Science & Pop. Culture

Getting around space, Star Wars style?

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/262628478″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”150″ iframe=”true” /] Normally the scientific community takes a stab at making science fiction a reality. But, science fiction took a page from science this time around. Learn about how the ion engines of Star Wars work in reality and how it is enabling space exploration, like never before. Links: CubeSat Podcast, Saturn

athenssciencecafe May 5, 2016

The Force is Strong with this â€¦ Fruit Fly??

Welcome to Star Wars week here at the Athens Science Observer. To help celebrate May the 4th – Star Wars Day – we wanted to take a look at the real life science of that galaxy far far away. â€œMidi-chlorians.â€ For many Star Wars fans, this word alone can set off rage-induced rants. The Prequel

athenssciencecafe May 4, 2016

Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen…

Welcome to Star Wars week here at the Athens Science Observer. To help celebrate May the 4th – Star Wars Day – we wanted to take a look at the real life science of that galaxy far far away. There's a scene in Star Wars: Episode I â€“ The Phantom Menace in which the Jedi

athenssciencecafe May 3, 2016

That’s No Moon…

Welcome to Star Wars week here at the Athens Science Observer. To help celebrate May the 4th – Star Wars Day – we wanted to take a look at the real life science of that galaxy far far away. To start off, we'll dive into one of the most iconic pieces of Star Wars culture:

athenssciencecafe May 2, 2016

Food Waste in the 21st Century

In 2012, food waste was the most abundant kind of waste produced in America (see chart below), beating even plastic and paper. This has led the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to choose food recovery as their theme for this year's Earth Week. Food waste affects multiple areas of the environment. Wasting food means wasting our

athenssciencecafe April 29, 2016

The Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928 has been heralded as one of the most monumental medical discoveries of all time. Amazingly, this discovery was entirely accidental. After returning from a long vacation, Fleming noticed that a culture of Staphylococcus aureus was contaminated with mold. After observing the culture under a microscope, he found that

athenssciencecafe April 28, 2016

Nuclear fallout or nuclear bailout: could nuclear power help save us from climate change?

In December, the US and 194 other countries signed the Paris Agreement, vowing to work together to prevent worldwide temperatures from rising 2 degrees C (3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels. Temperatures have already risen 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), and the planet is warming at approximately 0.15 – 0.20 °C per decade. Preventing further rises in

athenssciencecafe April 22, 2016

Science Non-Fiction: Human Genetic Manipulation

In October 1997, the Sci-Fi drama Gattaca was released on the big screen in the United States. The film takes place in a dystopian future where genetically-engineered humans are superior to unaltered ones. Its protagonist, Ethan Hawk, is born as an â€œinvalidâ€ (someone without genetic engineering) and has to assume the identity of a â€œvalidâ€

athenssciencecafe April 15, 2016

Lions and Tigers, and Orcas! Oh my!

â€œFor more than 50 years, we have been a leading theme park and entertainment company delivering personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature and enable our guests to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world we share.â€ -SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment When you think of SeaWorld, what comes to mind?

athenssciencecafe April 8, 2016

A Glass of Red Wine a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

For thousands of years, red wine has been the drink of choice for Egyptian royals and â€œbasicâ€ girls alike. However, there is more to wine than its ability to â€œclass upâ€ a dinner party. Romans and Greeks recognized the medical benefits of grapes and grape products for treating health issues from skin and eye diseases

athenssciencecafe April 1, 2016

Human Attraction: The electrifying experience

The human species- we are mysterious and intelligent social creatures that have survived using cooperation and teamwork for millennia. We know what we like and dislike as well as being able to choose in life who we want to associate ourselves with. Mix that up with the concept of attraction and things can become a

athenssciencecafe March 25, 2016

Degradable Polymers: Plastics our Future Can Depend On

Consumer plastics is an immense industry, with over 200 million tons produced annually. Of these plastics, 22-43% end up in a landfill, where they sit, inert, slowly breaking down into small particles that enter the environment and interfere in the life cycles of many animals, especially aquatic creatures like fish and zooplankton. This negatively impacts

athenssciencecafe March 22, 2016