Stalagmites reveal clues to changing ocean currents, changing climate
By Ilana Wolchinsky Medill Reports Climatologist Laura Endres began her Ph.D. a year ago at ETH Zürich in the paleoclimate field, drawing on her background in earth and climate sciences. Endres uses climate records encased in cave stalagmites to reveal past climate patterns — paleoclimate — that give clues to how fast climate change is […]
Will evaporation dry up water sources as climate change worsens?
By Gabrielle Rancifer Medill Reports “If we didn’t have evaporation, we wouldn’t have water in the atmosphere,” said Thomas Lowell, a geology professor at the University of Cincinnati. Researchers closely follow and evaluate both evaporation and precipitation because they are key components of the water cycle. Evaporation delivers water to the atmosphere, and precipitation delivers […]
Engineered log jams restore natural river flow, fish spawning in Pacific Northwest
By Fiona Skeggs Medill Reports The upper Quinault River in Washington is always changing. In February, you’ll be scrambling over rocks and dodging areas of soft, wet sand that was about 8 feet lower in October, the high winter flow having deposited new material on the floodplain. In December, you’d have been swimming. Still, water […]
Fermilab following clues to unravel the latest mysteries of the universe
By Hana Ahmed, Brittany Edelmann and Daphne Yao Medill Reports Near light-speed collisions of streams of subatomic particles at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Batavia have helped identify several of the 17 known building blocks of matter, leading to continuing and newfound discoveries about the universe. New Neutrino? One experiment focuses on neutrino physics. […]
Meet TV Chef, Inventor, and ‘Fit Foodie’ Mareya Ibrahim
By Harrison Liao Medill Reports For today’s health-conscious eaters, it is all too easy to get lost within the maze of contradictory nutritional advice. Nearly 80% of Americans surveyed “come across conflicting information about food and nutrition,” and 59% reported that “conflicting information makes them doubt their choices,” according to a 2018 study conducted by […]
Art and science in the time of Cajal: How paying homage to neuroscience’s founder helps scientists frame new research
By Valerie Nikolas Medill Reports “Undoubtedly, only artists devote themselves to science.” – Santiago Ramón y Cajal, 1900 interview Art and science may seem like complete opposites to some. But for Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of modern neuroscience, blending the two led him to groundbreaking discoveries about the human mind. Growing up in […]
Madrid’s Cajal Institute fosters collaboration among international neuroscientists
By Valerie Nikolas Medill Reports A Japanese postdoctoral fellow, two Spanish doctoral candidates, an Italian undergraduate and an American journalist walk into a neuroscience research institute in Spain. It’s 2 p.m. and the Cajal Institute’s break room is abuzz with the sounds of scientists eating packed lunches, discussing the latest episode of Game of Thrones […]
Stoned drivers targeted by new breathalyzer technology
By Brady Jones Medill Reports Slowed reaction time. Reduced ability to make decisions. Impaired coordination. Memory loss. Difficulty in problem-solving. These are some of the symptoms listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describing people who drive under the influence of marijuana. And right now, it is very difficult for law enforcement […]
Dads who exercise may pass down cognitive benefits to their offspring
Mouse study shows offspring of active fathers are better at learning and remembering By Valerie Nikolas Medill Reports Men, if you want smarter kids, it may be time to hit the gym. When it comes to baby-bearing, women often get the brunt of the responsibility, especially before a child is born. But new evidence shows […]
How to ensure your electric vehicle is powered by renewable energy
By Brady Jones Medill Reports Driving an electric vehicle plays a critical role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but the impact of this reduction gets diminished if the electricity comes from fossil fuels. The sources of electricity used to power your car must be green too and several choices are available to make that happen. […]
