Office for Science and Society - Separating Sense from Nonsense

Thermal Clothing: Lessons in Engineering

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

As soon as the temperature dips below 0ºC, you will find me covered head to toe in thermal clothing. I am not picky when it comes to brands, although I do love Uniqlo’s HEATTECH. As long as I am warm, I am game. However, when it comes to shopping for these products, the magic word among the stock seems to be “moisture-wicking.” It turns out the science behind moisture-wicking plays a pretty significant role in why certain fibers and fabrics are off the table when it comes to layering up.

A Journey into “AI Psychosis”

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:58:59 +0000

I was chatting with a friend the other day, telling him I felt there was a deeper layer to reality. He thought it was fascinating, and among the many ideas he rattled off was the hypothesis that the universe is a simulation.

I told him I was noticing repeating numbers everywhere, and while he did mention the frequency illusion—once something is brought to your attention, you’re more likely to notice it—he also talked about angel numbers. I mentioned I could hear a faint humming sound at night, like a signal. He put forward the possibility of vibrational information.

Alchemist’s Urine Wasn’t a Philosopher’s Stone

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:48:00 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

The Curious History of Coca-Cola’s “Fanta” Beverage

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:18:32 +0000

Coca Cola, the beverage that sports the most recognized trademark in the world, has a fascinating and sometimes quirky history. It all started with a battlefield wound suffered in 1865 by Confederate officer John Stith Pemberton during the American Civil War. Pemberton had obtained a medical degree at the age of nineteen and had a special interest in chemistry so when he developed chronic pain due to his injury, he knew what to do. Morphine! It solved the pain problem, but Pemberton became addicted to the drug. That triggered a search for a pain killer that was not addictive.

How Many Lives Do Amber Alerts Really Save?

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:17:43 +0000

On Sunday, March 22nd of this year, a large swath of the population in Quebec was woken up at 4:25 as cell phones lit up and screamed. An Amber alert had been broadcast.

The Molecules That Run the World Come From Oil

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Lessons in Going Slow: Vaccination Schedules, Tuberculosis, and What Happens When Faster Isn’t Always Better

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Earlier this year, the United States dramatically scaled back its universal childhood immunisation schedule recommendations. Under an overhaul spearheaded by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the number of diseases for which vaccines are universally recommended dropped from 17 to 11. Vaccines for polio and measles remain on the list, but others—like hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and Covid-19—are now recommended based on risk or “shared clinical decision-making” between doctors and parents.

You Can’t Beat Beets!

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:36:31 +0000

It doesn’t matter how good a video or an article is if you can’t get people to watch or read it. That’s why a lot of thought goes into coming up with a catchy title that grabs attention. In this case, since I’m talking about the possible health benefits of beets, the root vegetable, a headline just about writes itself. “You can’t beat beets.”

Navigating Life Gingerly: Do Red-Haired Individuals Experience Pain Differently?

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Red hair is the rarest natural hair color, expressed in only 1-2 percent of the world’s population. Of course, that number does not include salon-goers who seek to mask their original hair color.

Putting Concerns About Weed Killer Glyphosate Into Perspective

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:14:05 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.