/oss/articles/rss en /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition-did-you-know/dark-chocolate-reduces-risk-diabetes-dont-count-it <p>Valentine’s Day is rolling around and we can expect a flood of articles about chocolate. Some will trot out the tired old trope about phenylethylamine in chocolate stimulating amorous adventures by enhancing the release of dopamine, the “feel good chemical” in the brain. Don’t bank on it! While chocolate does contain phenylethylamine, it is metabolized before it can reach the brain.</p> Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:12:38 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 10251 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking/square-one-fallacy <p>I recently had the chance to speak to an anti-vaxxer in person. Of course, he did not identify as such: they never do. He didn’t want to be pinned down and was just asking questions about vaccine safety.</p> <p>He told me that he wasn’t opposed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being confirmed as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in the United States. After all, Kennedy wanted to see studies done on vaccine safety. Was I against that? Shouldn’t we know if all these vaccines are safe?</p> Fri, 07 Feb 2025 20:37:51 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 10250 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition-pseudoscience/medicinal-garden-kit-will-probably-not-save-you <p>The ad is quite confrontational. “The Plants That Will Disappear First in a Crisis.” Given the disaster that is unfolding in the United States right now, it caught my attention. In a crisis, the ad continues, people will turn to plants to nourish and heal themselves, as their ancestors used to do. With this Medicinal Garden Kit, you can grow a whole pharmacy in your backyard and be self-sufficient in an emergency.</p> Fri, 07 Feb 2025 18:58:10 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 10249 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-history/rhinoceros-horn-ginseng-or-spanish-fly-boost-romance-hardly <p>Named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and passion, these substances are meant to specifically stimulate the libido and represent the Holy Grail for people who in some way feel unfulfilled.</p> Wed, 05 Feb 2025 21:42:39 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 10246 at /oss /oss/article/big-tobacco-gets-boost-trump <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in <a href="https://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/article707711.html">The Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>Back to basics. Smoking is bad for you and menthol cigarettes are no safer than regular cigarettes.</p> Fri, 31 Jan 2025 22:17:52 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 10243 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/how-celluloid-produced-great-billiard-balls-fire <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in <a href="https://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/article706869.html">The Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>I have a set of billiard balls sitting on my desk in a box with a partially torn label on which the words “Hyatt” and “Billiard Ball Company” are clearly visible. That makes these balls, purchased years ago in Warrensburg, N.Y., at what is reputed to be the largest garage sale in the world, a historic item. However, I wasn’t sure exactly how historic. And that started me on an interesting exploratory journey.</p> Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:25:04 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 10242 at /oss /oss/article/medical-health-and-nutrition/confronting-bulimia <p>Bulimia nervosa, or more commonly known as bulimia, is an eating and psychiatric disorder characterized by binge eating followed by intentional purging. The latter is usually done in order to compensate for the excessive intake of food and to prevent weight gain. Purging can take the form of vomiting, inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medication; or excessive physical exercise. This disease was first described by Dr. Gerald Russel in 1977 when he was working at the Royal Free Hospital in London.</p> Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:02:54 +0000 Melody Ko MD 10240 at /oss /oss/article/history-did-you-know-general-science/male-musk-deer-owes-gratitude-chemistry <p>Arab perfumers in the sixth century were the first to discover that diluting the obnoxious smelling dried contents of the little pod found near the anus of the male Asian musk deer not only resulted in a pleasant odour, but when added to perfumes allowed the scent to linger longer. Musk was even incorporated into the mortar of important buildings so that it would waft a pleasant smell into the air. There was even a belief that the aroma had aphrodisiac qualities and would therefore enhance the pleasure of activities that might be engaged in.</p> Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:01:17 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 10239 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/red-dye-3-isnt-felon-lurking-food-supply <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in <a href="https://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/article690801.html">The Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>In the late 19th century, Germany was at the forefront of chemical research and it was an ideal place for Purdue University chemistry professor Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley to spend a sabbatical to broaden his horizons.</p> Fri, 24 Jan 2025 22:13:58 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 10238 at /oss /oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-student-contributors/oil-pulling-just-clutching-straws <p>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.</p> Fri, 24 Jan 2025 21:50:41 +0000 Angelina Lapalme 10237 at /oss