Event

Science in the Parks: A Birding Tour of West Pullman Park

What’s the word, bird? As we reboot our Science in the Parks series, we are excited to partner with the Chicago Audubon Society, Chicago Ornithological Society, Wild Indigo, and–of course–the Chicago Park District to bring birding to West Pullman Park! Whether you’re a first-time birder looking to get outside, or a seasoned veteran of the birding circuit, this program should be a blast! Our partners are providing expert guides to take you through West Pullman Park’s impressive natural oak savanna, helping teach you about animals you may find in your own backyard. Continue reading “Science in the Parks: A Birding Tour of West Pullman Park”

Blog Post

The Pursuit of Flight

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By Laura Tran, C2ST Intern, Rush University

For centuries, humans have always been fascinated with flight. We dream about it. We read about it in science fiction. We either watch it in film or we observe it in popular culture. Let’s face it, we have wing envy!

According to Yale Scientific¹, it is mathematically impossible for humans to fly like birds. In the equation for flight, there are four components: 1) lift (the upwards acting force), 2) gravity (the downwards force), 3) thrust (the forward acting force), and 4) drag (the backward acting force). A bird can fly because it is lightweight and has strong wing muscles, providing them with the appropriate aerodynamic capability. Simply put, birds can overcome gravity and take flight. Continue reading “The Pursuit of Flight”

Blog Post

Argonne Seeks to ‘GREET’ Climate Change Head On

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By Rowan Obach, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

As you may have seen during C2ST’s recent virtual event, Argonne National Laboratory just celebrated its 75th anniversary. The event commemorated the progress the foundation has made since its founding as a peaceful nuclear reaction research lab, to its current status as the first national laboratory in the United States. One of the agencies they have been working closely with is the U.S. Department of Energy on green energy innovations.  Continue reading “Argonne Seeks to ‘GREET’ Climate Change Head On”

Blog Post

COVID Vaccines: The How, What, & Why of Production

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By Rowan Obach, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

As the US continues to offer vaccinations across the country, many people remain skeptical. But why? According to the American Psychiatric Association, many individuals want to get the vaccine but are bombarded by misinformation and complicated science articles. This is being combatted by the VACCINES Act; a federally funded national messaging campaign to improve vaccination rates. Vaccines are a complicated mechanism, but by breaking them down and explaining them, we can all help remove the fear from COVID vaccinations.  Continue reading “COVID Vaccines: The How, What, & Why of Production”

Blog Post

Lightning Strikes: Nature’s Air Purifier?

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By Elizabeth Hallissey, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Many people see lightning as scary and threatening, but recent data may improve lightning’s reputation.

Lightning strikes produce nitric oxide, which leads to the formation of other oxidants, all of which have the potential to increase the atmosphere’s ability to cleanse itself. While researchers originally thought that the oxidant production effects of lightning strikes were not significant enough to bring about meaningful atmosphere cleansing power, a recent analysis of a 2012 study has revealed that the opposite may be true. As we contend with the worsening effects of pollution on our atmosphere and other parts of the environment, a reversal in thinking like this brings with it a newfound sense of optimism in the scientific community.

Continue reading “Lightning Strikes: Nature’s Air Purifier?”

Event

Celebrating 75 years at Argonne National Laboratory: Nuclear Energy

C2ST and Argonne National Laboratory are excited to continue our 75th anniversary partnership celebration by taking a close look at how Argonne made its name–the production of clean nuclear energy. The lab has grown extensively since its founding, tackling an array of societal challenges in science, energy, the environment, and national security, but nuclear research was there at the start and is still an important part of Argonne’s portfolio today. Continue reading “Celebrating 75 years at Argonne National Laboratory: Nuclear Energy”