Blog Post

The Amazing Honey Bee

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By Vivienne Couris, C2ST Intern, DePaul University

Spring has officially sprung! The sun is sticking around for longer, the trees are blooming, and the birds are singing all morning long. As you begin to venture outside to enjoy the warmth, you may stumble across a rather unassuming little insect. She’s easygoing and loves flowers, and she’s famous for her one-of-a-kind recipe. If you guessed honeybee, you’re correct! In this blog, we’ll discuss the impressive biology of the honeybee, and how they have become an integral part of human agriculture.

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Blog Post

Inside the Brain of an AI Chatbot

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By Vivienne Couris, C2ST Intern, DePaul University

AI chatbots have taken the world by storm. ChatGPT, Bard, and Copilot are just a few examples of chatbots that are already changing how we work and learn. However, despite their sharp increase in popularity, software like this has been around for quite some time. The natural language processing program ELIZA, which finished development in 1966, is classified as the first AI software. ELIZA could analyze simple conversational inputs and output human-like responses. Computer scientists and engineers have come a long way since then, creating the impressive language models we have access to now. In this blog, we’ll discover the fascinating technology that powers modern AI chatbots.

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Event

Summer Nature Fest

Check out the Nature Museum after hours! C2ST will be at the Nature Museum’s Summer Nature Fest on June 13th!

Come check us out and the other great science and nature booths and activities.

The Summer Nature Fest includes live animals, outdoor nature play, drop-by scientist tables, live music and so much more!  Be sure to see the outdoor art installation, Flight of the Butterflies, before these large sculptures take flight and land across the city. Soak it all in with good food, good drinks, and a view of North Pond under the city skyline.

$5 Admission includes access to all Museum exhibits and discounted rates are available through the Museums for All Program.

 

Blog Post

Concussions: The Invisible Injury Plaguing the World of Soccer

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By Danielle Rodriguez, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

In the media, we hear stories of football or hockey players who are constantly colliding with one another. The concern around the safety of these two sports has sparked a conversation about the significant head injuries that can be sustained while playing. But what if I told you there was a third sport that accounts for nearly 25% of all reported concussions? Soccer, one of the most popular sports in the world, maybe the most dangerous. How do these concussions occur, and why is it not talked about more?

What exactly is a concussion? A concussion is not just a bump to the head. It is a brain injury in which the brain moves back and forth between the inner walls of the skull. Concussions cause a wide variety of symptoms. Common physical symptoms of concussion include headache, ringing in the ears, and vomiting. Lesser known symptoms include trouble sleeping, increased irritability, issues with concentration and memory, and sensitivity to light and sound. These symptoms can last days, weeks, or even months. In severe cases, a concussion can lead to bleeding in the brain which can result in death. Concussions are an invisible injury that is often downplayed, but they can have a tremendous impact on the future athletic careers of affected players.

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Blog Post

Sky’s the Limit: James Bond and the Future of Jet Pack Technology

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By Bianca Longlisci, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

What if humans could fly? It’s a question almost every person has asked themselves, but it seems like the answer to it may no longer be something left for science fiction to decide. After a recent visit to the Museum of Science and Industry’s new 007 Science exhibit, I became fascinated by a unique technology that theoretically allows humans to soar through the air– jet packs. Jetpacks appear in several blockbusters like Star Wars and Asteroid City, but what is unique about the jetpack in the 1965 Bond film Thunderball is that it is fully functional in real life. How do jetpacks work, and are they still only free to be used by fictional super spies?

The jet pack used in Thunderball is known as the Bell Rocket Belt and is considered to be the first functional jetpack. It uses nitrogen to push hydrogen peroxide into a small chamber. Inside, a reaction occurs that produces a burst of steam, propelling the wearer into the air. It sounds simple, but the Rocket Belt cost roughly $200,000 to create (almost $2 million in today’s money) and could only keep a person in the air for 20 seconds before running out of fuel. The high input cost combined with such a short flight time are the main reasons why the Rocket Belt never really “took off” as a product.

Event

Kick-off to Summer Picnic

Join us at the Museum of Science and Industry’s Kick-off to Summer Picnic. We will be sharing some awesome space science and experimenting with stomp rockets to celebrate the launch of summer!

Bring your picnic blanket and sunscreen, play some lawn games, and enjoy hands-on activities with STEM community partners from across the city at this event on the Museum’s north lawn. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, while supplies last. This outdoor event is free and open to the public. Museum Entry requires a ticket purchase.