National Lab Travelogue: A day in the life of a graduate student visiting the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

As a life-long nerd and science-lover, it is hard to imagine a laboratory that could get me more excited than Galya Orr’s lab at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Galya is a collaborator within the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology. I had the great opportunity to travel to her lab at the Environmental Molecular Sciences …

How to Avoid Bitter Coffee and Why it Exists in the First Place – a scientific look at brewing

Coffee. Not only can it be used in scientific experiments, but every day the delectable flavors derived from the humble coffee bean wake up and fuel a substantial proportion of the population. But just how do those delicious flavors get from the bean into your cup? It all comes down to a process called extraction. …

Nanoparticles With Your Coffee? A Java-Infused Science Experiment!

Many of us couldn’t make it through a day without a cup or two of our favorite caffeinated beverage. I usually start my day with a warm cup of coffee or tea. In fact, more than 50% of adults in America drink coffee on a daily basis, averaging about 3 cups a day. In the US, …