This is the second part of a series on extraterrestrial psychology. Read part 1 here! In Part 1 of this series, I discussed how the interdisciplinary field of evolutionary psychology can help us explore similarities between the human mind and possible extraterrestrial ones. One common potential feature is how we search for resources, which often… Read more »
General Science
Seeds, Cyanide, And Medicinal properties (SCAM)
This post was written by IU undergraduate student Yiling Dong. It is the third in a series of featured stories written for a ScIU in the Classroom collaboration with Dr. Cathrine Reck in the Department of Chemistry. “Good source of B17” sounds legit, right? A quick internet search will lead you to thousands of results touting the anti-cancer benefits… Read more »
The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative: A brief look
Even for non-researchers, it is important to be informed about the various initiatives that change the way we do science and, ultimately, the way scientists choose to spend government dollars. In the wake of the 10-year anniversary of RDoC’s inception [1], I would like to unpack this commonly misunderstood acronym that is popping up in… Read more »
Stellar psychology part I: Evolutionary psychology informs the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
Last December, bombshell reports were released detailing the Pentagon’s use of tax-payer funds to investigate claimed UFO sightings. With continued discoveries of habitable planets across the universe, the probability that life exists outside the Earth is rapidly rising. This may be why the former head of The Pentagon’s UFO program, Luis Elizondo, recently stated that… Read more »
An open letter to BRAVO TV regarding the misrepresentation of schizophrenia
Dear BRAVO TV, I have been a regular viewer of your series of shows entitled “The Real Housewives of [Insert City Here because, truthfully, I watch them all]” since it first aired in 2006 featuring Orange County. As a student of psychology, I love watching the housewives – seeing how other people engage in various… Read more »
The Microorganism Survival Toolkit: Dormancy
The author is ScIU guest writer Emmi Mueller, a graduate student in IU’s Department of Biology. What do the deepest parts of the ocean, the human intestine, and outer space have in common? All of these environments are able to harbor a diverse community of microorganisms. Microbes are involved in everything from nitrogen and carbon cycling to… Read more »
Graduate learning outside research: Science Fest
If you are a Bloomington (or a nearby city) resident, you probably have heard about Science Fest. Science Fest is an annual multi-department science outreach event managed by office of science outreach showcasing IU research rolled up as uber fun activities for kids and adults to enjoy. As a veteran volunteer who has participated in… Read more »
It’s Not the Chlorine
This post was written by IU undergraduate students Alexa Akers and Amanda Lawson. It is the second in a series of featured stories written for a ScIU in the Classroom collaboration with Dr. Cathrine Reck in the Department of Chemistry. There are some smells that are universal. They transcend region and culture, and can be recognized instantaneously. There’s no better… Read more »
Think twice before cramming: The risks of using stimulants recreationally
This post was written by IU undergraduate students Catherine DeBruyn, Nuha Zakariya, Hannah Maluvac. It is the first in a series of featured stories written for a ScIU in the Classroom collaboration with Dr. Cathrine Reck in the Department of Chemistry. Picture this: you are up for a big promotion and it all depends on finishing the massive project your… Read more »
Engaged Science: 6 Tips for the Trump Era
Hi ScIU Readers! I co-authored this blog post written for an audience of scientists with Vijay Limaye, Ph.D., for the Natural Resources Defense Council’s blog (and cross-posted on the Union of Concerned Scientists’ blog), but I think the topic is important and highly relevant to all scientists, scientists in training, and science allies so I… Read more »