/oss/taxonomy/term/184/all en /oss/article/are-there-any-health-benefits-take-maca-pill-form <p>Maca is a cruciferous plant, in the same family as broccoli and cabbage. However, in this case it is the root not the leaves that are eaten. The plant is an unusual one, cultivated only at high altitudes, as in the Peruvian Andes. Inca warriors supposedly ate maca root before going into battle to give them energy and stamina. There are also folkloric stories about maca enhancing sexual desire. Take an unusual plant, mix in some folklore, toss in a few weak scientific studies and you’ve got the root of a dietary supplement business.</p> Thu, 23 Feb 2017 03:17:16 +0000 Dr. Joe Schwarcz 1521 at /oss /oss/article/does-magnetic-laundry-system-work <p>Magnets are fascinating. Imagine the amazement of the ancient Greeks who discovered that some naturally occurring stones, later named magnetite because they were found in a region of Greece called Magnesia, attracted iron. The stones also quickly attracted superstitious beliefs. Magnetite was said to have had magical powers, the ability to heal the sick and frighten away evil spirits. Archimedes, in an undoubtedly apocryphal story, is said to have used magnetite to remove nails from enemy ships and sink them. Magnets never sank ships, but they were used to guide them.</p> Tue, 21 Feb 2017 04:14:31 +0000 Dr. Joe Schwracz 1483 at /oss /oss/article/what-resistant-starch <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-jjhf8rbsdlg" width="640" height="390" title="You Asked: What is Resistant Starch?" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/JJhf8RBsDLg?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-jjhf8rbsdlg&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="You Asked: What is Resistant Starch?" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of You Asked: What is Resistant Starch?</iframe> </div> </p> Tue, 21 Feb 2017 04:10:29 +0000 Dr. Joe Schwarcz 1480 at /oss /oss/article/what-are-oxo-biodegradable-plastic-shopping-bags <p>Polyethylene shopping bags are a big convenience but they also present a big problem. While they can be recycled, many just get carelessly discarded and end up in the environment not only as an eyesore but as a danger to wildlife. Estimates are that only about 3% of plastics that can be recycled actually are. Polyethylene does not degrade easily in the environment and the bags can end up as pollutants for decades. Some clever chemistry can, however, help the situation.</p> Tue, 21 Feb 2017 04:07:59 +0000 Dr. Joe Schwarcz 1479 at /oss /oss/article/should-eggs-be-kept-fridge <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-dz1e-39e1mk" width="640" height="390" title="You Asked: Should we put eggs in the fridge?" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/DZ1e_39E1Mk?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-dz1e-39e1mk&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="You Asked: Should we put eggs in the fridge?" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of You Asked: Should we put eggs in the fridge?</iframe> </div> </p> Tue, 21 Feb 2017 04:04:42 +0000 Dr. Joe Schwarcz 1478 at /oss