/oss/taxonomy/term/2885/all en /oss/article/general-science/under-microscope-leopard-gecko-skin <p><img height="2048" width="2048" style="width: 600px; height: 600px;" class="file-original " src="/oss/files/oss/53881502_2151870248185752_8549331448652365824_o.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are a popular pet in many countries. They’re fairly easy to take care of, small, rarely bite, (and when they do it’s pretty painless) and can live up to 25 years! </p> Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:34:45 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7656 at /oss /oss/article/videos/right-chemistry-chemistry-jello <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-55nri9o8wei" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the chemistry of Jell-O" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/55nri9o8wEI?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-55nri9o8wei&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the chemistry of Jell-O" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the chemistry of Jell-O</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 09 Nov 2018 19:27:20 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7443 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/little-dogs-are-trying-look-tough-when-they-raise-their-leg-really-high-pee <p>Female dogs opt for less yoga-like squatting postures than their male companions, who can sometimes be seen with their leg so far in the air they seem about ready to topple over. It turns out that the height to which male dogs raise their leg has a lot to do with their body size, where they are, and who’s around.</p> Wed, 08 Aug 2018 15:57:47 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7221 at /oss /oss/article/health/how-do-veterinarians-die <p><span>I wouldn’t blame you for thinking something along the lines of “just like everyone else,” but I’m here to tell you otherwise.</span></p> <p><span>Being a veterinarian is a lot like being a human doctor. Besides the fact that both professions practice medicine, albeit on different subjects, they both require top grades and many years of school. They usually necessitate one to go into debt, to work long hours, to have extreme empathy and to be on call for days at a time.</span></p> Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:20:37 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7218 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/beavers-have-metal-teeth <p><span>I once broke my tooth on some toffee my mom made. Every time I see a beaver, I think of that day and wonder how they can gnaw on trees all day without chipping an incisor when I couldn’t even conquer candy. </span></p> <p><span>Since beavers are </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodent">rodents</a> it’s not too surprising that their teeth constantly grow. This allows them to chew away on their sticks while keeping their teeth, but my guinea pigs are also rodents and I wouldn’t put them up against a log.</p> Tue, 12 Jun 2018 15:49:39 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7130 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/pangolins-use-rocks-lieu-teeth <p><span>Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are amazing little mammals. There are eight species of them, and they are the only living creatures in their order of Pholidota. Spread throughout Asia and Africa, they can be as small as 2 kg or as large at 35 kg. But if you meet one, you will probably be struck by their scales. </span></p> Thu, 31 May 2018 18:20:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7120 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/tinies-bodies-giant-ears-rabbits-have-super-specialized-physiologies <p><span>We’ve already seen that rabbits and hares have quite interesting physiology, but for certain species of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leporidae">leporidae</a> the adaptations get even more extreme.</p> <p><span>The smallest rabbit in existence is the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_rabbit">pygmy rabbit</a>, who weighs on average only 450 grams! They’re found in the western US and are one of the only rabbit species who dig their own burrows, as opposed to repurposing the found burrows of other animals.</p> Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:54:33 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6983 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/rabbits-have-hinged-skulls-and-three-eyelids <p><span>Rabbits and hares are pretty cute, but they’re also fascinating. </span></p> Thu, 29 Mar 2018 22:42:34 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6980 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/platypus-hunt-tracking-their-preys-electrical-outputs <p><span>If you thought that</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_echolocation#Bats"> echolocation</a> or vegetarianism were the only options available to vision-impaired animals, you’re in for a surprise.</p> Wed, 28 Feb 2018 18:49:46 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6938 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/bears-dont-hibernate <p>Bears <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear#Hibernation">do crawl into a cave and essentially sleep away the winter months</a>, but what they’re doing is not hibernating, at least not in the true sense.</p> Tue, 16 Jan 2018 22:06:16 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6889 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/turtles-breathe-out-their-butt <p>Technically the term is <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2017/11/22/turtles-hibernation-butt-breathing/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=News0_DSC_171130_000000_Final%20remainder&utm_content=&spMailingID=31966363&spUserID=NjY0ODY0ODUzNDcyS0&spJobID=1180002835&spReportId=MTE4MDAwMjgzNQS2#.WjVeKVWnGUl">cloacal respiration</a>, and it’s not so much breathing as just diffusing oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, but the fact remains: <strong>when turtles hibernate, their main source of oxygen is through their butt</strong>.</p> Sat, 23 Dec 2017 16:51:12 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6854 at /oss