Puzzled By Goal Setting?

Bleak and frigid January may be when you think about setting new goals, but several cultures celebrate the new year in Autumn. Today is as good a day as any to begin, especially if you are already making a change to your environment. As Teal Burrell explains in New Scientist, “the best times to break …

Inspiring Tomorrow’s STEM Workforce

Launching a major new initiative aimed at inspiring Connecticut’s young people to embrace expanding career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the Connecticut Science Center has kicked-off STEM Career Connections.   Describing the Science Center as uniquely equipped to motivate young students and set them on a path to pursue in-demand careers in the …

Greyhound Superpowers with Connecticut Greyhound Adoption

When Gracie, a nimble black greyhound, first walked around Kelly and Chris Orts’s small apartment, her ears perked up with curiosity and Kelly and Chris’s hearts melted.  To continue our “Dog Days of Summer” celebration, we have teamed up with Connecticut Greyhound Adoption to explore the superpowers of greyhounds and share the stories of Gracie …

Insects in Your Backyard: Celebrating Bug Week

This year, the Connecticut Science Center is celebrating Bug Week July 21 through 28 in collaboration with UConn Extension and the Connecticut Museum of Natural History. We’ll be bringing you bug-themed programming all week in honor of insects and all that they do. Why celebrate insects? Insects are the most diverse group of animals, meaning …

Supporting Life in Space: An Interview with Ed O’Connor

“Do you wear a snowsuit to keep warm in the winter? Or bring a backpack to school?” asks Science Center volunteer Ed O’Connor as a young girl stares up at the space suit replica in the Connecticut Science Center’s Space Gallery. “Well, this suit does the same thing for astronauts; it has everything to keep …

Waiting for the Amazing: Reflection on the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11

As an experienced space nerd, you learn to be patient. The Universe doesn’t make it quick or convenient for us Earthlings to visit other planets or witness far-off celestial events. Want to catch a shuttle to Mars but missed your flight? Too bad; you’ll have to wait two years for the next optimal launch when …

NASA’s Women in STEM: Then & Now

From Margaret Hamilton and Katherine Johnson in the 1960s to Katie Bouman in 2019, women have been a central, if too-long overlooked, part of the space field. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, we recognize the contribution of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in a fast-fact comparison …

Sniffing Out Your Dog’s Superpowers

We’re having a great time celebrating the “Dog Days of Summer” and judging by the response, there are lots of dog lovers out there. There are countless reasons why dogs have fascinated us through the years.  As the proud owner of a Golden Retriever/Lab mix named Zoe, I know I am definitely captivated. Let’s see …

Top 4 Out-of-this-World Space Events to See in July

Get ready to explore new phenomena in space this summer, right from your own backyard! In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20th, Down to a Science is featuring content about space all through the month of July. Take your summer stargazing to the next level and check …

Experiencing Spidey-Sense in Spider-Man: The Science Behind Science Fiction

Spider-Man. Is he strong? Listen bud. He’s got radioactive blood. He‘s agile too, these things go without saying. Under the mask, Peter Parker is a spectacular scientist and engineer as well; having developed countless inventions and gadgets, including his signature Web-Shooters, to take down an unending gauntlet of super villains. Spider-Man works tirelessly to save …

Decoding Dinosaur Genetics in Jurassic Park:The Science Behind Science Fiction

When I read Jurassic Park for the first time in 8th grade, genetics came alive. Just like the moment in the 1993 film where Dr. Grant and Dr. Satler first saw their fossilized dinosaurs come to life on the island, I saw just how interesting genetics could be. A few years later in my high …

Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist: Down to a Science Book Club

Who are the scientists behind the research? What are their lives like? What are the stories of their discoveries, failures, and successes? To celebrate Pride Month, June’s book club read is Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist by Ben Barres. As a neuroscience masters student, I often read scientific articles on brain development written by Ben …

Spilling the T. (rex) on Dinosaur Behavior in Jurassic Park: The Science Behind Science Fiction

While watching my favorite science fiction movies and TV shows, I’m often left with more questions than answers. Can we actually clone ancient animals like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park? Does gamma radiation change our DNA, like the process behind The Hulk’s angry, green transformation? What are the quantum mechanics behind “Pym Particles” and the …

Top 10 Must-Listen-To Science Podcasts

When my co-worker first suggested to me that I should listen to science podcasts, I was initially a bit skeptical. As a neuroscience graduate student, I used to read and talk with people about science all day long, why would I want to listen to more people talk about science in my free time? Eventually, …