Bio-Inspired Climbing Robots at Geek Bar Chicago’s SCIENCE! Tuesday
Like robots? How about robots inspired by nature, robots that can climb surfaces, perch on rails, and do so seemingly undetected? In the robotics community, there is considerable interest in mobile robots that can climb and perch on a wide variety of building surfaces. These robots can be useful for sensor placement and long-term surveillance. The key is the design of controllable attachment mechanisms that can easily turn the adhesion on and off, to allow the robot to move across a surface. There have been numerous solutions for climbing specific wall types (e.g. electromagnets for ferromagnetic walls); however, these robots have limited usefulness in the real world as they tend to be too specialized.
The Neuroscience of Addiction at Geek Bar Chicago’s SCIENCE! Tuesday
The use and abuse of substances that change the way we feel is a human tendency documented throughout history. This tendency wasoften explained from viewpoints of spirituality, will-power and morality. Modern science is reshaping this dialogue, bringing the neurobiology of emotion, judgment and reward to this conversation. Dr. T. Celeste Napier will show the contributions that science has made to this topic, discussing such questions as why do people take drugs in the first place? What is the switch in the brain that changes occasional drug use into addiction? Is there a genetic vulnerability to become addicted? What other factors (stress, environment, teen brain) can promote addiction? To what extent is addiction a disease of the brain?
Around the turn of the 20th century, the world witnessed the birth of what they thought was an almighty cure: the antibiotic. “We became convinced overnight that nothing was beyond reach for the future. Medicine was off and running,” wrote Lewis Thomas, a physician and essayist, in his autobiography.
Last month, at the usual classy, mood-lighted Geek Bar, Jessica B. Turner, plant researcher and enthusiast reminded listeners not to forget about the plant kingdom. These photosynthesizing organisms are essential to our lives and our planet.
C2ST Artist in Residence Aaron Freeman compares the neuro-recruiting approaches of the Islamic State and the US military. Which side want to stimulate the production of what hormone. Will the winner be ISIS oxytocin or Pentagon testosterone.
