/oss/taxonomy/term/1082/all en /oss/article/health/why-people-lower-incomes-have-more-heart-disease <p> </p> <hr /> <p><em>​</em><em>This article was first published in</em><span> </span><a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-why-people-with-lower-incomes-have-more-heart-disease">The Montreal Gazette<span>.</span></a></p> <hr /> <p>Many studies have shown that low <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.029652" target="_blank">socioeconomic status</a> is tied to cardiovascular disease. To put it simply, if you have more money, you are less likely to have a heart attack.</p> Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:51:19 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 8047 at /oss /oss/article/general-science-history/why-oh-why-do-scientists-keep-changing-their-minds <p>The report of “a new study” in the media is often followed by a comment on social media pointing out that scientists can’t seem to agree on anything. One week, meat consumption should be reduced; the next, it’s perfectly fine. Why is it, the Internet is often asked, that scientists keep changing their minds? If they can’t agree on anything, maybe they shouldn’t be trusted on anything.</p> Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:52:17 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 7953 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/history-counterfeiting <p>Counterfeiting of coins has a long history. No less a personage than Isaac Newton took this bull by the horns. Late in his career he became Master of the Mint and obsessed about counterfeiters. He even designed coinage to stymie the criminals. But it was Joseph Black, Professor of Chemistry at Glasgow University who in the 18<sup>th</sup> century uncovered one of the cleverest counterfeiting schemes. One of Black’s main contributions to chemistry was the realization that carbon dioxide was given off when calcium carbonate was heated.</p> Thu, 15 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7448 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/plastic-bank-notes <p>First adopted in Australia in 1988, polymer banknotes have now become increasingly popular due to their improved security against counterfeiting and their enhanced durability. Many countries have circulating plastic bills and seven countries in the world have fully converted from paper bills to polymer banknotes. Polymer banknotes are made from bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP): a polymer made from repeating units of propylene, capable of being stretched in two directions.</p> Wed, 31 May 2017 14:36:17 +0000 OSS 2512 at /oss /oss/article/health-news-quackery/cancer-charlatans <p>What makes people defend the indefensible? A prime example of this conundrum is the case of Antonella Carpenter, a 71 year old “alternative practitioner” who was convicted of conducting a fraudulent scheme to cure cancer in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is likely looking at spending the rest of her life in prison. She is not a physician but has some training in physics and claims that she can cure cancer by injecting a tumour with a saline solution of food colouring and walnut hull extract followed by heating the area with a laser.</p> Mon, 18 Apr 2016 19:29:52 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2334 at /oss /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/accountants-bookkeepers-sales-clerks-and-bpa <p style="text-align:justify">The thermal printing paper that is commonly used for cash register receipts contains bisphenol A, the chemical that has generated a great deal of controversy because of concerns that it may have an effect on our health even at very low concentrations. That controversy has generated a great deal of ink in newspapers and magazines, and that ink too is often formulated with BPA. Is it possible that just handling cash receipts or newspapers or magazines can transfer BPA to the skin and that from there it can find its way into the bloodstream?</p> Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:45:09 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1650 at /oss