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.
Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy with Dr. Matthew Spenko”
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?
Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy with Dr. Celeste Napier”
Brain injuries are in the news a lot these days. San Francisco 49er linebacker Chris Borland, a third-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, retired this spring after playing just one season in the NFL, over concerns about head trauma. The NFL and NHL have both been involved in lawsuits involving traumatic brain injuries among players. But brain injuries are not just the concern of pro athletes–studies indicate that children who play football between the ages of 9 and 12 experience between 240 and 585 head hits per season, with a force that is comparable to that experienced by high school and college players. The long-term effect of these hits is not yet known. And brain injuries are not limited to football, hockey and boxing—sports such as soccer carry risks of permanent brain injury.
Continue reading “When Playing Sports is Bad for Your Brain”
The drugs we’ve relied on for over 70 years to keep us safe—from small cuts to deadly systemic infections—are becoming less effective.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics, which target multiple types of bacteria at once, are prescribed when more targeted drugs could be used. Or, antibiotics are prescribed for infections that are caused by viruses rather than bacteria, something antibiotics are useless against. In our homes, use of antibacterial products such as soap and cleansers is on the rise. And in the US, 80 percent of antibiotic use is on the farm, to prevent disease and promote growth in livestock.
Continue reading “The Threat of Superbugs”
When you imagine someone working in the music field, what do you see? A composer? A musician? A conductor? Would you ever picture a scientist or an engineer? The areas of science and music appear to some to be diametrically opposed to one another, but nothing could be farther from the truth in today’s music industry.
Continue reading “Music- There’s a Science to That”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE:
CHICAGO, IL January 19, 2015
Chicago Council on Science and Technology presents: How to be Healthy When You’re Older
It’s not about aging, it’s about how to age well. Hear from local experts on physical and emotional well-being as you age, and how to manage complications from illnesses with your doctor.
Continue reading “How to be Healthy: When You’re Older”
