Tessera
Folgen

McGill Office for Science and Society

@mcgilloss.bsky.social

We separate sense from nonsense on the scientific stage. 🧪 https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/ FB / IG: @mcgillOSS YouTube: McGill OSS

137 Posts260 Follower39 Folgt
McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 8h ago

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button isn't scientifically accurate but it was inspired by a real genetic disorder. This article explores the biology of progeria, how a single gene mutation disrupts our cells, and why this fictional story has real science behind it. 🎬🧬 mcgill.ca/x/5BZ

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Movie slumps are the worst. You know when you’re looking through the titles on your streaming services, but nothing sounds quite right? And as you continue to look with little success, you get increas...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2d ago

With heatwaves becoming more severe and frequent due to climate change, ACs are often more appreciated now than ever. But how did we get here? How did we stay cool before the invention of the AC? Get the answers in this week’s latest. mcgill.ca/x/5Bb

Beating the Heat: The History of the Air Conditioner

While I thought I was lucky enough to escape Europe’s intense June heatwave, I was greeted by equally brutal temperatures upon my return to New York City. With temperatures exceeding 37ºC in the few d...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 5d ago

If prayers work for health, we don’t need to prove a god exists; we just need to document health improvements. Right? Unfortunately, when science studies prayer, strange questions surface. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

Can Science Even Test Prayers?

Praying to heal from illness is possibly the oldest form of alternative medicine. When that prayer is made to a divine being on behalf of someone else—like asking a god to heal an ailing relative—it i...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · last wk.

The Magic Eraser isn’t really magic, it’s melamine foam that acts like a very fine sandpaper. Despite its power, if used incorrectly, it can scratch surfaces and release microplastics as it wears down. Get the full scoop on this small but mighty sponge on our website. mcgill.ca/x/5XF

Is There Really Magic in the Magic Eraser?

Sure, I thought, when I saw the claims on the box. “Mr. Clean Magic Eraser cleans dirt and grime like you never thought you could.” Well, I have a long-standing scientific interest in materials in the...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 2w ago

Dogs love to press our buttons, metaphorically and literally. Dogs can speak now. They tap buttons and the buttons speak for them. But do these dogs understand... language? Unlikely, as I discuss for @mcgilloss.bsky.social: www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

The Dogs That Speak: Breakthrough or Illusion?

In early September 2020, lightning strikes turned the forests of the West Coast of the United States into matchbooks. The fires recoloured the skies and their smoke veiled the sun. When that bright di...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2w ago

The “Barbie drug” promises a sun-free tan but the reality is more complicated Melanotan II is an unapproved synthetic peptide sold online with little oversight The viral trend highlights a bigger issue: how quickly health misinformation spreads when influencers replace evidence mcgill.ca/x/57t

The Barbie Drug Your Dermatologist Has Never Heard Of

Spray it up your nose, or inject it under the skin, and within days your skin turns a deep, even, suspiciously permanent bronze. No sun required. TikTok calls it the “vacation peptide.” The compound i...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2w ago

You've probably heard of the "lizard brain" It turns out it's one of neuroscience's most persistent myths 🧠 The idea that humans have three separate brains (reptilian, emotional, and rational) has been scientifically outdated for decades. Here's why it still refuses to disappear 🔗 mcgill.ca/x/5Xo

You Do Not Have a Lizard Brain

Inside you are three animals: a primitive crocodile, a panicky mouse, and a pragmatic human being. No, this is not related to the popular story of the two wolves fighting inside you—one good, one evil...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2w ago

Why do healthy eating habits seem to disappear during stressful times? Chronic stress changes how the brain responds to food, making sugary and high-fat "comfort foods" feel rewarding. This article explores the science behind stress eating and why it's about more than willpower 🧠🍫 mcgill.ca/x/58y

Why do we Crave Junk Food During Stress?

Have you ever noticed that during exams, deadlines, or stressful life events, a salad suddenly sounds much less appealing than a bag of chips or a chocolate bar? You're not imagining it. Chronic stres...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 3w ago

It has been found that those in certain regions of the world boast unusually high rates of longevity. Some studies link regular Greek coffee to improved endothelial function; however, lifestyle appears to be key. Get the full scoop on our website in Dr. Joe’s article. mcgill.ca/x/58L

Should We Be Reaching for that Greek Cup of Coffee?

