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Fieldwork codes-of-conduct

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A female scientist in waders views a blue science test outdoors on a fall day.

[A female scientist in waders views a blue science test outdoors on a fall day.

Field scientists often work in isolated, unsupervised, or otherwise dangerous locations. For instance, I used to work along remote streams with limited access and communication with my institution. These secluded environments can create conditions that exacerbate sexual harassment and bullying, from fellow field scientists or other people encountered in the field. This can lead to unsafe situations, particularly for non-male students and those belonging to marginalized groups. As a striking example of these hostilities, approximately 70% of women scientists have experienced harassment while doing fieldwork and one in four have been assaulted. Scientists at remote field sites can also experience hate symbols, threats of violence, or verbal abuse about a disability from people they encounter…

The grocery store sells many kinds of salt, but are they actually different?

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several bottle of white table salt sit on a metal rack. one fo the bottles has spilled over on to the table.

[several bottle of white table salt sit on a metal rack. one of the bottles has spilled over on to the table. .

I walk down the spice aisle of my local grocery store. It smells like pepper and cinnamon, but all I need is salt. Scanning the shelves of alphabetically arranged spices, it isn’t there. It has a display all its own, just to the left. And there’s not just one type. There are many. Mediterranean sea salt, iodized salt, black truffle salt, kosher salt, smoked salt, the list goes on. But what’s the difference? According to Samin Nosrat, in her bestselling book, “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat”, salt is the “most important element of good cooking,” so you have to have it. But what kind should you get? Well, it depends on what qualities matter to you. Is it the geology? The chemistry? The size of the crystal grains? Or maybe the flavor…

Making and Reaching New Year’s Resolutions the SMART way

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[A notebook sits in the middle of the photo with “2022” written in big words on the left side and “Goal” written in big letters on the right with one through four numbered under it. To the left is a bunch of flowers sitting on the table and to the right of the notebook there is a coffee cup with coffee in it.

It’s January 1st. You bought your notebook, numbered the page, and you’re ready; It is time to make some New Year’s resolutions. If you’re someone that regularly makes resolutions, you’re not alone. The start of a new year brings a natural push to start new routines or try to break bad habits. However, many people struggle to keep resolutions. The good news is, behavioral science and the theory of motivation tell us there are evidence-based strategies that can help…

The happiest biotechnology lab on Earth

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[Small, leafy green plants grow in 8 clear glass jars as a scientist reaches in to grab one.

A trip to Walt Disney World includes popcorn, fireworks, and…genetic engineering? As discussed in a previous ScIU post, Disney attractions are full of surprising science, like illusions in the Haunted Mansion and electron movement in firework shows, but perhaps the most interesting example is the biotechnology at work in the Living with the Land attraction at EPCOT. In 1982, Disney debuted Listen to the Land, a slow-moving boat ride through agricultural vignettes that culminated in a visit to sprawling greenhouses that provided a peek at Disney’s biotechnology labs…

Finding a therapist: Frequently asked questions

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[Photograph of a man gesturing with his left hand. He is speaking to a woman sitting across from him, who is writing notes on a clipboard.

Thinking about starting therapy but overwhelmed by the process of finding a therapist? You’re not alone. There are a lot of reasons that people don’t seek treatment. This post will discuss how to find a therapist and things to consider during your search. “Should I go to therapy? How do I know when it’s ‘time?’” The shortest answer is therapy can be appropriate at any time, as long as you want to be there. It is extremely common to seek therapy when we’re struggling with severe or minor difficulties…

Primates: Nature’s grounds keepers

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[A young macaque enjoys some jackfruit up in the trees.]

Over the past few years, the iconic video below has become the face of orangutan conservation efforts: a young male orangutan confronting a bulldozer as it destroys the forest around him. Orangutan populations once stretched from the islands of Indonesia through Vietnam and into the south Asian continent. Fossils of orangutan ancestors have even been found all the way up into northern India! Today, wild orangutans can only be found in Sumatra and Borneo, two islands in Indonesia…

What are delusions?: A look at social processes behind delusional beliefs

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[Black cartoon of a human with the top of their head hinged open and a red explosion coming out.]

Researchers and mental health professionals use a common definition to describe delusions: a fixed, false belief held despite contradictory evidence. Not only does this definition fail to distinguish delusions from other widespread beliefs, such as religious or ideological beliefs, but it also attempts to simplify delusions to an individual characteristic of irrationality (i.e., the person has failed to distinguish what is true and false. This conceptualization of delusions has been criticized, and new theories have emerged, which focus on the inherently social nature of acquiring beliefs. This framework might better explain why delusions exist in the general population and identify some ways in which false beliefs can form….

Disney demystified: The science of magic

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[A black silhouette of Cinderella’s Castle covered in white line drawings of scientific concepts and instruments such as beakers, elements, leaves, DNA, stars, chemical structures, and arrows.]

A day at Walt Disney World exceeds all expectations. Rides move flawlessly on their complex tracks, fireworks appear out of thin air, and the scent of cotton candy floats in the air. It’s as if everything happens on cue, guided by a mysterious force. It could be magic, yes, but what if it’s science? Read on for five feats of engineering, chemistry, and biology that have probably escaped your notice in the parks…

The runner’s high: Emerging players

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[Image of an individual jumping from one hillside to another during a sunset.]

The statement, “WOW! I feel fantastic!” is not a phrase many would associate with endurance running. In fact, most people tend to exhibit feelings of dread when they grudgingly decide to lace up their shoes and go for a jog. Although some may believe that running-induced euphoria is an anomaly, it is actually a well-documented subjective occurrence…

Stellar ghosts: Understanding supernovae

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[Against the dark backdrop of a few stars is a translucent sphere with a slight orange glow at the bottom left.]

Are ghosts real? Spooky figures in a haunted house, maybe not. But if you’re looking for energy left behind after death, you may want to turn your gaze to the stars. Stars may not be conventionally “alive,” but they do have a lifecycle and part of that lifecycle includes death. In rare cases, that death releases a spectacular amount of energy in a supernova explosion…

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