Quantum Mechanics and You
This blog post is part III in a three-part series about quantum mechanics. In case you missed them, check out part I here and part II here. The more we […]
Author Archives: athenssciencecafe
Help the Earth: Let Lawns be Free
On every flight, there is a point when you sink below the clouds and a miniature version of the world unfurls before you. This is my favorite part about flying. […]
Can’t We All just get Oolong? Why Different Teas Aren’t So Different
I’m a tea person. This is pretty controversial in the land of good ol’ hard-workin’, coffee-drinkin’ Americans, but I suspect there are a few of you who prefer leaf water […]
I Shall Call Him Squishy: The Rise of Soft Robotics
In popular culture, biologically-inspired robots play a sinister role. Movies like Blade Runner and The Terminator depict scenes of a humanoid faces split open to reveal violently grinning machines underneath. Such stories often portray machines in a dire “us vs. them” scenario. However, real life robots can have a much softer side. Taking inspiration from creatures such as jellyfish, rays, and octopuses, scientists are developing soft robots that can respond to different environments and can augment human capabilities.
“Happy Accidents:” Your Brain on Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. Maybe you left popcorn in the microwave too long, or wrote the wrong date on important paperwork. Maybe you asked a friend what kind of cake he wants for his surprise party, or mistook Miracle Whip for marshmallow fluff (I will never live this one down).
For every age, t, there exists hope for a great accomplishment.
In May 2013, a paper was received by the Annals of Mathematics. There were three things unusual about the event: first the author was completely unknown. Second, it claimed to […]
Lather, Rinse, Reproduce – Using the scientific method to compare and validate results
I will be the first to admit that, as a science student, the scientific method chapter of each textbook was no more than a list to be memorized for the […]
Vaccine 101: Vaccines and the Law
In previous Vaccine 101 installments, we covered the history, ingredients, importance, and global impact of vaccination. Now, in our last installment, we take a look at which vaccines we receive in the United States and at what age.
Adaptation: a much longer version of Acclimatization
As my avid followers will recall, I ended my previous blog post with a brief discussion on the important distinction between acclimatization and adaptation. That blog post featured an in-depth […]
Angelic Infants: How You’ve Been Saving Mom’s Life Since Infancy
Babies… they go by many descriptions: miracle of life, bundle of joy, little treasure, or the best decision of ‘my’ life. Heartwarming announcements of their arrival grace our Facebook pages and are immediately followed by pictures of smiley, gurgling, adorable blobs of miniature humans. Everywhere, Mothers proclaim loudly and enthusiastically that their newly-minted creations are purely angelic.