According to Greek mythology, Icarus tried to soar like a bird with wings he had fabricated out of feathers. Unfortunately, he plunged into the sea after the wax with which he had attached the wings m...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 3w ago

Mikhaila Peterson appears like a champion for the medically disaffected, but all she does is attach herself to a fringe theory, monetize it, then move on when her cure-all didn’t cure anything. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social on Jordan Peterson’s daughter. www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

Mikhaila Peterson Is Reinventing Medicine Badly

Are you looking for love but don’t want to explain why you’ve eliminated seed oils from your diet? The dating app Primal Match might be right for you. Made for MAHA followers, biohackers, and people w...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 3w ago

From the Han Dynasty to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the soccer ball has come a long way from its humble beginnings. The history of the soccer ball tells us that sometimes, rounder isn’t always better. ⚽️ Get the full scoop below mcgill.ca/x/58a

Why the World Cup Ball Matters More than You Think

The origins of soccer can be traced back to 2nd century BC during the Han Dynasty, when the game cuju was played. Cuju, a sport resembling hacky sack, is cited by FIFA as the world’s first “kicking ga...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 4w ago

Resveratrol supplements promise a lot, but the evidence from human studies falls short. The bottom line? Save your money and leave the supplement on the shelf. Get the full story in Dr. Joe’s article👇 mcgill.ca/x/57F

Resveratrol Supplements. Trifling Facts. Lots of Conjecture.

A quick online search for “resveratrol supplements” finds dozens produced by various companies. They contain anywhere from 50 to 500 mg resveratrol per capsule and sport labels that scream “source of ...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · last mo.

Cyanotype (a form of photographic printing utilizing the sun) is an accessible way to combine science + creativity ✨ From exploring the history of cyanotype to teaching you how to do it at home 🏠 this article provides everything you need for your next arts and crafts project! 🖼️ mcgill.ca/x/57D

An Ode to Cyanotype Printing

I wouldn’t consider myself one to be too artistically inclined. I am unable to draw, I am not crafty, and I certainly cannot make music. It’s not that I don’t enjoy doing crafts; I do. I just was not ...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · last mo.

If you like your shampoo to form a luxurious lather and disdain stains on your clothes and dishes then you want surfactants in your life But what about the manufacturing byproduct, 1,4 dioxane? Read about the origins of this byproduct and what it really means for consumers 👇 mcgill.ca/x/57E

Should You Worry About a Carcinogen in Your Shampoo?

Our story starts with “surfactants,” a term derived from “surface active agents.” These are molecules with one end being “hydrophilic”, meaning it is attracted to water, while the other “hydrophobic” ...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · last mo.

Jack Reacher is said to have a very reliable "lizard brain." Problem is, the idea that we have a lizard brain has been debunked. The reason why it got so popular is partly due to Carl Sagan. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social! www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

You Do Not Have a Lizard Brain

Inside you are three animals: a primitive crocodile, a panicky mouse, and a pragmatic human being. No, this is not related to the popular story of the two wolves fighting inside you—one good, one evil...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · last mo.

Thermal paper used in receipts is at the center of a complex discussion about BPA exposure and its potential health implications While the evidence points to minimizing exposure wherever possible, in this piece, Dr. Joe offers insightful wisdom. mcgill.ca/x/572

Handling Receipts at the Supermarket

I was startled by the comment from the shopper just behind me at the checkout counter in the supermarket. “You really shouldn’t be doing that!” Noting the quizzical look on my face, a further clarific...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · last mo.

If you live in Quebec, this proposed bill should worry you. If you don’t, this kind of bill may be coming to a legislature near you. Integrative medicine is a Trojan horse. Learn to recognize it. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

Quackery in Quebec: The Trojan Horse Bill I Worry About

A new bill has been proposed at the National Assembly of Quebec, and while it may look like it will benefit our health, there is a lot going on under the surface. It is an excellent example of how the...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Bedwetting. Firestarting. Cruelty to animals. Signs of a future serial killer, right? No. But TV certainly wants you to think so. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

The Homicidal Triad Seen on Crime Dramas Is Wrong

If you have a child who still wets the bed after the age of 5, and if you are a fan of crime dramas, you may be asking yourself some seriously dark questions about your kid’s future. Episodic televisi...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In the 1960s, Easter Island made it into headlines not for its spectacular stone statues, but for its soil samples. Rapamycin, owing its origins to that soil, is now the center of a major longevity discussion. Get the full story from Dr. Joe. mcgill.ca/x/5na

