ScIU Conversations in Science at Indiana University: Indiana University Bloomington

Climate change… on Venus?

By: Janelle C. Wittmer

The most active searches for otherworldly life in our solar system are centered around Mars, Earth’s cold planetary neighbor, and Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter. In fact, NASA just launched the Europa Clipper on October 14, 2024 with the primary goal of searching for life. And in recent years, many people have floated the idea of sending astronauts to Mars. It was for missions like these that, in 2023, NASA postponed the would-be next exploratory trip to Venus — VERITAS — by allocating its funding to other exploratory programs which were exceeding their budgets...

Beyond the surface: Understanding paranoia through racial disparities and systemic influences (Part 2)

By: J Wolny

In Part 1, I explored how systemic racism and racial disparities shape paranoia, particularly among Black Americans. If you missed it, I highly recommend giving it a read—it lays the foundation for what I’ll discuss here. In this second installment, I’ll focus on how systemic biases influence the diagnosis of paranoia and mental health, and why culturally informed assessments are essential for delivering care that’s not just accurate, but empathetic and effectively attuned to reality for people of color...

Beyond the surface: Understanding paranoia through racial disparities and systemic influences (Part 1)

By: J Wolny

Paranoia often conjures images of extreme beliefs: people out to get you, conspiring against you, or plotting harm. However, paranoia isn’t always that extreme—it exists on a spectrum, ranging from fleeting concerns about social judgment to full-blown persecutory delusions (fixed beliefs that you’re being targeted despite evidence to the contrary [Freeman et al., 2005]). Research shows that 30-40% of young adults experience some degree of paranoia, often tied to social anxiety or fears of negative evaluation...

AI: Revolutionizing the landscape of mental health treatment

By: Guest Contributor

If you’ve been plugged into the news recently, you might have heard a thing or two about artificial intelligence (AI). Whether it conjures up talking robots or 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger films, artificial intelligence has become an increasingly popular topic. But, you might be wondering, what exactly is AI? In a broad sense, artificial intelligence refers to the ability of machines to mimic human cognitive functions, such as learning and problem-solving. In the realm of mental health, AI is rapidly emerging as a game-changer, offering exciting possibilities for diagnosis, treatment, and overall accessibility of care...

Perks of being a wallflower: Scratching the surface of PTSD

By: Guest Contributor

I have always appreciated the depth and emotion portrayed within the film Perks of Being a Wallflower, which hits on uncomfortable issues in a beautifully cinematic way. While there are a multitude of scenes Icould analyze, I’d like to focus on a clip towards the very end of the movie, in which Charlie (the main character) experiences a flashback that, in my interpretation, can be attributed to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD...

Secret world of elephants

By: sciutern

For millions of years, proboscideans — a group that includes mammoths, mastodons, and elephants — traversed diverse landscapes, shaping ecosystems as they went. However, around 11,700 years ago, human hunting and the waning ice age drastically reduced their numbers to just three species — the Asian elephant, the African forest elephant, and the African savanna elephant, as stated by Iqbal from ScienceNews.org. These giants are now endangered, and the impact of losing them extends far beyond what meets the eye...

The brain and moral decision making

By: Guest Contributor

How do we separate right from wrong in moral decision making? Some moral decisions, like whether or not to commit murder, seem like easy and intuitive moral decisions. However, we are often caught in moral dilemmas in our lives where the “right” thing to do is not as clear...

Debunking myths about therapy

By: Guest Contributor

Embarking on the journey of mental health therapy can be a truly transformative experience. However, it's not uncommon for misconceptions to cloud the path to healing. Despite the increasing demand for mental health treatment, persistent myths still predominate. But here's a spoiler alert: Therapy isn't merely about sitting on a couch (or lying down) and pouring your heart out. It's a dynamic process that goes beyond stereotypes...

Philosophy and moral decision making

By: Guest Contributor

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...

ScIU Conversations in Science at Indiana University

Climate change… on Venus?

Beyond the surface: Understanding paranoia through racial disparities and systemic influences (Part 2)

Beyond the surface: Understanding paranoia through racial disparities and systemic influences (Part 1)

AI: Revolutionizing the landscape of mental health treatment

Perks of being a wallflower: Scratching the surface of PTSD

Secret world of elephants

The brain and moral decision making

Debunking myths about therapy

Philosophy and moral decision making

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