Category Archives: Science Communication

Thicker than Fish Skin

Posted on March 19, 2017 by | 1 comment

Does the underwater superhero name ‘Aquaman’ sound familiar to you? Notice that Aquaman is part fish, and part human. His scaly costume provides incredible strength, torpedo swimming speed, and impenetrable skin. Ever wonder what it’s like to have scaly fish skin, or even become half fish? Science is getting close!

Aquaman’s upper torso is covered with fish skin, which enables him to breathe and swim underwater at tremendous speeds. Image Credit: sfgate.com

A new medical innovation was recently discovered in Brazil, after the number of skin donors started to become scarce. The dean of plastic surgery in São Marcos Hospital, Dr. Maciel, collaborated with his research team to utilize the skin of Tilapia fish for treating burns. Tilapia skin showed progressive healing properties when applied on skin wounds. They call this an alternative treatment- with surprisingly good results!

A victim suffered from second degree burns after a gas canister explosion. Instead of wrapping her wounds with gauze, doctors applied an unusual bandage- using Tilapia fish skin! I mean, how weird is that? Her arm looked like a fish mutant straight out of the X-Men comics, if you ask me!

The fish skin is first sterilized by using chemicals, and then undergoes radiation treatment to kill viruses. Once cleaned and processed, they are vacuum-sealed, and can last for up to two years.

Tilapia was chosen as the prototype for the animal skin-grafting experiment because it is the most common, disease-resistant fish found in Brazil. Image Credit: feednavigator.com

Doctors then apply the fish skin to the burned skin area. The tilapia skin sticks on the wound and creates a buffering effect that blocks out contamination while keeping in moisture. It stays bonded to the wound until it completely heals over. The tilapia skin dries up and flakes off after 10 days, and reveals new scar tissue underneath. The greatest advantage is that you don’t have to change this bandage dressing daily, which reduces the trauma and pain suffered by patients. I think that’s an excellent plus!

After suffering from horrific burns from a canister explosion, Maria was the first patient to receive tilapia fish grafts on her damaged skin. Her arm is pictured below after treatment once the fish skin was removed, revealing healthy scar tissue. Image Credit: thesun.co.uk

Lab analyses revealed that tilapia skin is rich in Type 1 collagen and proteins, which help restore damaged skin for a speedy recovery. Type 1 collagen is important for wound healing because it provides skin with a stretchy, elastic-like quality.  It also enhances growth of connective fibres that hold skin together to prevent tearing. As a result, collagen stimulates healthy skin cells to grow and creates a new layer of scar tissue. The high level of humidity in fish skin helps to soothe wounds and eliminates the need for painkillers.

As of today, more than 50 patients have received tilapia fish-skin graft treatments for their painful burns, and all patients have shown successful healing results. It’s the first aquatic animal skin in the world to be tested in burn patients. Researchers say the skins are cost-effective and eco-friendly, and believe it will help burn victims to save time, medication costs, and hours of pain.

This video shows how tilapia skin is sterilized and then applied on the wounds of burn victims. Video Credit: statnews.com

The revolutionary treatment is currently only being practiced in Brazil, where tilapia skin is plentiful, and is donated to create more skin grafts. Brazilian plastic surgeons hope that this new pioneering treatment will spread to other countries in the nearby future.

-Anna Tam

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science Communication, Science in the News

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Making Mars Home: Becoming an interplanetary species.

Posted on March 13, 2017 by | 4 comments

Imagine living on Mars. Experts have made many cases for why humans should become an interplanetary species. The video below discusses some of the reasons why we should go to Mars. From survival of our species to advancing science, the reasons are plenty. But is it possible to colonize Mars?

(Source: National Geographic, YouTube)

Unlike the moon, humans have never actually set foot on Mars. On this dry, desolate planet, the average surface temperature is -55⁰C. This is attributable to the planet’s thin atmosphere, which is too thin to retain heat, not to mention breathe. A good analogy for living on Mars is that it would be similar to living in Antarctica, but worse.

As arid, frozen and desolate as it may be, Mars is the only known planet besides Earth that could be considered remotely habitable for humans. Recent evidence has proven that there was once water on the planet and that at one point Mars’ climate was similar to that on Earth. Below is an image of Mars proving that there was once flowing water on the planet.

