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, check out C2ST in the news, and more! Use the Filter Media options below to browse C2ST’s content and discover something new!
By C2ST Staff & Dr. Cris Hughes
We hope you enjoyed Forensic Technologies: New Frontiers Bring New Considerations! Check out these resources from our speaker, Dr. Cris Hughes, to learn more about the past, present, and future of forensic technologies. Continue reading “Resources for Forensic Genomic Technologies: New Frontiers Bring New Considerations”
By C2ST Staff
The last few months have been challenging for Chicagoans, Americans, and citizens of the world. Now would usually be the time for many of us to head out to the beach, meet with friends, and enjoy some well earned R&R. Summer is a great time for outdoor science events, like our Urban Nature Walk. While we may not get the summer we planned for, that doesn’t mean we can’t figure out new ways to have fun in the sun.
By Zuri McClelland, C2ST Aux-Board Member
The Earth’s climate is changing more rapidly than we could have ever expected. To keep up with the production of food and goods, we have produced a massive amount of gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2), that fill our atmosphere. These gases capture a significant amount of the radiation reflected from the Earth’s surface trapping heat energy, ultimately warming up the planet. This is called the greenhouse effect. Over the course of decades, scientists have seen an increase in global temperature due to this phenomenon. As a result, the polar ice caps have melted, sea levels have risen and weather patterns have changed. The effect on humankind and the animal kingdom is already underway but we’ll continue to see changes that may affect all living matter on Earth. Continue reading “How You Can Help Fight Climate Change in the Chicago Area”
By Robert Kriss, C2ST Editor
Scientists are attacking the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus, which causes Covid-19, from two different angles. One approach is to develop a vaccine to prevent infection. The other approach is to find a cure for people already infected.
Continue reading “Changing The Shape Of The “Molecular Key” That COVID-19 Uses to Enter Human Cells”
Join C2ST and KOVAL for a virtual tour and tasting while Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart guides us through the production of hand sanitizer!
KOVAL Distillery is known for creating a line of organic & kosher whiskey, gin, and specialty spirits using unique grains, a signature “heart cut” technique, and only the absolute best quality ingredients. As one of the largest independent and woman-owned craft distilleries in the US, KOVAL is frequently awarded internationally for its bright flavors and eye for design.
As of March 2020, KOVAL has shifted its operations to help provide alcohol-based sanitizer to those on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. To date, they have donated over 3,000 gallons of sanitizer to Chicagoland first responders and community organizations. Through a virtual tour, get an inside look into how a distillery transitions to produce hand sanitizer and sip along during an optional virtual tasting as Dr. Hart answers questions live.
More info on purchasing sanitizer and contributing to their donation efforts can be found here: https://www.koval-distillery.com/newsite/sanitizer-info
Join C2ST for our 5th Science from the Front-lines program and learn how the severity and manifestation of COVID-19 symptoms are impacted by gender!
Gender differences in COVID-19 disease severity have been described in multiple countries, with reports indicating that men often experience more severe disease and greater mortality. Dr. Kovats will summarize available information about the observed gender differences in COVID-19 severity and outline possible social and biological explanations for this gender disparity. One hypothesis is that men and women differ in aspects of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. After a brief primer on the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, Dr. Kovats will review the evidence for sex differences in immune function in humans and animal models and describe how androgens and estrogens modulate immunity. She will explain how COVID-19 patient blood samples might be used to understand the gender differences in immune responses at the molecular and cellular level.