/oss/taxonomy/term/3014/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition-pseudoscience/dim-science-neuroglow <p>The cosmetics industry sells hope by mixing a little chemistry with a hefty dose of hype. Novelty, whether in “actives,” or in packaging, or just fresh flim-flam is what opens wallets. Since consumers are becoming blasé about over-used terms like moisturizing, anti-aging, rejuvenating, nurturing, hydrating, revolutionary and natural, marketers are pressed to come up with new ploys. Throwing in sciency terms like “psychodermatology” and “neurocosmetics,” can invigorate sales. Neurocosmetics are said to forge a link between the mind and skin care. Who says so? Psychodermatologists.</p> Wed, 22 May 2024 02:16:08 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9951 at /oss /oss/article/covid-19/let-sunshine-covid-19 <p>Mention Vitamin D and thoughts usually turn to bone strength. That is understandable since the relationship between this vitamin and the incorporation of calcium and phosphorus into bone is well established. In the early twentieth century, Sir Edward Mellanby in Great Britain was concerned about the incidence of rickets, a disease characterized by bow legs due to impaired bone formation.</p> Fri, 08 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8237 at /oss /oss/article/general-science/seen-and-unseen-consequences-albinism <p>Today I learned two things. First, that we apparently have an albino squirrel on our campus. Second, that seeing an albino squirrel before a test is good luck.</p> <p>While I have seen photographic evidence of the former, I remain skeptical of the latter. I think it might just be a great marketing gimmick for the<a href="http://albinosquirrel.com/about.html"> Albino Squirrel Preservation Society</a> founded on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. (I am not making this part up!)</p> Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8046 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/where-does-colour-go-when-i-bleach-my-hair <p><span>Hair naturally gets its colour from a pigment molecule called</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin"> melanin</a><span>. There are 2 types of melanin:</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin#Eumelanin"> eumelanin</a><span>, which gives hair and skin a brown or black hue, and</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin#Pheomelanin"> pheomelanin</a><span>, which gives the red hue.</span></p> Wed, 28 Feb 2018 18:52:47 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6939 at /oss