The dark, narrow streaks are inferred to be formed by seasonal flow of water and are roughly the length of a football field. (Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona)

Although it’s atmosphere is thin, it still offers protection against the Sun’s radiation and the day/night rhythm of Mars is very similar to that on Earth. A day on Mars measures 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds. In addition, gravity on Mars is 38% of that on Earth, which is believed to be sufficient for the human body to adapt to.

The presence of methane gas on Mars means we could create fuel. The planet’s oxidized soil means we could potentially grow food, and although it’s temperature is frigid, it’s ice means there would be a water source.

Even still, humans won’t be able to live on Mars without the help of technology. It would require complex life-supporting measures and living in artificial environments. NASA believes this is possible and has already selected companies to develop prototypes for deep space habitats. These would be airtight habitats that would allow colonizers to grow food and live in a breathable environment.

Artist’s concept of a planned colony on Mars (Source: Bryan Versteeg, Mars One)

It seems entirely possible that humans could sustain life on Mars. With NASA and SpaceX’s continued research and development of technology to send rockets filled with cargo and astronauts to space, it’s only a matter of time before a colony is established on Mars. NASA released a plan outlining the next steps in the journey to Mars.

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, has said that he wishes to colonize Mars in the next 40 to 100 years. As he has revealed, this won’t be an easy feat and many challenges lie ahead. Below is a video of Musk discussing what will be needed to successfully colonize Mars.

(Source: The Verge, YouTube)

I think the prospect of establishing a colony on Mars is exciting and the fact that we may see it our lifetime is astounding. I would be open to considering a life on Mars but for now, it’s just a possibility.

Would you live on Mars?

By: Ami Patel

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Posted in Issues in Science, Science Communication, Science in the News

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Cloud Computing: High Performance Computing on any Device?

Posted on March 13, 2017 by | 1 comment

Can you imagine a smart phone that plays the latest PC games? NVIDIA, a graphics cards company, recently made it possible using a platform called GRID. GRID uses cloud computing technology that allows its users to run accelerated desktops on their phones and laptops. By using these desktops, people can play games and run software with an enhanced speed, because the cloud handles the processing part.

cloud computing. source: ibm.com

For example, when users start GRID on their smart phones, the selected games or software will be operated on cloud servers; these cloud servers are far away from the users but high-performance. On the same time, the real-time display of the games/software will be transferred from the cloud servers to their phones via the Internet. The real-time inputs, such us keyboard and mouse inputs, will be transferred from the phones to the servers as well. This is not only how GRID works but also how cloud computing works.

cloud computing: gaming everywhere on any device. source: nvidia.co.uk

As a result, the users feel like the game/software is running on their phones， and the phones perform well. In fact, the mobile devices do not need to actually process since all the processing is done in the cloud. Similarly, users can use GRID to run any software on any device with an Internet access.

high-performance mobile devices are usually heavy and large.                               source: nextgengamingblog.com

In past decades, IT companies and scientists were trying to make mobile devices high-performance, especially when dealing with graphics. However, poor heat radiating and poor battery life are still big problems for mobile devices due to their small physical size. NVIDIA was facing the same problem, but they took a completely different approach to achieve the same goal. In terms of performance and convenience, they succeed.

cloud computing: work everywhere on any device. source: http://www.nvidia.com

NVIDIA GRID, and other similar services, gives small companies and low-income people an alternative way to use high-performance devices with an affordable price. For instance, a small company can save money on buying high-end PCs, and low-income people can play games on their low-priced laptops.

However, GRID still has the same lag problems as most online games have. In addition, users need to pay for this service by month or by year. Consequently, playing games and working with a desktop computer is still the best plan. However, if a person travels a lot, using GRID can be a good plan for him/her.

 

By Max Ma.

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Posted in Science Communication, Science in the News

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Canadian Seafood Fraud

Posted on March 2, 2017 by | 2 comments

What if you were told the “tuna” you’ve been eating all this time isn’t actually tuna?  In fact, 59% of tuna sold in the Canadian markets are mislabeled, making it the second most commonly mislabeled seafood, with red snapper sitting at the very top of the list (87% mislabeled).

