Blog Post

Are We Sinking?

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By Mya Whitton, C2ST Intern, DePaul University

After the tragic collapse of a 12-story beachfront condominium in Surfside, Florida earlier this year, structural engineers and scientists have pointed out several potential reasons as to why this incident occurred. Some experts are pointing to land subsidence (gradual sinking of the land) and the overwhelming reality of climate change. The disaster in Florida, (likely one of the most recent and observable interactions between structures and climate), will most likely not be the last as our planet continues to break all the wrong records. Continue reading “Are We Sinking?”

Blog Post

The Midewin Prairie

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By C2ST Staff

The Midewin (pronounced mi-DAY-win) National Tallgrass Prairie is located about 60 miles south of Chicago on Historic Route 66. Many trails are available for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Midewin offers an expansive 30-mile trail system — 8 miles for hiking and 22 miles for multi-use — Open to the public free of charge.  It is a hidden gem in our backyard that must be visited as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary.  C2ST recently hosted longtime Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie volunteers Greg DuBois, Ron Kapala, and Christina L. Sammet, Ph.D., for a discussion that took us on a  journey to explore restored wetlands, prairies, and observe wildlife. 

Learn about the history and geography of this very special place less than an hour from the city in the videos below. Be sure to check out our transcript of Q&As that didn’t make it into the videos! Continue reading “The Midewin Prairie”

Blog Post

Going Full “Circle” with Jonathan Pereira

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By Rowan Obach, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Jonathan Pereira is the executive director of Plant Chicago, a nonprofit helping to cultivate local circular economies. The organization connects people from all across the food chain to help reduce waste and make sure as much of our waste is being reused as possible. Jonathan obtained a BS in Geology and an MEd in Science Education. He continues to work with local businesses to try and get as many individuals involved and educated about circular economies. I was able to learn more about him and his role in the following interview.  Continue reading “Going Full “Circle” with Jonathan Pereira”

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”