Tag Archives: news

Science, but no longer fiction.

Posted on February 26, 2018 by | 1 comment

For as long as I can remember, my interest in science and science fiction have been deeply connected. Every Marvel movie I see inevitably results in hours long “study breaks”, where I scour the internet for any information on how these spectacular technologies match up with real world science. Does it obey the laws of physics? If not, is there something similar that theoretically could? Do we have related technology now? How would it work?  Unsurprisingly, I’m not alone in this thinking. Countless inventions that have and will shape our society were initially conceived in fiction, including the atomic bomb, cell phones, self driving cars and many more.

Roddenberry, Gene. Star Trek. CBS Television Distribution, 1968.

Source: Star Trek

Most of the time, my Wikipedia rampages end with the second question: Is there something that theoretically could? This results in a lengthy hypothetical description of something that often doesn’t resemble its fictitious counterpart. So understandably, I get pretty excited when I see technology not only possible, but already close to becoming reality.

This is the case with the work recently published in Nature by Daniel Smalley, an electrical and computer engineering professor from Brigham Young University. The “Photophoretic-trap Volumetric display,” or more casually called “The Princess Leia Project,” is a revolutionary new 3D hologram design. The idea of 3D holograms is not a new one. Most famously, it has appeared in Star Wars with Princess Leia’s plea for help projected by R2D2, or the enormous head of Darth Sidious. More recently it has been popularized in films like Iron Man and Avatar.

Kershner, Irvin, director. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. Lusasfilms Ltd., 1980.

Source: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. Lusasfilms Ltd., 1977.

Source: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Ironically, none of these depictions are actually holograms. A holographic display specifically refers to an image projected in 2 dimensions. In other words, if you aren’t looking directly at it, the image will appear distorted like viewing a TV at a sharp angle. A Volumetric Display occupies 3D space, so it can be viewed clearly from any angle. Smalley is able to do this using a single cellulose particle, a component of plant fibre. This particle is trapped in the air using a set of invisible lasers which can move it around in a small circuit. Then another set of lasers illuminate the particle with different colours. If the particle is moved fast enough around this track, it appears to be a solid line to the human eye.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/lasers-trace-new-way-create-hovering-hologram-images?tgt=nr#video

Source: Science News

Though Smalley isn’t the first scientist to research 3D displays, his multi-laser design is the first able to incorporate colour. Due to the use of a single particle, his prototype images are restricted by size, ranging from about the size of a pea to a postage stamp. But if his design is improved, many particles could be used to create much larger images. With the right imagination, Smalley says “the sky becomes the limit.”

Video Below

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By Connor DeFaveri

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Posted in Science in News

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A cool and refreshing way to lose weigh

Posted on January 22, 2018 by | 1 comment

Many have been struggling with losing weight. Some people choose to control their diet very strictly. Others try to lose weight by going to the gym very frequently. These ways can definitely help people to reach their goals. However, it is painful for some people to only eat healthy food. And going to the gym takes a lot of time and energy. Here comes a simple and cool solution — drinking water. Most people know that water is very essential to our lives. But can you imagine that you can easily lose weight simply by drinking more water? 

[source: https://pixabay.com/en/lose-weight-fat-slim-diet-loss-1911605/]

Surprisingly that is true. Scientists have found that drinking water can increase the resting metabolic rate(RMR) of adults. RMR is the measurement of the rate of body’s metabolism. Higher RMR means human body can consume more calories by spending the same amount of energy. One experiment is conducted on overweighted women who normally drink less than 0.5 L water every day. The result of it shows that the increased intake of water to over 1 L per day can make a significant difference in body weight. After over a  12-month period, most overweight women who participated in the experiment lost more than 2 kg. Because all the participants were required not to change their lifestyle except to drink more water, this study shows the direct relationship between the intaking amount of water and the weight loss. 

 

[source: https://pixabay.com/en/tape-tomato-glas-diet-water-403592/]

Given the fact that drinking more water does help us reduce the body fat, what is the proper way to drink water based on this theory?

First, don’t forget to drink water before the meal. This can help to reduce your appetite. According to a research based on adults subjects, pre-meal water consumption has an effect on the reduction of meal energy intake, especially for older adults. This is due to the sense of fullness provided by water. Because the hunger ratings were lower and fullness ratings were higher after drinking water, people tend to eat less after drinking the required amount of water.  However, for those of you who are not older adults, it is still a good advice. Although this may not have that impressive effect on you at the same level as the middle-aged people, it still helps you to avoid overeating.

