By Zyara Morton, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

After a long winter full of sharp winds and freezing temperatures, the first warm and sunny day is often welcomed with open arms. Perhaps you feel more optimistic about the future, or perhaps more productive than you were in winter. Animals also become more active in spring – whether that be bears waking up from hibernation or birds migrating from one region to another. For many people, it may seem as if spring is the season to ‘get things done’, as opposed to winter or fall. However, why might many people feel less productive in winter or fall? Why do we as humans experience such mood fluctuations depending on the season?

Continue reading “Why the Changing Seasons Might Make You ‘SAD’”

By Elizabeth Carroll, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

Upon the long-awaited onset of spring, a thawing Midwest greets millions of migratory birds as they return for the northern hemisphere’s warm season. The soft calls of songbirds and the less pleasant honks of Canada Geese replace our alarm clocks as a reminder of the warm weather to come. But a bird’s migration is no small task, even for the toughest and most resilient species. Traveling from wintering grounds to breeding grounds can be a several thousand mile journey teeming with a wide variety of predators, perilous weather, and unpredictable resource availability. Threats of climate change throughout their migration routes amplify birds’ vulnerability to these dangers.

Continue reading “Migratory Birds Feel the Heat”

By Rowan Dunbar, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Chicago

In part one, Engineering Justice: Centering Disabled Voices in STEMM, we learned more about how STEMM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) need to incorporate disabled folks to create more innovative science. To dive deeper into the issues currently faced by disabled folks in the workforce and academia, I spoke with Timotheus “T.J.” Gordon, Jr., an autistic researcher and disability advocate. He has done work surrounding intersectionality within the disabled community, specifically neurodiversity and the black community, sexuality and disability, and self-advocacy.

By Rowan Dunbar, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Chicago

Maybe you’ve heard, “The body remembers what the mind does not.” This phrase and its spin-offs are used to refer to the body’s physical response to certain stimuli due to trauma, even when someone may not fully remember their traumatic experience. This is an evolutionary response that humans have historically needed for survival. After all, recognizing a threat and knowing how to react are key to the survival of any living creature. However, the mind also doesn’t like to hold onto memories of pain because dwelling on them for too long can lead to unnecessary stress. Epigenetics is how your behaviors or environment can cause changes in how your genes work. The process of epigenetics is also affected by traumatic memories, so in that way, our DNA reflects, records, or ‘remembers’ our lived experience. 

Continue reading ““Epigenetics: The Tale of Your Childhood Memories” By Your DNA”

By Elizabeth Carroll, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

While cramming for your last exam of finals week, you’re struck with a thought all too common in these desperate times: if only I could absorb my notes while I sleep! As it turns out, this may be more feasible than you think. Using a method called Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR), you can strengthen specific memories as you sleep. From improving motor skills to altering emotions, this method provides a plethora of potential applications that can support our mental and physical longevity.

Continue reading “Hitting Snooze on Memory Loss”

By Rowan Dunbar, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Chicago

With roughly sixteen percent of the world’s population being disabled, the disabled community makes up the largest minority group in the world. This is why I was shocked when I heard a colleague of mine say that disability ‘just isn’t that interesting’. We both worked at an internship program that focused on health disparities, defined as poor health outcomes due to social factors like racism, homophobia, or transphobia which go on to negatively affect the health of minorities and many communities. Amongst these, the disabled folks are not just one of the most prominent, but also one of the most intersectional and dynamic. 

Continue reading “Engineering Justice: Centering Disabled Voices in STEMM”