As seen below, compared to Europe and US, Canadian seafood labels are very much misleading and uninformed for consumers. Luckily, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently reviewing the laws and regulations for proper Sea Food labels.

image from: http://www.seachoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Are-you-Eating-in-the-dark-FINAL.pdf

As alarming as “mystery meat” sounds, it’s not too far off to use as a description for Canadian seafood. “Rockfish” as seen above, is nothing but a common name used for over 100 different species. David Suzuki Foundation is currently holding a petition for seafood labels to include the Scientific name, geographic origin, production methods, and additives used.

image from http://action2.davidsuzuki.org/seafood-labelling

A study conducted by University of Guelph found that 84% of fish sold as “white tuna” were actually a closely related species called escolar. However, it is known that escolars are unable to digest gempylotoxin (type of wax, similar to mineral oils found in escolars’ diet), which means that when it is consumed, it can cause various digestive problems such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Enforcing regulations on seafood providers to have proper labeling will not only help us make healthy choices for ourselves and our families, it will also help us to make environmental and economical friendly choices by supporting locally farmed seafood. Sign the petition today!

Lisa Liang

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Dengue Fever Virus: What Is it?

Posted on February 27, 2017 by | 2 comments

Warning for those who suddenly begin to feel fatigued, nauseous, and sport a severe headache! This is a warning sign that the mosquito bites you received on your trip through a tropical region a few months ago may have introduced a deadly virus into your body. At this point, you could be infected with Dengue fever virus.

A map detailing the prevalence of Dengue virus back in 2005. From Wikimedia.

 

According to an article published by Anne Gubler in Trends in Microbiology, Dengue fever virus originated from the tropical regions of the Earth during the 18th to 19th centuries. The virus is mainly spread through a species of mosquito, referred to as Aedes aegypti, which still populate the tropical and some subtropical regions today. However, as human population continues to increase in these areas, the risk for another epidemic outbreak increases. This is due to the ease at which a mosquito can travel from host to host, spreading the virus at a much higher speed. Recently, outbreaks of Dengue have intensified in all tropical regions resulting in an increase of reported infections and deaths. This makes me extremely cautious of visiting countries that are infested with mosquitos carrying Dengue and I’d like to spread some information about what it is.

 

General cross-section view of a Dengue virus. From Wikimedia.

The structure of a Dengue virus consists of a core, an envelope, and proteins attached to it. The core contains the genetic information of the Dengue virus. This genetic information codes for the production of a new virus as well as the creation of a new core, envelope, and envelope proteins. The viral envelope can fuse with the outside of a human cell, and also allows for the attachment of proteins. The envelope proteins are used to attach the virus to the outside layer of a human cell.

 

A study done by Karen Clyde sheds light on how the virus uses a replication cycle that involves entering a healthy human cell and hijacking numerous cell processes to complete replication. First the virus attaches to a human cell using proteins on the outside. Then the human cell brings the virus into its body, resulting in the release of the virus inside the cell. The next step involves the formation of a structure for reproducing the virus using materials found in the human cell. Finally, this produces a chain of viral proteins which are broken apart to form the final product of a core surrounded by an envelope with proteins.

 

In my opinion, travelling through a foreign country and having to be constantly aware of mosquitoes is annoying, but well worth the effort. Next time you travel through a country at risk of Dengue infection, make sure to coat yourself in bug repellent. As there are no known vaccines or treatments for Dengue, once infected, it will accompany you for the rest of your life. Therefore it is up to you to take appropriate precautionary measures to protect yourself.

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science Communication

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The Zika Virus: Are we done with it yet?

Posted on January 30, 2017 by | 4 comments

Zika virus transmission. Imagine courtesy of World Health Organization (WHO).

In April 2015, an epidemic of the Zika virus disease took Brazil by storm , quickly spreading through South America and parts of North America. The disease was relatively unknown but it was associated with causing microcephaly, a brain defect where a baby’s head is significantly smaller than normal in fetuses of pregnant women with the Zika virus. As time passed with nearing proximity to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the possibility of contracting the disease caused so much concern that many athletes withdrew from competition.