Second, try to drink one more cup of water every day and replace other sweetened beverage with water. Sugars in the sweetened beverage are the biggest enemy of losing weight. A study shows that drinking beverage can not only increase the energy intake and body weight but also increase the risk of several medical problems. It has been proved that the daily intake of water can have an influence on people’s behavior and emotions. In general, you should drink water as soon as you feel thirsty and drink enough to quench your thirst. However, it is not good to over drink the water. 1-2 liters of water per day is recommended to help stay healthy and lose weight. 

[source: https://pixabay.com/en/thirsty-man-drink-drinking-water-937395/]

Isn’t it cool to lose weight simply by drinking water? For those of you who are not interested in working out or being upset of controlling the diet, this refreshing way can be your lifesaver! If you still doubt it, just try to drink more water from now on! It does not take much effort but can give you a huge benefit.

By Qingyue Wang

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science in News

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“Gluten-Free” – Is it as Healthy as We Think?

Posted on January 22, 2018 by | Leave a comment

I’m guessing that the majority of you have seen the increasingly popular “gluten-free” diet trend displayed in many health-related magazines, books or even talk shows. But why is everybody so obsessed with this new diet fad? Well, apparently, it’s supposed to be one of the healthiest changes that you can make to your lifestyle. One scientific study even suggests that a gluten-free diet can reduce the level of “bad” fats in your blood that lead to heart disease, but is gluten-free really as healthy as it’s claimed to be?

Gluten-Free Bread; photo courtesy of Pixabay user Aline Ponce

Being “gluten-free” first arose as a treatment for individuals with celiac disease, a disorder that causes damage to the small intestine from ingesting gluten. Celiacs experience many symptoms, ranging from severe gastrointestinal issues to even developing anemia and behavioural changes. Unfortunately, the only real way to combat this is through the complete elimination of gluten from one’s diet.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. As awareness of celiac disease has increased, so have gluten-free alternatives to popular foods. As a response, many non-celiacs have been transitioning to this diet as well, assuming that it is a healthier lifestyle. However, relatively new evidence suggests that being “gluten-free” isn’t as beneficial to your health as you may believe.

Dr. Travis speaks about the gluten-free diet industry.

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In Digestive Diseases and Sciences, a study observed the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease among non-celiac individuals following a gluten-free diet. The study concluded that there was an association between being gluten-free and weight management, but this is likely because gluten-free individuals do not consume refined wheat products, which are harmful to your health. Interestingly, there was no difference in the risk of metabolic disease or heart disease between gluten-free and non-gluten-free individuals.

Additionally, the Mayo Clinic suggests that those who are adopting a gluten-free diet should be wary of losing some essential vitamins and nutrients, like iron, calcium, and fiber. Whole grains are usually enriched in these, so you would have to be diligent in finding them in other sources.

Gluten-Free Mix; photo courtesy of Flickr user, ‘theimpulsivebuy’

Gluten-free individuals should also be mindful of the fact that many store-bought, gluten-free foods are no better for you than the versions made with gluten. This is because many of these foods actually contain more sugar, fat, and calories than the original versions, leading to weight-gain rather than weight-loss. It is a common misconception that just because something is “gluten-free,” it is also healthier.

Overall, the stance on whether or not a gluten-free diet is beneficial to non-celiacs is very controversial. As long as one is aware of what is actually inside the gluten-free foods that they are consuming, as well as of all the daily nutrients that they should be obtaining, then this diet is potentially beneficial. Although, it may not be worth it if whole grains, in moderation, have shown no detrimental effect on health. The most important thing for non-celiacs to remember is that a “gluten-free” label does not automatically equal “healthy.”

By Silvana Jakupovic

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science in News

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Here’s Why Coffee Is Good for Your Health

Posted on January 21, 2018 by | 1 comment

We all love our morning coffee. Photo courtesy of blogTO

Coffee has existed since approximately the 15th century – and over these years it has amassed a lot of confusion about its effect on your health.  The media has played a role in pushing a negative view towards the effects of coffee. Us coffee lovers have always had a family member or friend comment with an expression of concern regarding our love for coffee.  It’s about time coffee drinkers put an end to this narrative!

