The following infographic is based on the ScIU post “7 Tips on How You Can Help the Environment”
Do chameleons change their color to match their environment?
This post was written by ScIU undergraduate student, Sara Hipsher.
Hopefully, we’ve all seen Disney’s Tangled, featuring the cute little chameleon Pascal. Throughout the film, Pascal takes on a range of colors depending on his background as well as his emotions. We see him blending in with teal walls and purple flowers, but we also see him turning red with anger. We’ve grown up thinking chameleons are able to blend into any background, but you may be wondering, is this true? Do chameleons really change their color to match any background or emotion? (more…)
Until I collapse: Arecibo’s more than 50 years of discoveries
This post was written by ScIU guest writer Laura Congreve Hunter, a graduate student in IU’s Astronomy Program.
Famous for its appearances in movies and television including GoldenEye (1995), Contact (1997) and an episode of The X-Files (“Little Green Men”), the Arecibo telescope is a massive 305m (1,000 ft) radio telescope. Built into a natural karst sinkhole on the island of Puerto Rico in 1963, it was in fact the largest single dish telescope in the world until China completed its Five-Hundred-Meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in 2016. Unfortunately for the astronomical community, Arecibo suffered severe damages this year that led to its eventual collapse.
While Arecibo has previously endured rough treatment at the hands of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and an earthquake in January of 2020, its most significant damages occurredthis past August when the cables holding up the 900-ton instrument array started to fail. First an auxiliary cable snapped and left a hundred foot gash in the telescope, and then in November one of the main cables broke, leading to an inspection of the other main support cables. The inspection revealed further damage to other support cables and led the National Science Foundation (NSF) to begin decommissioning the telescope. But before the NSF could begin the process of safely dismantling the telescope, the final cables snapped, dropping the instrument array 500 feet onto the telescope’s main dish. Video footage of the collapse can be seen here (Credit: Courtesy of the Arecibo Observatory, a U.S. National Science Foundation facility). (more…)
Cicada mania at IU
If you’ve walked around Indiana University (or frankly, any woodsy area in Indiana) recently, you’ve probably seen the 17-year Brood X adult cicadas on sidewalks, long grass, trees, and buildings. If you are reading this post and you’ve been in Bloomington for a while, you may also remember the time this happened 17 years ago. Or, you might be like me, and this invasion has sparked a curiosity of wanting to learn more about cicadas.
Five ways to reduce water use
This post was written by ScIU Undergraduate Intern, Ali Alani.
Water, the substance critical for daily life and even our survival, is quite abundant on earth. But not all water on earth is usable for our needs. Even though the majority of the earth’s surface is water, only around 2.5% of that water is freshwater. The water we use for drinking, cleaning, production, and many other vital functions is freshwater. Since the earth’s freshwater reserves are limited and required for many human activities, we need to collectively work together as a species to make sure we conserve our water usage. Decreasing wasteful water usage also provides a financial incentive as it would save families money on their water bill.
Infographic: Dog therapy
The following infographic is based on the ScIU post “Dog Therapy”
Five ways to reduce anxiety naturally
This post was written by ScIU Undergraduate Intern, Gabrielle Rangel.
According to the NASPA, 4 out of 5 college students felt overwhelmed at least once in the past year by the amount of anxiety that they have experienced. The usual stresses of school, life, and work were met with even more challenges due to COVID-19. Students had to switch their learning style, were kicked out of their dorms on campus, lost on-campus jobs, and some even lost family members. To top it off, quarantine has amplified feelings of isolation and loneliness. As quarantining persists, it’s important for everyone to take personal measures in order to reduce stress and anxiety as much as possible. Here are 5 everyday practices that have been proven by recent studies to reduce anxiety. (more…)
Infographic: Risks of using stimulants recreationally
The following infographic is based on the ScIU post “Think twice before cramming: The risks of using stimulants recreationally”
Five ways to stay positive during a pandemic
This post was written by ScIU Undergraduate Intern Jackie Williams.
It’s been over a year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and staying positive this past year has not been the easiest. Despite what your greatest instincts say, going on your phone could be the cause of your blues. After a year of foregoing family and friends, we crave connection now more than ever. While social media may initially seem like a good way to engage with others when we’re apart, research has shown that social media can negatively impact our mental health and lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. Like social media, a sedentary lifestyle often harms your mental health. Luckily, researchers have discovered small hacks that you can do everyday to increase your levels of serotonin (the mood and happiness hormone).
Five fascinating facts about bees
This post was written by ScIU Undergraduate Intern Anna Grimes.
There is more to bees than what initially meets the eye! Sure, we couldn’t live without these busy pollinators, but bees are scientifically interesting beyond just the honey they create. Bees can provide insight into other areas of science, and they themselves are fascinating little creatures. Get to know bees better with the five crazy facts below!