This post is sponsored by Green Works
The summer before my senior year of high school I spent at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC attending the North Carolina Governor’s School program.
Admission was somewhat competitive, and I was thrilled to be selected. Students applied for topics of study from English and Theater to Music and Social Science. My topic of study: Natural Science. Science had always been my favorite subject in school, with math being a close second. As a girl I used to read our family’s encyclopedia chapters on the human body and different diseases. One of my favorite memories of middle school was dissecting a tiny shark in eighth grade.
My summer at governor’s school led me to one of the coolest experiences of my life – a visit to the Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Cadaver Lab. I held a real brain and heart, and studied the inside of a body. It was remarkable. I wasn’t as fond of my physics class on special relativity (I still don’t believe the twin paradox!) but I had a great time that summer making friends, living in a dorm for the first time and thinking outside of the box.
After my time at governor’s school, I strayed away from science in college. I was overwhelmed by all the time dedicated to lab work! I studied women’s history instead, and while I loved it, I ended up back in the sciences after college at Winthrop to pursue becoming a registered dietitian. Here I was yet again interested physiology and nutritional biochemistry!
Green Works, my current countertop cleaner of choice, is supporting girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs to help the next generation of female scientists unleash their power and discover their #NaturalPotential. They have partnered with the American Association of University Women to encourage girls to explore careers in science. Learn more about Green Work’s initiative with girls in STEM by watching their video.
For this post they asked me to share my experiences in the sciences. I get SO many emails about becoming a registered dietitian, and I hope in my responses I have helped encourage other women that they can handle the grueling chemistry classes : )
In honor of experimenting, the Sayas and I made kale popsicles!
First we asked a question: can kale be turned into a popsicle?
Our hypothesis: YES – but only in the company of other delicious ingredients.
We tested our hypothesis with the following combination of ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup fresh blackberries
4 kid-sized handfuls of kale
1 cup orange juice
After it was purple and blended, I added a few tablespoons of chia seeds for some crunchy texture.
We carefully poured them into our molds
Data analyzation was a fun process – they were delicious!
And the Sayas both ate lots of kale : )
This post is sponsored by Green Works
Allison says
What prompted your switch to green works? I remember your post on green cleaners and know you loved Shaklee.
KathEats says
I think Greenworks handles grease better than Shaklee. I use them both – Greenworks in my kitchen and Shaklee for other kinds of things (like a stain on the couch)
Mel says
Hey, Kath! Great post. It’s so important to get more young women into STEM fields of study. I’m sure with your background studying women’s history you also see this as a feminist issue. Quick question, you mentioned you don’t believe in the twin paradox. Do you mean that it seems really ‘out there’ so it’s hard to believe, or that you literally don’t believe it. It’s a crazy idea to be sure!
P.S. The little popsicles are so cute. Wish I had one right now to beat this heat!
KathEats says
I just think that our cells don’t know what time zone we’re in!! (I say that tongue and cheek – I’m sure the physicists know what they’re talking about : ) )
Ellamae says
Haha Kath, you are so funny! The twin paradox is about the effects of gravity and velocity on time, I don’t think your cells have much say in the matter! But I know you were being tongue *in* cheek ;- )
KathEats says
Right…so why would your cells age any slower or faster? They aren’t aware of velocity!
Ellamae says
Because at velocities approaching the speed of light, time literally slows down. The only constant in the universe is the speed of light. Space and time are relative concepts and, as dimensions, are linked (the space-time continuum). When you move quickly through space, you are “diverting” some of that motion into motion through time–so, time slows down.
In the paradox, the twin flying out to space close to the speed of light would have gone so fast that time slowed down relative to her Earthbound twin. Our cells obey the laws of physics so she will have aged more slowly.
I know, it’s a toughie.
KathEats says
That is my understanding but I just don’t know how the cells know to obey the laws of physics! I’ve pondered this for years 🙂 My brain just can’t get it.
Ellamae says
Because everything obeys the laws of physics?
Lil says
Yes exactly. All matter in this universe obeys the laws of physics. Cells don’t “know” or “decide” anything
KathEats says
Right – they are constants!! So how would they know if their velocity had changed?
