/oss/taxonomy/term/1768/all en /oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/feeling-blue-about-evidence-blue-blocking-glasses <p>In 2016, numerous headlines fed the flames of blue light panic. A <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/06/17/selfies-can-age-the-skin-and-cause-wrinkles-warn-dermatologists/"><i>Telegraph </i>article by the publication’s science editor</a> claimed that taking selfies is aging our skin and that doctors can even tell which hand a person holds their phone when taking a portrait of themselves by noticing which side of their face is the most damaged.</p> <p>The reason for this premature aging? The blue light from our phone and that burst of illumination from the flash.</p> Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9615 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition/pineapple-eye-floaters-sweet-deal-or-pipe-dream <p>Shadow puppetry can be beautiful to look at, but when it’s happening inside our eyeballs, it’s an annoyance. One of the banes of getting older is the appearance of apparitions in our vision. In Latin, they are known as <i>muscae volitantes</i>. In French, they translate as flying flies. We know them in English as floaters.</p> Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8946 at /oss /oss/article/health/seeking-clarity-vision-loss-and-vitamins <p> </p> <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in</em><span> </span><a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-some-clarity-about-vision-loss">The Montreal Gazette<span>.</span></a></p> Fri, 13 Nov 2020 11:00:00 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 8481 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-nutrition/real-connection-between-carrots-and-vision <p>During World War II, the British Royal Air Force started a rumour that carrots gave their fighter pilots sharp vision and accuracy. This was not true. Radar was responsible for their success against the Luftwaffe. But the British wanted to keep this a secret from their enemies. So naturally, they planted a false trail. Yes, it’s true that carrots are excellent source of beta-carotene, the body’s precursor for vitamin A, but studies have shown vision benefits will only be seen when there is a deficiency of vitamin A.</p> Fri, 29 Nov 2019 17:10:52 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8013 at /oss /oss/article/health-videos/right-chemistry-do-blueberries-improve-night-vision <p></p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-oetaui9miki" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Do blueberries improve night vision?" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/oeTAUi9MIKI?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-oetaui9miki&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Do blueberries improve night vision?" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="">Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Do blueberries improve night vision?</iframe> </div> Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:37:34 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7731 at /oss /oss/article/health-technology/can-these-glasses-put-end-colour-blindness <p>Serendipity plays a big role in science. Many discoveries begin with a puzzling observation followed by, “That’s weird”. Don McPherson developed special lenses for surgeons to use when employing lasers and he lent them to a colour blind friend on a Frisbee field. His friend reported he could now see the orange cones on the field. He’d never seen them before. That’s weird.</p> <p>But not every “that’s weird” moment results in game-changing technology.</p> Wed, 12 Dec 2018 19:13:47 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7485 at /oss /oss/article/health/cracked-science-12-vision-loss-and-vitamins <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-hljeauorikm" width="640" height="390" title="Vision Loss and Vitamins (CS12)" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/HLjEauoriKM?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-hljeauorikm&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Vision Loss and Vitamins (CS12)" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Vision Loss and Vitamins (CS12)</iframe> </div> </p> Thu, 10 May 2018 18:19:57 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7077 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/are-cats-and-dogs-colourblind <hr /> <p>Si tu veux lire cet article en français, <a href="https://www.sciencepresse.qc.ca/actualite/detecteur-rumeurs/2018/08/16/chiens-chats-daltoniens-plutot-vrai">cliquez ici!</a></p> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 19:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7034 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/owls-dont-have-eyeballs <p>You know how we (humans) have eyeballs? Well, owls don’t. <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/birds-eye-view-wbt/">They have eye tubes or cylinders</a>, rod-shaped eyes that do not move in their sockets as eyeballs do. Instead, owls have to move their bodies or heads in order to look around. Since moving their torsos would likely make noise that would alert their prey to their presence, owls have evolved to have necks that can spin up to 270° essentially silently.</p> Thu, 11 Jan 2018 18:39:58 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6879 at /oss /oss/article/health-general-science/chicken-wearing-shoes <div>Imagine being an elderly woman, sipping her tea in an empty house, and suddenly seeing a girl entering through a closed door and vanishing. The apparition is crisp and well defined. Would you, as the woman did, wonder if your house was haunted?</div> <div> </div> <div>If you are as scientifically minded as I am, you may reject such a supernatural explanation and gravitate toward one of the many medical causes of visual hallucinations. Maybe the woman was psychiatrically ill. Maybe she was having a seizure. Maybe her tea contained the remnants of her wild days at Woodstock.</div> Wed, 06 Sep 2017 13:17:50 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 2620 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/why-do-we-see-things <p>Light enters your retina and is detected by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoreceptor_cell">photoreceptor cells</a>, of which humans have 3 specialized kinds- rod cells, cone cells and photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. The retinal ganglion cells are a bit different than the rods or cones, as they do not help you see directly, but sense light none the less, and use that information to help with circadian rhythms to regulate sleeping, and to help pupils know when to contract or dilate.</p> Fri, 01 Sep 2017 14:01:09 +0000 ada.mcvean@mail.mcgill.ca 2616 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health/dr-sens-perfect-vision-system <p>I’m accustomed to being forwarded all sorts of videos about miraculous cures that are being suppressed by the establishment. There’s usually some “maverick doctor” who has made an astounding, shocking discovery about curing every disease known to mankind with some revolutionary herbal treatment, exotic juice or dietary supplement. There are testimonials, “rock solid” money back guarantees, and warnings about the need to click on the “buy now” button right away because of the uncertainty of keeping the video on the web. Why?</p> Wed, 23 Jul 2014 22:05:01 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2171 at /oss