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Political Tensions: Perceptions and Causes of Political Violence

Have you felt political tensions in the US rising? Many report feeling overwhelmed, divided, and, sometimes, threatened when discussing politics. American elected officials have expressed increased concern about their exposure to threats and violence. Has political violence actually increased? If so, what is causing it? How does it affect the country’s public servants? And how does the public respond? Join us as we hear from Dr. Alexandra Filindra, Professor of Political Science and Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago, as we address such questions, using data from recent surveys conducted among public officials and citizens, and infuse a neuroscience perspective to tackle why folks might react the way they do to political tensions.

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Sinking Your Teeth into Sourdough: The Science Behind Its Health Benefits

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By Lauren Chan, PhD, RD, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago

In the last six months, I became the proud owner of a sourdough starter gifted to me over the winter holidays. While I did not anticipate going on a “sourdough journey”, it has been fun to not only learn how to make sourdough bread, but also the science and health benefits of sourdough!

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Your Own Personal Cancer Vaccine

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By Alexian Heynez, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

Cancer is definitely one of the scariest diagnoses someone can hear from their doctor. One of the major contributors to the fear around cancer treatment is our reliance on treatments like chemotherapy and invasive surgeries to treat tumor development, with no guarantee that it won’t come back. These procedures weigh heavily on our bodies because of their more general and indiscriminate approach, which is necessary due to the uniqueness of everyone’s cancer. 

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Bugs and babies: Safety Concerns for Formula-Fed Infants

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By Lauren Chan, PhD, RD, C2ST Intern, University of Chicago

As someone who is lucky enough to have multiple tiny humans in their life, I am always on high alert when it comes to baby products and their safety. In the second half of 2025, notifications about infant formula contaminations and recalls had me messaging families with infants to be sure they heard the news. Surprisingly, this is not the only instance of formula contamination in recent years. In fact, multiple issues with formulas led to the launch of Operation Stork Speed in March 2025. This program focuses on increasing the safety and supply of infant formulas in the United States, with a particular focus on testing for contaminations. But what got us to the point of needing a new program to provide safe formula for babies? Let’s talk about recent contaminations, formula shortages, and feeding practices that led to the development of Operation Stork Speed. 

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Science of Everything: Lucid Dreaming

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By Stephanie Sorich, C2ST Correspondent

We’ve all woken up to remember a strange dream. Maybe you were performing a concert at Madison Square Garden, and then given an award by your third grade teacher— but wait, that wasn’t your third grade teacher, it was Jennifer Lopez. And that wasn’t Madison Square Garden, it was the break room at your first ever job. 

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