by Qiang Cui When I talk about artificial intelligence (AI), the usual images that come to mind are from fiction: Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey, the cyborg from The Terminator, or perhaps the gloomy …
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Does Eating Turkey Make You Sleepy? (Answer: No, but tryptophan can teach us about nanotoxicology!)
by Stephanie Mitchell edited by Mimi Hang and Ariane Vartanian Every Thanksgiving we gorge ourselves on delicious food and become very sleepy. Inevitably at that point, someone volunteers that it’s the turkey that’s made you …
Ep 9. Seven Stages of Technological Adaptation
This episode of the podcast features an interview with University of Minnesota graduate student Peter Clement, discussing the book The War on Science by Shawn Otto. We focus on Otto’s explanation of the Seven Stages of Technological Adaptation — an observation that how our society adapts new technology has generally repeated the same sequence of steps over and over, from discovery through crisis and adaptation, especially since the mid-20th Century.
What Does the U.S Election Mean for Science?
by Miriam Krause There’s no getting around it: the President of the United States always has the potential for profound effects on scientific research and science-related policy and legislation in this country. And because of …
Ep 8. How Nanomaterials Can Build Better Bikes
On this episode of the Sustainable Nano podcast, we talk about one example of how nanotechnology is changing something many people use every day: bikes! Margy Robinson, a graduate student in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology and a competitive cyclist, explains how carbon nanotubes and graphene are currently being incorporated into some high-end bicycles.
Why Do Parks Care What Sunscreen We Use?
by Ese Ehimiaghe edited by Eric Melby Earlier this year I went to Mexico for spring break. During my trip I visited sinkholes (called cenotes) and Xcaret, an eco-archeological park. Xcaret is a combination of …
Nature Under a Microscope: Exploring the Beauty of Nanoscience
by Bo Zhiedited by Arielle Mensch Towering mountains are stretching beyond my sight, flaming roses are blossoming by my side, shooting stars are dashing above my head. You might think that I am traveling to …
Ivy League Nanoparticles
by Natalie Hudson-Smith edited by Joe Buchman Climbing ivy is a part of the everyday landscape. For some, it is a nuisance plant which is notoriously difficult to remove from the sides of buildings. For …
Ep 7. What Do Glaciers Have to Do With Nanoscience?
Why do glaciers sometimes look blue? Hint: it’s not for the same reason we see blue as the color of the sky!
On this episode of the podcast, we have an interview with Dr. Robert Hamers, following up on his recent blog post. Bob is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, and he tells us about a recent family trip to Alaska that got him wondering about why some glaciers have an amazing blue color.
Happy Mole Day 2016!
by Gene Chong edited by Caley Allen and Arielle Mensch Happy Mole Day from the CSN! This is our third annual post for Mole Day (check out the posts for 2014 and 2015), so it is …