Let’s Rap About Rapamycin

Easter Island in the Pacific off the coast of Chile is famous for the giant stone statues that were erected by natives some 500-700 years ago. The thinking is that the statues were designed to honour ...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Are LED lights causing an "asbestos-level" public health crisis? Some researchers are claiming as much. One of them made extraordinary claims on Andrew Huberman's podcast. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social. www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

Blue Light Vs. Red Light

There is an epic fight unfolding between the light side and the dark side of, no, not the Force, but the light spectrum itself. You will have seen the countless gadgets claiming to heal you with red l...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2mo ago

PCOS has officially been renamed PMOS For decades, one of the world's most common endocrine disorders has been known by a name that doesn't accurately describe the condition. Find the full article breaking down the reason behind the name change on our website. mcgill.ca/x/5nK

How PCOS Became PMOS

When scientists discover they've been wrong about a disease, changing their minds is only half the battle. The other half is updating everything that came from that misunderstanding: the textbooks, th...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2mo ago

AI is quietly entering the exam room. 🤖🩺 These tools can reduce physician workload, but they also raise real concerns about accuracy, privacy, and patient trust. Before you sign on the dotted line, it’s worth asking a few questions. Read more 👇 mcgill.ca/x/5ej

AI Scribes in the Clinic: What Patients Should Know

The last time I went to the doctor, I was handed a form to sign. It was a consent form asking for my permission to allow the doctor to use an AI scribe during our appointment. I signed it without much...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Legend has it that Prague’s famous Charles Bridge was constructed with the help of eggs.🥚 While rooted in myth, it does open doors for future research in building with food waste. Get the full scoop below. mcgill.ca/x/5eH

Protein-Rich Bridges and Edible Houses

For most tourists in Prague, visiting the Charles Bridge is pretty much at the top of the sightseeing list. The medieval stone bridge, completed in the 15th century, was a part of the royal route – th...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Contrary to popular belief, Louis Pasteur was not a doctor or a biologist, he was a chemist. While usually associated with the germ theory of disease, Pasteur’s pioneering studies also put us on the path to understanding molecular structures. Read more👇 mcgill.ca/x/5ez

The Chemical Legacy of Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur is buried in an elaborate mausoleum at the Institute Pasteur in Paris where mosaic tiles on the tomb commemorate various aspects of the great man's scientific life. A flock of sheep, for...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2mo ago

While aspartame may not be the devil incarnate some ‘wellness influencers’ claim that it is, they do not do the job they are supposed to do Ultimately a good cup of coffee does not need to be sweetened, and soft drinks can be replaced with water Read more ⬇️ mcgill.ca/x/5eb

Aspartame: Not the Devil Incarnate but Not A Godsend Either

Long before “wellness influencers” honed the art of spreading misinformation on the internet, the public was at the mercy of being befuddled by hoaxes through chain emails. Way back in the 1990s, I wa...

mcgill.ca

McGill Office for Science and Society@mcgilloss.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Outperforming humans in their ability to traverse deep into rubble, and their far superior sense of smell, animals like rats and dogs have been deployed in search and rescue efforts. Read this more to learn just how much these furry creatures have to offer. mcgill.ca/x/5my

Taylor Swift, Earthquakes, and Land Mines?

At 12:51pm on February 22, 2011, the world crumbled before the residents of Christchurch, New Zealand. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit the city, killing 185 people and injuring thousands more. This ear...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Online, some conspiratorial health influencers are saying that a biopsy into a possible tumour is bad: it will simply spread the cancer further. There is a seed of truth to this, but it's been exaggerated--and can cause harm. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...

Exaggerated Fears Over Cancer Biopsies Can Worsen Cancer

Fear of the needle is not reserved to the vaccine hesitant; it extends to biopsies as well. In corners of social media where misinformation accumulates, influencers with an axe to grind against doctor...

mcgill.ca

Jonathan Jarry@jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 3mo ago

No more soap. Tons of beef sticks. Contraception bad. Nicotine good. This is what wellness looks like right now. The lucrative wellness industry is in its conservative phase right now, and Alex Clark’s Culture Apothecary podcast is one hell of a case study. My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social

Alex Clark’s Right-Wing Wellness Podcast Reaches New Lows

“Raw milk is better for your teeth than any of these toothpastes you’ll get.” I had a veritable fools’ buffet to choose from when opening this article. So many wild quotes thrown about with complete e...

mcgill.ca