Lil says
Haha I think you’ve misunderstood, cells arent an entity with thoughts or feelings, so saying “cells know” isn’t really applicable. Matter simply functions within the dimension it exists in. ALL matter will follow this theory, that’s just the laws of physics as Ellamae points out.
Sally says
Kath,
Please see this :
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2006/22mar_telomeres/
KathEats says
That article was awesome. Exactly the kind of points I’ve been thinking about. I loved the editor’s note at the bottom too…Einstein was talking about time dilation and not necessarily the biology as well
Ellamae says
It’s a thought experiment. You’d have bigger problems than cell aging if you were to actually travel at the speed of light. Getting vaporized by g-force, for one.
I should get GreenWorks to give me some money! ;- )
Emma says
I’m no physicist. However, I don’t think that the NASA article is relevant to the points you’re making. NASA is saying that the effect of time dilation on aging – which the article doesn’t dispute – may be *counteracted* by the effect of cosmic radiation on human bodies. I think they’re just using the twin paradox as a cute “hook” for the article. The effects of radiation is a phenomenon unrelated to the thought experiment of traveling at speeds close to the speed of light. The article is discussing a practical fear for astronauts going to Mars (radiation) but as far as I know, we don’t have the technology to travel at the speeds necessary for the twin paradox to take effect…
KathEats says
Well I’m not a physicist either! But what I liked about the article is it brings up the biological effects of traveling the speed of light, which is always my point when I question the paradox. If you told me, for example, that the reason the paradox works is because the telomeres are ripped off and aging stopped so the traveling twin never showed any signs of aging relative to his earth twin, I would be able to digest it better as something that could actually happen – if traveling the speed of light were possible.
Rachel says
I am a physicist, and it is surreal to be reading a discussion of relativity here! But it’s awesome! The more people who are excited about any aspect of science, the better. It’s wonderful to see your promotion of women in STEM and the fun pictures of your own experiences some years back. You come across as very scientifically literate to me, so I’m not surprised you’ve always loved science. It’s so great to see a celebration of that.
About the twin paradox — I don’t see why some commenters have taken a condescending tone in explaining it. I don’t think much of physics (even Newtonian mechanics) is especially intuitive. The fact that time is not the same for all observers — that is a very deep and strange thing. I’m not sure I could give a better account than what you’ll find online or in books, so I just want to say that, for me, it helps to consider how limited our everyday experience is. We don’t experience velocities close to the speed of light, or the gravitational fields of black holes, or objects much smaller than grains of sand, so why should it be that our experiences of time/space/etc. apply much beyond what we experience? I feel that way about biology too — left to my own devices, I would never come up with the germ theory of disease, for example. So the effort is trying to accept that my intuitions don’t take me very far and trying to discard them when evidence and reasoning shows us that reality is different (usually stranger).
Anyway, mostly I wanted to say that, even though I use relativity often in my work, and even though I have many experiences as a scientist (and even just a user of consumer electronics) that shows it is true, it still feels rather incredible. That is part of why it is so neat. Despite what you say, I know your brain can get relativity — by appreciating that it is rather disturbing and very alien to our experience, I think you are already partway there.
KathEats says
Thanks for your comment! It’s fun to hear from an actual physicist 🙂
Emily says
If the telomeres were ripped off, the traveling twin could no longer replicate cells and would die much faster than the twin with intact telomeres. Long telomeres correlate to longer life, short telomeres to a shorter life.
Bethany says
For anyone interested in learning more about the American Association of University Women (AAUW), check us out here: http://www.aauw.org/
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Ohh yum! I would totally eat these!
Amanda says
Hmm, I need to find out what this whole twin paradox thing is!
Sagan says
Best science experiment ever 😀
LOVE that they’re supporting girls in STEM programs! So important & much needed. Thanks for sharing this info!
Elizabeth Beil says
I love the STEM program. I worked for Nestle and every summer we would have the girls come in to our facility and they would do some fun hands on “product development.” I always loved this and looked forward to teaching them all about our product and seeing them love to learn.
The popsicles look awesome! Love the burst of color!
