By Hayden Nelson, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago

Have you ever wondered why your teeth aren’t perfectly white? Or why coffee, tea, and red wine seem to leave their mark? The answer comes down to chemistry. Every sip and snack you take sparks tiny chemical reactions inside your mouth. That morning coffee? Its dark pigment slips into the tiny grooves in the surface of your teeth. The glass of red wine at dinner? Same story. Our teeth might look simple, but they’re surprisingly complex structures that react to what we eat and drink every day. Despite their smooth look, our teeth are actually made up of layers of tightly packed minerals with tiny pores that absorb pigments from the foods and drinks we love. Understanding the chemistry behind your teeth and their stains helps explain why some smiles stay bright while others fade, and how everyday choices can make a microscopic difference.

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By Edita Music, C2ST Intern, Illinois Institute of Technology

Genetic testing. It sounds like something that can only be done in a fancy laboratory with microscopes and researchers in white coats. But it’s also something millions of people have done from the comfort of their living rooms.

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By Hayden Nelson, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago

Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our packaging, our clothes, our water, and even our bloodstreams. In many ways, we’ve turned Earth into a giant tupperware container. The result? Millions of tons of plastic waste flow into the ocean each year, breaking down into microscopic confetti that fish mistake for food. Yet, beneath those same waters lies an unexpected ally. Seaweed, the slimy green (and sometimes brown) plant we love to avoid at the beach, could be the ocean’s quiet answer to plastic pollution.

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