/oss/taxonomy/term/2341/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-health/funhouse-mirror-risk-perception <p>The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many preexisting problems. One of them is how to vet the avalanche of information flowing down at us on a daily basis. Another is how to properly assess the risks that we face.</p> Fri, 09 Jul 2021 18:22:36 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8780 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-technology/lightning-striking-planes <p>Have you ever been in a plane that was struck by lightning? It happens to the average plane about once a year. It’s a terrifying experience to be sure, but the passengers inside are actually completely safe, due to some smart design elements in airplanes. <span>Most planes are made of aluminum and the ones that are not usually still contain metal frames. This metal framing acts as a conductor so that when electricity enters it at any point it spreads across all metal parts.</span></p> Mon, 03 Jul 2017 21:33:15 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2563 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/airplanes-turbulence-0 <p>Turbulence during a flight may make plates crash to the floor but it doesn’t make planes crash. Airplanes are built to withstand turbulence, but people aren’t, so it can make for a most unpleasant experience. Temperature changes attributed to global warming are expected to make for more turbulent skies.</p> Sun, 14 May 2017 02:34:20 +0000 OSS 2450 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/it-really-dangerous-use-your-phone-plane <p>The fear behind the rule of ‘no phones on planes’ is that portable electronic devices could potentially interfere via electromagnetic radiation with the measurement and navigation tools on board. Modern planes, however, are built incredibly resistant to electromagnetic radiation, they can actually withstand a lightning strike without instrument problems, and so the small amounts of radiation from your devices aren’t likely to bring down the plane. </p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/adamcvean">@AdaMcVean</a></p> Thu, 11 May 2017 21:46:06 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2441 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-health/plane-air-doesnt-make-you-sick <p>It’s time to put to rest the idea that plane air will make you sick. While the thought makes sense, as the air on a plane is indeed recycled, and the many passengers are spreading their germs into it, this misconception forgets one major part of plane’s ventilation system- HEPA filters. These filters are the same ones trusted to keep hospital surgical units clean, and plane air is re-circulated, and therefore re-filtered 20-30 times per hour. It’s also important to remember that only about 50% of air on a plane is recycled.</p> Thu, 11 May 2017 21:44:47 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2440 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-technology/noise-cancelling-headphones <p>The precious noise-cancelling headphones that every seasoned traveller carries in their bags are actually quite an incredible piece of technology. These headphones work by listening via microphone to the surrounding sound waves, and then creating and playing the exact opposite waves, in order to cancel them out. This process is quick, but not instant, which is part of why noise-cancelling items work best on constant noises, like airplane engines or traffic, but might struggle more with sudden noises like babies crying.</p> Thu, 11 May 2017 19:33:31 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2439 at /oss