The Frugal Foodie says
Such fond memories of my time at GSW, during the summer of 2001 (I went for choral music)!
KathEats says
Oh cool!! Just a year after me!!
Cady | Wild Heart of Life says
Ugh cadaver lab envy! Love the bright colors on these.
Amanda F says
I absolutely love this! I work as a female mechanical engineer. My dad always encouraged me to follow my love for all things mechanical, but I after spending the last couple of years volunteering for STEM outreach I am always surprised at the number of girls who just don’t consider anything in the STEM fields as a viable career option. Hopefully this will change with time, but until then I will just keep spreading the word 🙂
Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties says
oooh good idea! I always forget that you can make popsicles out of smoothie ingredients!
Cassie says
The popsicles look delicious!!
Elyse says
That “science experiment” looks delicious! Love it!
Robyn says
I love this! Quick question, where did you get your Popsicle molds? I think my littles would love this, they are big green smoothie fans 🙂
KathEats says
Got them at Whole Foods
Christy says
Didn’t realize you majored in women’s history/studies! Very cool. How would you say that has impacted your current career? It’s a far cry from your Master’s degree in Nutrition–you’re so well-rounded! 🙂
Heidi says
Kath your just Rad, and kind of a bad a$$! I really enjoyed this post, and the addition of The Sayas didn’t hurt anything either ???? Happy Tuesday!
Heidi says
No ????? Just happy smile emoji 😉 should have been there!
Kate says
I love this post! As a female with a degree on science, I love that aspect of the post. My favorite part though, was applying the scientific method to a project for the little ones! Also, I am always so impressed by how you handle yourself when replying to comments from others. It’s so refreshing not to see a bunch of bashing on internet comments. I feel like that is becoming too common these days. Thanks for the great post!
KathEats says
: )
Kate says
I never realized you were a scientist BEFORE you were officially a scientist : )!!!
Such a cool blast from your past and you look so much the same as you do in that first photo from high school!
Megan says
As a female STEM teacher, I see firsthand just how important it is to encourage young girls (and boys!) to take ownership of the multitude of scientific and engineering issues our world has today. It would be great to see your partnership with Green Works result in something more than a popsicle recipe, especially since you have such a connected background to the subject matter. Have you ever considered combining your science and women’s studies knowledge and speaking at a school, perhaps even focusing on the impact women could have in the fields of STEM? I usually invite a few scientists and engineers into my classroom through virtual webinars to give my students first-hand experience and a connection to the real world.
KathEats says
The popsicles were just a fun way to tie it back to this food blog – and bring in a little scientific method talk. If I were asked to speak I’d definitely consider it!
Sarah says
The little scientists look cute conducting their experiment, and I’m sure they enjoyed the” data analysis” stage ; ). What was the experiment’s control?
Ella says
A post that is at once inspiring, socially conscious, funny AND adorable! Love your blog and brain, Kath 🙂
Anne says
Great post! It was great to hear your story of how you loved sciences as a teen. I strayed away from sciences in university due to the lab hours as well. As a woman who works (in finance) with a bunch of male engineers and quants, it’s refreshing to see work done to encourage girls to pursue maths and sciences!
Kate says
OMG! Mazen is getting so big and the Sayas look so cute together!! Just curious…why are the knives upside down??
KathEats says
That’s how we like ’em!
Ush says
I’m a female electrical engineer and lack of women in my field is something I experience every day. It’s not just females though, STEM is not that popular even with young males and I love to see STEM being encouraged for everyone.
About the twin paradox, it would have been more correct for you to say you don’t understand it, rather than you don’t believe it. It’s a widely accepted concept that has been experimentally verified. It’s something that I have to account for at my job every day!
Emily says
Sorry if this seems off topic, but I’ve been wondering this for awhile. You always say “the Sayas” and I assume you mean the little girl and her mom…two people with the last name Saya??? But then her mom is never in the photos…Or is Mazen and his friend = the Sayas. Just a little confused!
KathEats says
Mazen couldn’t say Sylvia when he was younger so he called her Saya and she called him Saya back so together we call them the Sayas 🙂