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Tag: Chemistry

How did we find out that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs?

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[A large fireball is being hurtled toward the earth as two small dinosaurs look on, possibly in fear.]

If you ask almost any kid today how the dinosaurs died, they’ll tell you an asteroid killed them, but this didn’t used to be the leading theory. When you look at key papers about the asteroid impact the kids are referring to, you’ll learn that it defined the transition from the Cretaceous to the Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary ~66 million years ago. Before the discovery of the asteroid, there wasn’t a single agreed upon theory on what caused the 5th global mass extinction…

Increasing inclusivity one element at a time

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[Prof. Mona Minkara at the completed accessible, tactile 3D-printed Periodic Table in the exhibition hall at the National ACS meeting in San Diego, CA.]

Achieving full inclusion for people with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics – STEAM – has become a global matter. People with disabilities in STEAM are underrepresented in postsecondary academic environments and the job market…

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…

Five skincare ingredients for fall and winter

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[Picture is a pipette with oil coming from it and a small gold spoon with shea butter on it, both placed on a background of lotion.”]

Making sure your skin is properly hydrated and moisturized is essential for healthy skin. However, with Fall and Winter upon us, this weather can throw us off balance! We have all experienced that uncomfortable feeling when our lips are chapped, our cheeks are red, and our face feels tight or dry when walking through the blustery cold. With so many products on the market, it can be impossible to know what ingredients to look for. Depending on your skin’s needs, you may benefit more from certain ingredients over others. Some people suffer from dryness whereas others experience dehydration…

Graduating ScIU Writers 2019

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Our blog would be nothing without our writers. Unfortunately they can’t stay here forever; they must go on to their next great adventures in life. So we wanted to take a moment to recognize a few of our authors who have recently left or are preparing to leave soon. We wish you all the very… Read more »

Seeds, Cyanide, And Medicinal properties (SCAM)

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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 »

It’s Not the Chlorine

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Swimming pool with line divider and one swimmer approaching.

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

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A stressed student bites a pencil as she looks at a computer screen, studying.

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 »

Single molecule magnets: The data storage of the future

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USB drive and hard disk drive are shown.

This post is from ScIU’s archives. It was originally published by Josey Topolski in January 2017, and has been lightly edited to reflect current events. The storage capability of hard drives has been increasing exponentially over the past 60 years. The IBM 350 RAMAC disk released in 1956 was able to store 2000 bits (a unit… Read more »

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