Washburn CHAOS Lab

03/18/2026

In the movie Limitless, how could science actually explain NZT and Eddie's sudden leap in intelligence and focus?

03/17/2026

Wait… you can literally make maps for a living?

Meet Emily Morris, Cartographic Information Manager at KGS, turning data into maps that actually mean something.

03/14/2026

What if De.ath in Supernatural isn’t using magic… but hijacking biology?
Let’s talk about bioelectric signaling.

03/13/2026

What happens in the cave doesn’t stay in the cave. We share that research with the cave and karst community.

Rachel Washburn, postdoctoral fellow with the Geohealth Team and Director of the CHAOS Lab, recently shared her Hidden River Cave research with local cavers, staff, and conservation partners in Horse Cave, . Her research blends microbiology, geoscience, and medicine to better understand how cave ecosystems recover and function.

By presenting results directly to the people who help protect and steward the cave, the work highlights the importance of sharing research with community partners and stakeholders.

Read more about this community-engaged science: https://kygs.uky.edu/news/from-cave-to-chaos-to-community

Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum, American Cave Conservation Association, Washburn CHAOS Lab

03/09/2026

Did you know some artists run experiments on their canvas.

Part 3 of 3 with Maria Lounsbury.

Gesso. Baking soda. Dish soap. Different mixtures. Different textures.

Because art is also chemistry. And sometimes the best results come from a little chaos.

03/09/2026

There’s a special kind of trust that happens underground.

One person rigs the rope.
Another goes first.
Someone else spots from above.

Caving is rarely a solo adventure. It’s teamwork, patience, and a lot of muddy problem solving.

Speleofest brings together people who love the challenge and beauty of the underground world.

03/06/2026

Did you know one of the most important tools in medicine came from a woman who never consented to research? The story of Henrietta Lacks and HeLa cells.

03/06/2026

Yes the Earth has something called orogenous zones.
No geology is not blushing.

Technically orogenic zones (or-uh-JEN-ik).

It just means mountain building.

03/02/2026

Today’s CHAOS lab activity: chemical exorcism.
We’re extracting metabolites from environmental samples to map the invisible economy of a system.
Every molecule is a decision.
Every pathway leaves a trace.
And we’re here to read it.

03/01/2026

If you love caves or if you've ever wanted to see what caving is about, check out Speleofest!

A rich, radiant brunette with a warm copper red twist—and it’s already selling fast.

02/27/2026

Can I lick the pink crystal that feels aggressively edible?
It’s halite. Sodium chloride. Ancient ocean leftovers crystallized into perfect little cubes. Yes, it’s literally salt. Yes, it tastes salty. Chemistry does not play games.

02/15/2026

Happy Valentine's Day!