Student Contributors

Is Creatine the Secret to a Longer Life?

Simran Dhir BSc — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:19:32 +0000

When I say creatine, the first image that comes to your mind is probably that of a muscular, young man working out (i.e. a gym bro) but what if I said creatine may be for the grandads? While there is a lot of doubt about the legitimacy of creatine supplementation, here is a look at how it affects different parts of the body and if it can truly counteract detrimental, age-related muscle weakness.

The Uglier You Go to Bed, the Prettier You Wake Up? Unfortunately, Not.

Angelina Lapalme — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:41:41 +0000

Have you ever seen a reptile shed its scaly skin and said “wow, I wish I could do that?” No? Well same here, but now it seems that face shedding has taken over the internet. Luckily, people are not losing their actual skin and leaving behind a shell of themselves. Instead, they are applying copious amounts of beauty products (creams, serums, exfoliants, and more) and sealing it all in with a variety of coverings. Participants will even go as far as wearing a silicone lip mask or even a mouth tape.

Voodoo Magic and the Mind-Body Connection

�ٲ��ʴǱ貹 — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:43:51 +0000

Is it possible to be literally scared to death? Today, it’s commonly understood that mental stress and negative emotion can contribute to physical health problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain and more. However, this wasn’t always the case—our understanding of how physiological responses are tied to emotion remained poor until the 20th century. In fact, you may be surprised to hear that investigating the seemingly inexplicable phenomenon of “voodoo” death helped lay the foundation for the study of the mind-body connection.

Should You Get a Full-Body MRI to Check for Cancer?

Paige Boklaschuk BSc — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:19:56 +0000

Cancer screening guidelines can be confusing on their own, with different recommendations for different groups. Add on a contentious political climate around healthcare and emerging private services, and the whole process can feel overwhelming. In the United States, controversy surrounding healthcare coverage includes preventive screenings. According to an article in CBS, Medicare is adding restrictions to coverage of breast ultrasound screening.

Could Your Herb Garden Be Nature's Air Conditioner?

Eva Kellner — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:20:48 +0000

It is estimated that by

Is Oil Pulling Just Clutching at Straws?

Angelina Lapalme — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 21:50:41 +0000

Maintaining good oral hygiene is critical in order to maintain overall health. Many people only realize the impact that dental health has on the rest of the body when they are reading the posters in the dentist’s waiting room. Typically, we are all very concerned with the whiteness of our smile and the smell of our breath and will strive to achieve oral perfection.

A Date with Food Label Dates

Paige Boklaschuk BSc — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 13:46:44 +0000

I do my best to engage in conscious shopping practices. By shopping for fewer items and going for second-hand, I reduce waste, save money, and engage more with local businesses. A motivation for these shopping habits is reducing food waste, especially considering that according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations the food that wasted globally could feed 1.26 billion people each year.

Turns Out You Can’t Let the Cold In!

Angelina Lapalme — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:20:43 +0000

I’m sure you have been told or have even been the one to tell someone to “close the door” because they were “letting the cold in”. While efforts to keep the house warm are noble, the advice is not supported by science. Cold cannot be let in because it doesn’t exist! Well, sort of.

Nutrafol; A Holy Grail for Hair Loss or an Overpriced Supplement?

Daniela Padres — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:56:16 +0000

Hair loss is a normal component of the natural hair growth cycle. Hair growth occurs in three stages: the growth phase where the hair grows for around 2-7 years, the transition phase where the follicle starts to shrink and hair growth slows for around 2-3 weeks, and the resting phase where the hair falls out at the end of this phase at around 3- 4 months. The falling out of the hair strand is necessary so that a new strand can take its place, and the cycle can begin again.

The Chemistry of Spider Webs

Angelina Lapalme — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:22:54 +0000

“The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out…”. But funnily her web remained unscathed. How?!

With Halloween having just passed, we saw spider web decorations completely overtake houses, adorn witch hats and even candy wrappers. Despite my fear of spiders, I have an immense amount of respect for them and not for their contributions to our environment. I admire them because spiders are quite the biochemists, and their webs are a product of a biochemical reaction that we can only attempt to reproduce in the lab.

Instant Coffee and Acrylamide: Should You Be Worried?

Hosna Akhgary — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:24:27 +0000

Coffee is a staple beverage for millions of people worldwide, consumed in endless scenarios: catching up with a friend, powering through an intense study session, or simply kickstarting the day.

From the classic drip coffee and trendy cold brew to the precision of the French press and the intensity of espresso, there are countless ways to make the perfect cup of joe. The key difference between each brewing method is how the water interacts with the coffee grounds and the time it takes to brew.

A Well-Established Balancing Act

Daniela Padres — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 22:09:08 +0000

Some things can be classified with high acidity, like lemon juice, or low acidity, like bicarbonate. Acidity is often measured on a pH scale. This is because Danish chemist Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen invented the concept of pH as a convenient method for expressing acidity. Acidic things have a low pH whereas alkaline things have a high pH.

The Hardest Working Caffeine Addicts: Bees!

Angelina Lapalme — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:30:52 +0000

Wake up, go to work, seek out caffeinated beverages, get food, share food with others, store leftovers for later, and repeat. This routine sure does sound familiar, doesn’t it? With over 3.5 billion employed people worldwide following a variation of that basic routine, I wouldn’t blame you if you thought I was talking about humans. But what if I told you I was actually illustrating the day in the life of a bee? As it turns out, humans and bees have very similar lifestyles. They protect their own, work together during the day and seek the refuge of their hive at night.

A Migraine Is More Than Just a Bad Headache

Hosna Akhgary — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:18:09 +0000

A migraine is often misunderstood as just “a bad headache,” but this assumption couldn't be further from the truth. Migraines are a complex neurological disorder, far more debilitating than a typical headache, with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. For some, the pain is relentless and pounding, and it comes with a slew of other symptoms that make day-to-day functioning a challenge. Moreover, the struggle of enduring migraines is often worsened by the feeling of having an invisible disorder and of being doubted.

Why Do Some People Breathe into a Bag When Hyperventilating?

Angelina Lapalme — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 03:59:40 +0000

“Just breathe!” is probably the worst thing that you can tell someone who is hyperventilating. The fact is, they can’t! Whatever the cause of the hyperventilation, screaming and telling someone to just “calm down” may actually worsen the situation. Don’t fret, there is still a way you can help, and it is actually quite simple. Offer them a paper bag to breathe into. We have all seen it done in movies or tv shows but this seemingly trivial solution is quite effective, but why?