But the Zika virus is not new.

It was first discovered in 1947 in monkeys of the Zika Forest in Uganda. Since then, there have been small outbreaks in the equatorial Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, due to the mild symptoms of the disease and it’s similarities to dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya, it was often overlooked and underreported until its recent outbreak.

The virus is mainly spread by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus common, namely A. aegypti and A. albopictus. Transmission to a fetus during pregnancy increases the risk of many birth defects such as microcephaly in the newborn child. If that doesn’t sound scary enough, it can also be spread from sexual activity and blood transfusions!

Microcephaly in newborn infants as a result of the Zika virus. Image courtesy of the Boston’s Children’s Hospital.

So what are the symptoms? Infections from the Zika virus will only display mild symptoms at most, including fever, rash, joint pain, pinkeye (conjunctivitis), muscle pain and headache. Symptoms typically subside after a week. Travellers and pregnant women who have recently visited affected areas should be tested for the disease.

The Zika virus is no longer an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) as of November 2016 and it seems like something of the past. But why should we still be concerned about it?

Sadly, just because it is no longer an epidemic doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be worried. Right now there is no cure for the Zika virus. Vaccines are being developed as we speak, but they probably won’t be available for another 10 years. For now all we can do is take precautions against mosquito bites and avoid travelling to places affected by Zika, especially if you are pregnant.

The problems Zika poses are far from solved. The Zika virus outbreak highlights the just one of the detrimental effects that poor sanitation has on our population. If we don’t solve the problem of managing mosquito populations and inventing new vaccines, we will have persisting human vulnerabilities to mosquito-spread diseases. We will always be at risk of infection to a disease we haven’t cured.

In the meantime, be mindful of your travel plans and check out this video on the Zika virus!

  • Florence Ng

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science Communication, Science in the News

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Dengue Fever Virus: What Is it?

Posted on January 30, 2017 by | 1 comment

One day, while you are on a tour through India, you notice that mosquitoes have bitten you several times while you were unaware. You disregard it, thinking that these bites have never amounted to anything more than an annoying itch on a bump in the past. However, several months after returning home, you begin to feel fatigued, nauseous, as well as sporting a severe headache. At this point, you may have been infected with Dengue fever virus.

General cross-section view of a Dengue virus particle. From Wikimedia Commons.

According to an article published by Anne Gubler in Trends in Microbiology, Dengue fever virus originated from the tropical regions of the Earth during the 18th to 19th centuries. The virus is mainly spread through a species of mosquito referred to as Aedes aegypti, which still populate the tropical and some subtropical regions today. However, as human population continues to rise in these areas, the risk for another epidemic outbreak further increases. This is due to the ease at which a mosquito can travel from host to host, spreading the virus at a much higher speed.

General cross-section view of a Dengue virus particle. From Wikimedia Commons.

The structure of a Dengue viral particle consists of a core, an envelope, and proteins attached to it. The core contains the genetic information of the Dengue virus. This genetic information codes for the eventual production of a new viral genetic strand, as well as the creation of a new core, envelope, and envelope proteins. The viral envelope can fuse with a host cell membrane, and also allows for the attachment of proteins. The envelope proteins are used to attach the virus to the receptors located on the outside membrane of a host cell.

A study done by Karen Clyde sheds light on how the virus uses a replication cycle that involves entering a healthy host cell and hijacking numerous cell mechanisms to complete replication. Firstly, the virus binds to a host cell using its envelope proteins. Secondly, the host cell internalizes the virus, resulting in the release of the viral package inside the cell. The next step involves the generation of a viral replication enzyme using host cell structures before the virus genome can be replicated. This eventually results in the production of a chain of viral proteins, which are cleaved apart to form the final product of a core surrounded by an envelope with proteins.

Next time you travel through a country at risk of Dengue infection, make sure to coat yourself in bug repellant. As there are no known vaccines or treatments for Dengue, once infected, it will accompany you for the rest of your life. Therefore it is up to you to take appropriate precautionary measures to protect yourself.

-Angus Lee

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