Is it possible for our industrial activities to ever exist in harmony with nature? What can nature teach us about how to sustain our economies? Industrial ecology has been proposed as the “science of sustainability.” Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy: “The Ecology of Industry” with Dr. Weslynne Ashton”
In the robotics community, there is considerable interest in mobile robots that can climb and perch on a wide variety of building surfaces. Both climbing and perching 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 on the surface. Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy: “Bio-Inspired Climbing Robots” with Dr. Matthew Spenko”
The use and abuse of substances that change the way we feel is a human tendency documented throughout history. This tendency was often explained from viewpoints of spirituality, will-power and morality. Modern science is reshaping this dialogue, bringing the neurobiology of emotion, judgement and reward to this conversation. Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy “The Neuroscience of Addiction” with Dr. Celeste Napier”
The immune system never ceases to change – it must stay one step ahead of the next disease outbreak or else. When a disease evolves even slightly, our immune system needs to adapt to match this change. As such, we have variation in our immune genes that is vastly out of proportion to the variation in our other genes. Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy: “Genes and Germs: The Battle that Defines Us” with Dr. Sean McConnell”
Brain injuries are in the news a lot these days. The NFL has been involved in a number of lawsuits involving traumatic brain injuries among players. Research suggests that as many as 1 in 3 professional football players could develop symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy as the result of concussions sustained during their careers. These injuries are not limited to football players – hockey, boxing, rugby, and soccer all carry their own risks of permanent brain injury.
Continue reading “When Playing Sports is Bad For Your Brain”
People exist because plants exist. From medicine to shelter to inspiration, plants of all kinds have shaped the human experience. This C2ST Speakeasy will provide examples of herbs, cacti, and trees that are the backbone to our pharmaceuticals, rituals, and world, and why we need to protect them. With species going extinct every day, humans have to get creative about conservation. Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy: “Plants: how we use ’em, and how we don’t lose ’em” with Jessica B. Turner”
