Should you cheat on your exam to get a good final grade in your class? When is it okay to lie? If your child is going for an internship at your company, is it morally permissible to give them a leg up over other applicants? We make moral decisions every day, forming a moral personality from the choices we make about right and wrong…
General Science
Science Fest: Eclipse edition
Once a year, Indiana University-Bloomington proudly hosts Science Fest, a vibrant occasion designed to share the wonders of science with the public. This year, in an exciting shift, Science Fest was moved to the spring to celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse happening in Bloomington, IN!…
Makeup: The ugly truth
Waking up and applying makeup has become one of the most relaxing parts of my daily routine. While my music blares and I sing along, I go through the motions: concealer, blush, bronzer, mascara, lip gloss. Though applying each product symmetrically, in the right proportions, and with intentional brush strokes takes on a meditative quality, I rarely reflect on the ‘makeup’ of what I am putting on my skin…
Perception, a constructed reality
Sensory information, via our eyes, ears, and other organs, forms the foundation of our lived experience. Yet we find ourselves perceiving the world differently from our family, friends, and the person sitting next to us at our favorite sports event, who calls the ball out when it clearly hit the line! So how accurate is our perception, really?…
What to know about organ donation
Throughout high school, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the community around me. After working at my local hospital for a couple of months, I started to notice that many people were impacted by organ donation in my small town alone. Soon after, I went to a healthcare conference in Indianapolis, IN, and I learned about groups advocating for organ donors and donor recipients. This is when I knew I wanted to be involved…
Enough about polar bears: Who else is vulnerable to climate change?
Polar bears are one of the most iconic symbols of the impacts of climate change. Their struggle is shown over campaigns across the world, which show animals that have become endangered as a result of climate change. Although they are used the most in these campaigns, polar bears aren’t the only animals impacted by global warming. This post explores other animal species that are also heavily affected by the impacts of climate change and aims to raise awareness of the struggles the wildlife around us experience…
The Cosmic Compass: How birds Master the Skies
Every year, the skies come alive as billions of birds begin their migration. From the Arctic Tern, with its remarkable marathon around the Earth to the quaint journey of the Dusky Grouse, the avian spectrum is a captivating display of nature’s variability. How do these travelers embark on such extraordinary journeys, navigating through continents and oceans with such precision?
Extremophiles: The alien-like creatures of Earth
The discovery of extremophiles – organisms that thrive in extreme environments – completely changed scientists’ perspectives on the conditions necessary for life. These evolutionary marvels provide context for the origins of life, evolution, and are maybe the best case for the possibility of the existence of life on other planets with extreme environments….
PhD Mom: Baby development
I’ve been doing this mom thing for about 2 years now and along the way I’ve gotten a chance to not only watch my child grow from being a squishy potato of a newborn into a boisterous, opinionated, and hilarious toddler, but I’ve also learned some cool things about baby cognition and child development along the way…
Miss Understanding: Discussing myths about sleep health
Scientists have finally figured out exactly how much sleep humans need: “Just five more minutes!” KIDDING! We’re not here to perpetuate unhelpful sleep habits (yeah – uh – sorry, that snooze button probably isn’t doing much for you); we’re here to talk about the science behind a topic that all people can relate to: sleep…