By Edita Music, C2ST Intern, Illinois Tech
In the age of modern technology, we are constantly talking about data. What data is being collected from us at any given time? What is my data being used for? Who has access to my data? Despite all these big data conversations, very few of them discuss a rather important type of data: healthcare data.
By Ella Heckman, C2ST Intern, Loyola University
In the digital age, it can be easy to forget that we as humans need to be in touch with nature and the world around us. The demands of our busy, everyday lives can make it hard to prioritize our health and get outside for a walk, let alone to do it for our mental health. In urban environments, research is increasingly showing that there is a strong connection between access to green spaces and improved mental health outcomes. Green spaces refer to anywhere dedicated to foliage, grass, plants, and nature for recreation or aesthetic purposes. These can be parks, pathways, gardens, and fountains in urban areas. Green spaces can provide a variety of psychological, emotional, and mental health benefits to the communities they are located in. Thus, it is important that as our society develops and our communities grow, we prioritize designing green spaces that nurture not only our bodies but also our minds.
Join C2ST and the National Science Policy Network for a conversation with policymakers, legal experts, and researchers as we explore AI’s influence on medicine and the crucial role science policy plays in shaping its future. You’ll have the chance to engage with the experts and share your own questions and insights.
Continue reading “AI and Your Health: The Promise and the Peril”
SPARK is a series of free pop-up concerts in Logan Square parks happening throughout the summer of 2025. The series is designed to bring neighbors together through live music in familiar, accessible spaces, offering a chance to reconnect and enjoy the arts in the heart of the community. We encourage attendees to BYOPicnic! C2ST will be at the event with some cool Sound Science Activities. Stop by our booth to chat and see, feel, and hear sound all at the same time.
By Edita Music, C2ST Intern, Illinois Tech
Life on Mars, once the stuff of science fiction, is now a serious scientific pursuit driven by technological advancements and the urgent search for climate solutions. As the possibility of human life beyond Earth looms, one crucial question arises: how do we sustain life in an environment so different from our own? With weaker sunlight, little to no gravity, and a need to recycle every resource, scientists must get creative with their agricultural solutions. Recent research suggests that the future of farming in space may depend on silkworms, seaweed, and tiny flowering plants. Across disciplines, researchers are beginning to reimagine agriculture from the ground up, building the foundations of regenerative space farming that could feed astronauts on Mars, and one day, even you.
Continue reading “Farming the Ultimate Frontier: Recent Advancements in Space Agriculture”
By Hayden Nelson, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago
When most people think of health care, they picture doctor visits, vaccines, or maybe even mental health services. But there’s one vital piece of the puzzle that’s often left out: the dentist. Oral health is frequently treated as separate from “typical” health care, despite the fact that your mouth often reflects and affects your overall health. Dentistry is far more than just cleanings and cavities. It plays a critical role in preventing chronic disease, reducing emergency room visits, and even shaping self-esteem. Yet dental care is often inaccessible, unaffordable, and excluded from key health systems and insurance coverage. This gap doesn’t just hurt teeth; it affects lives.
Continue reading “Why Dentistry Matters: The Overlooked Key to Public Health”