Well, if you are a huge coffee lover, you will be happy to know that scientists have discovered that there is no connection between coffee and an increased risk of cancer or heart disease. In fact, the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh published a meta-analysis investigating the effects of coffee on health. Amazingly enough, the paper used an extensive sample size analyzing over 200 papers! They found that drinking three to four cups of coffee a day may actually improve your health. Furthermore, they concluded that those who drank coffee were 17% less likely to die an early death, 19% less likely to die of heart disease and 18% less likely to develop cancer, compared to people who did not drink coffee.

Courtesy of Harvard School of Public Health

How does coffee work? The active ingredient in coffee is caffeine. Caffeine stimulates your brain and increases your alertness. Coffee also contains a lot of antioxidants, which are molecules that prevent damage that can cause cancer. Reactive molecules called “free radicals” attack our body and damage cells. Antioxidants stabilizes the oxidants, thus stopping them from harming our body!

David Heber, director of Center of Human Nutrition, UCLA discusses the effects of coffee.

Okay, now we know coffee can be healthy, but we also know that too much of anything is bad. How much coffee is too much coffee? Health Canada recommends adults limit caffeine intake to no more than 400mg/day. This is approximately three 8-ounce cups of coffee. Surpassing these limits could result in increased heart rate, changes in sleep patterns, heartburn, and more.

Remember that it in order to maximize coffee’s health benefits, minimize the amount of cream and sugar you put in your coffee. Sugar can singlehandedly nullify the positive effects you would get from coffee.

Robert Poole, the lead author of this study, says that these findings are “reassuring for coffee drinkers, as long as they drink in moderation”. Future studies will ideally pinpoint which type of coffee beans will have the greatest health benefit.

By Misam Ibrahimi

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science in News

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Video

Is Chocolate Really Good for your Health?

Ever have that craving for a hit of sugar or the pick-me-up that chocolate delivers? Justify your guilty pleasure by agreeing with the notion that chocolate is good for you? If you answered yes to the any of the above questions, you have just admitted to being a victim of the media’s portrayal of scientific findings.

Chocolate Bars
Published under the Creative Commons License; photo courtesy of Wikimedia user André Karwath.

In recent years, many scientific studies claimed to have proven that chocolate is the next best thing you can eat. Studies conducted by researchers at prestigious universities such as Columbia have targeted and provided evidence for how chocolate helps to reduce memory loss, on a small number of subjects in a very controlled environment. This research finding was published in the media and ballooned by the press, even though it failed to mention that the study was minuscule and that it did not even use chocolate, but rather chocolate flavouring. In addition, when the New York Times, a seemingly credible and well-read media outlet got whiff of the research, they promoted only the positive aspect of how chocolate improves memory, but did not describe the size of the study or the subjects involved. This lack of knowledge reduces the credibility of the article, but nevertheless is believed by readers. The media has a strong impact on what the everyday person believes, and exaggerating scientific findings can be dangerous.

Blood Pressure Monitor
Published under the Creative Commons License; photo courtesy of Wikimedia user Amirhossein Ashrafzadeh.

Furthermore, other studies conducted on the health benefits of chocolate have made the claims that chocolate promotes lower blood pressure, which ultimately reduce the cases of cardiovascular disease. Once again, the media has taken these findings and brainwashed hoards of people suffering from high blood pressure to run to their local supermarkets and load up on the kit-kat. What the media did not mention was the fact that while cocoa has been shown to reduce blood pressure, the research conducted was only on a short time scale; the long-term effects are unknown. Moreover, when chocolate is made, the cocoa is severely degraded as it gets mixed in with sugars and other additives, so the results of the study may not hold true in store bought chocolate products. Again, the media chose not to disclose this to its audience and we are left believing that chocolate will cure high blood pressure. Without all the information, it is scary to think that we let ourselves fall into the “whatever is in the news must be true,” epidemic.

The video below exposes an unbiased view on the benefits, or lack thereof of chocolate.

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Video From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtaUKweEVhY

The case study on chocolate just presents one instance of when the media has taken up studies and hyped up their findings, regardless of their validity, fooling the nation into believing myths. So the next question is, what will the news have us believe tomorrow?

By: Wesley Louie

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Posted on January 21, 2018 by in Issues in Science, Science in News

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