Dr. Phyllis Zee, Chief of the Sleep Medicine at Northwestern Hospital, warned the audience at Horner Park on Wednesday, August 15, that we cheat sleep at our peril. Dr. Zee’s excellent presentation was the first instance of C2ST’s collaboration with the Chicago Park District in the “Science in the Parks” series. Watch the video here.
Dr. Zee explained that three scientists recently shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine for their work in the early 1980’s identifying the genes and protein molecules that drive our twenty-four-hour biological clocks, often referred to as our “circadian rhythm.” Every cell in our bodies has the clock mechanism, and all these clocks are coordinated by the master clock in our brains. The mechanism interacts with light and dark. It keeps us awake and productive (usually) during the day and early evening, and puts us to sleep at night to rejuvenate our systems for another day.
This is the repository for all things C2ST. You can learn with videos of our past events, read articles concerning cutting-edge research and development in Chicago and elsewhere that will change our lives (generally one new article posted each week), check out C2ST in the news, and more! Use the Filter Media options below to browse C2ST’s content and discover something new!
By Robert Kriss
Dr. Bridget Coughlin, the President and CEO of the Shedd Aquarium, is on a mission to inspire people to learn about science and support scientific endeavors.
Continue reading “Making a Whale of a Difference With Science”
By Kristen Witte
The wind whips across the beach, bringing a surprising chill to an otherwise sunny day – though spring in Chicago is anything but predictable. As the cold seeps into your gloveless hands, you wonder if the next incoming wave from Lake Michigan will smash into you before a sufficient amount of water accumulates into the collection canister. You quickly cap the canister and walk over to your colleagues who are sitting a safe distance from the surf, waiting patiently with a thermometer and a pH tester. Continue reading “You the Scientist: The Importance of Citizen Science Programs”
By Robert Kriss
Sarah at five years-old was experiencing twenty-five seizures a day. Her doctors had started to treat her with one drug, but when that did not work, they tried another, and another and another. Sarah was taking four different drugs each day and still the seizures continued. These drugs had worked for some people, but not for Sarah.
Continue reading “Precision Medicine: Using Computer Code To Analyze Genetic Code”
By Kristen Hynds-Witte
At its minimum, a map is a directional aid. At its best, a map is a detailed excursion into our history and our future. With the advancement of DNA and computational technologies, researchers and private companies are now building maps to understand our evolutionary and ancestral origins.
By Mariel Tishma
The Chicago Council on Science and Technology, or C2ST, has spent the past decade working towards its mission of a community engaged with science. Pursuing that goal hasn’t been simple, and has required the work of dedicated people from day one. In C2ST’s case, four founders—Alan Schriesheim, Jon Miller, Paul Knappenberger, and Bradley Moore—laid the groundwork. In 2005, they came together with one simple idea. They would create an organization to connect the public with science and the scientific community with itself. Continue reading “Celebrating C2ST’s 10th Anniversary”
By Dan Misch
The U.S. military is the single largest consumer of energy resources in the world. In 2016, the Department of Defense’s total energy use was three times more than the rest of the U.S. government and 5 percent of the entire country’s energy consumption. In comparison to other countries, the Department would independently rank as the 20th largest consumer in the world, trailing behind Mexico, Australia, and South Africa.
Continue reading “Energy Education Gives Veterans a New Mission”
