Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Bill Carroll
2w ago
On April 8th, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across North America, from Mexico to the Maine-Canadian border. For those who experienced the spectacular solar eclipse of 2017, this one will be similar, crossing the United States from west to east and passing through or near several major metropolitan areas. While its path is quite different this time, Carbondale, Illinois, a reasonable destination for Chicago-area residents, will once again be on the line of totality.     Just a little background on eclipses:  Lunar and solar eclipses are not uncommon – they each ..read more
Visit website
“Our Once and Future Wetlands: My Experience as The Artist-In-Residence with The Wetlands Initiative”
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Lindsay Olson
1M ago
Calumet Region III: Symbolic representation of the hemi-marsh and fragmented landscape Cotton thread, cotton ground, collaged fabric Mounted on linen   Science Art exists on a continuum. At one end of the spectrum is scientific illustration. This is art in the service of science used to teach concepts or visualize big ideas. At the other end is art inspired by science: plenty of art flash but short on science. As a 10-year practitioner of science art, and a former science avoider, I aim for the middle of this continuum: using my toolkit as a fine artist, I want to communicate accurate s ..read more
Visit website
The Future of Nuclear Power in the United States
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Indranil Ghosh
2M ago
Energy is one of the most important resources for humanity in the 21st century, and electricity is the most common form of energy.[1] The primary sources of electricity generation in the US include, but are not limited to, natural gas, nuclear fission, solar and wind. Coal used to be the leading source of energy until the Regional Transmission Authorities (RTOs) or the energy market managers in the US slowly phased out coal as a fuel due to strict environmental regulations because of its release of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants. The negative impact of fossil fu ..read more
Visit website
How Climate Change Fuels the Spread of Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Elizabeth Walsh
6M ago
With July of this year, 2023, being the hottest on Earth yet recorded, there are increasing concerns about how climate change will shape the next several decades. We often hear about how climate change will increase disastrous weather events, decimate crops, and create climate refugees. However, something often overlooked is how climate change will increase disease spread, specifically the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquito-borne diseases are already a global health concern that results in disease and death for millions of people. Over 80% of the worldwide population is at risk of con ..read more
Visit website
Meet Man’s Best Friend… and Hero
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Elizabeth Casolo
6M ago
Coming face to face with our best friends There’s just that something behind your canine companion’s eyes, but you can’t tell what. Dogs seem to know us well, but how well do we know the pooch perched at the foot of the bed? Canine cognition is still an emerging science, with research groups at Duke, Yale and more starting to look beyond those puppy eyes. Along with understanding our furry friends that bring us comfort, researchers explore the cognitive processes that help dogs become our heroes, from dogs sniffing out landmines to reporting out-of-range blood sugar levels in diabetics. Unders ..read more
Visit website
Can Green Supplement Powders Boost Immunity?
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Marina Jardim
10M ago
In recent years, green supplements have become remarkably popular in the health-and-wellness world. Green supplements are fruits and vegetables that have been dried and compacted into powder form. Otherwise known as “superfoods”, these powders are widely believed to improve gut health through digestive enzymes and probiotics, and to boost immunity through the antioxidants in vegetables and fruits. Because they are water-soluble and easy to incorporate into one’s diet, green supplement powders could be a convenient way to strengthen the immune system if effective. During the COVID-19 pandemic ..read more
Visit website
Houseplants Heal: The Benefits of Having and Caring for Plants in Your Home
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Elliot Opel
10M ago
Houseplants are often thought of as ornamental pieces to liven up a room. When I got my monstera, pathos and aloe for my apartment, aesthetics was indeed the only concern. However, it turns out that indoor plants do so much more. Nowadays, most people spend around 90 percent of their time inside homes, offices or schools, and many newer buildings are well-insulated with poor airflow. This leads to the accumulation of pollutants including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). At high enough concentrations, these pollutants can lead to severe sympto ..read more
Visit website
Organoids: Animal-Free Alternatives in Medical Research
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Harriet Giddings
10M ago
The use of animals in research has been a controversial topic for some time. There is still a divided opinion on animal-based research, with many people believing that animals are an ideal choice to not only enhance our understanding of complex diseases such as cancer, but to also test drugs and cosmetics. However, many people argue that using animals is unethical, cruel, and unnecessary. In Great Britain alone, the use of animals increased by 6% in 2021. This is likely to rise as diseases are becoming more complex and the demand for ground-breaking research is constantly growing. In an ideal ..read more
Visit website
Minerals: The Valuable Gifts of Nature
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Kawther Alhamadah
10M ago
Early in its 4.5 billion years of history, a molten Earth began to solidify its rocky surface, creating an atmosphere, developing the blue oceans and land where huge varieties of life forms evolved over billions of years. During each development stage, the earth formed different minerals in varied environments by unique processes. Keeping this in mind, let’s learn more about minerals. Minerals are: Naturally occurring. Inorganic substances [e.g. gold (Au) and coffinite (USiO4)]. Definite chemical composition. Ordered internal structure. Solid at room temperature. Without all these features ..read more
Visit website
Ancient DNA Helps Us Understand Pathogens of the Past
Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog
by Madeline Rollins
10M ago
Herpes simplex virus, the microbe that causes pesky cold sores, has been around for centuries. More than 2,500 years ago, the ancient Greek philosopher first used the word “herpes,” a term derived from the ancient Greek word meaning “to creep” or “crawl,” to describe the painful and easily spread blisters. Herpes is difficult to cure because the virus can hide away in a person’s nerve cells for a long time without causing any symptoms. Environmental and physiological triggers can cause the virus to reactivate and infect cells. The fact that humans have learned to simply coexist with the virus ..read more
Visit website

Follow Illinois Science Council | Science Unsealed Blog on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR