and particle accelerator laboratory, to work on research. The research investigated how new computer networking techniques can support the science that’s being done at Fermilab. Temporarily transplanting my work to a different research environment helped generate new research ideas, and taught me a lot about working with scientists in research areas outside of computer networking.

Continue reading “Trip Report: A Research Visit to Fermilab”

By Ariane Tsai, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Institute for Genomic Biology

If you’re a student pursuing a STEM field in college, you’ve likely heard of undergraduate research. But what is it, and how can you get involved? Undergraduate research offers students the chance to conduct experiments and investigations under the guidance of a principal investigator (PI) and their graduate students. In this article, I’ll share insights into undergraduate research and offer guidance on getting started. 

                                                     

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By Camilla Liu, The University of Chicago

In the coastal town of Fukushima, where fishermen once proudly displayed their catch and children’s laughter filled the air, a somber mood now lingers. On August 24, 2023, Japan decided to release over 1.3 million tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant into the Pacific Ocean over the next 30 years.

By Sneha Das, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Institute for Genomic Biology

In this blog, I (SD) had an intriguing chat with an unconventional guest – ChatGPT. Throughout the interview, ChatGPT made it clear that it’s an Artificial Intelligence language model, lacking personal preferences, emotions, or real-time data. Yet, that doesn’t take away from the captivating nature of our conversation. If you want to get inside the mind of ChatGPT, read on…

Continue reading “Inside the Mind of ChatGPT: The AI Chatbot Revealed”