/oss/taxonomy/term/611/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience-technology/gadget-scam <p>Anyone who owns a car and who lives in snowy climes will be tempted by this. What if you could buy a small device that you left in your car and that magically melted the snow off of it and prevented your car from freezing? You may think this is the sort of thing you would see on <i>Star Trek</i>, yet I can point you to <a href="https://fivfivgo.com/products/pro-electromagnetic-molecular-interference-antifreeze-snow-removal-instrument">a website</a> where you can acquire this incredible device today for only USD 26.97.</p> Fri, 24 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9739 at /oss /oss/article/technology-history/armstrong-bezos <p>On that July 20, back in 1969, streets were almost empty you could have launched a <i>huo chien</i> down most streets in America without hitting a single person. That’s because almost everyone was huddled around a television set waiting for Neil Armstrong to take his small step for man and a giant leap for mankind. So what is a <i>huo chien</i>? A Chinese “fire arrow” that was the prototype for every rocket that has ever flown, including the giant 363 foot tall Saturn 5 that propelled Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin on their epic journey to the moon.</p> Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:01:01 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8789 at /oss /oss/article/under-microscope-velcro <p><img height="688" width="688" style="width: 600px; height: 600px;" class="file-original " src="/oss/files/oss/velcro_1.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Just like Vivaldi was inspired by nature to compose his Four Seasons concertos, the inventor of Velcro was also inspired by nature. Specifically, by burrs.</p> Tue, 21 May 2019 15:45:14 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7770 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-technology/did-you-know-some-bacteria-can-eat-cleaning-products <p>Have you ever noticed the message on the front of a Lysol bottle: “Kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria”?</p> Fri, 01 Feb 2019 17:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7562 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/did-you-know-moon-dust-incredibly-toxic-humans <p>There are no aliens on the moon, but that might not stop it from trying to kill us.</p> <p>Lunar soil is exposed to micrometeorite impacts and because the moon lacks an atmosphere, constant intense solar wind. As a result, <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/moon-dust-military-branch-1.20226135">the soil</a> is electrostatically charged, so much so that it can levitate above the surface of the moon.</p> Thu, 04 Oct 2018 18:30:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7384 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/dragonflies-experience-much-g-force-fighter-pilots <p>Gravity and the human body have a finicky relationship. Too <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-g_environment#Health_effects_of_the_micro-g_environment">little</a> gravity and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-g_environment#Health_effects_of_the_micro-g_environment">humans</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-g_environment#Health_effects_of_the_micro-g_environment">lose bone density, experience extreme nausea and become anemic.</a> Too much gravity and humans <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-LOC">lose consciousness and die</a>.</p> Thu, 23 Aug 2018 16:20:02 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7319 at /oss /oss/article/technology/hope-new-life-it-actually-possible-we-can-colonize-mars <p>Last month during a Norwegian science festival, Stephen Hawking, the famous theoretical physicist and author of <em>A Brief History of Time</em> said this about space travel: “It is clear we are entering a new space age. We are standing at the threshold of a new era. Human colonisation and other planets is no longer science fiction, it can be science fact”. He believes that threats to the planet including climate change and over-population are great enough that humans must explore new options. Given Hawking’s great credibility, his opinion merits serious consideration.</p> Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:50:17 +0000 Cassandra Lee, OSS Intern 2570 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/sleeping-astronauts <p>Astronauts need to sleep next to a ventilator fan while they’re in weightless orbit; otherwise, they might suffocate in their sleep. Reason being, is that warm air does not naturally rise when there is no gravity. And with no means of circulating this air, it is possible that the carbon dioxide we breathe out can form a bubble around one’s nose. Eventually, this will deplete the available air supply, which in turn, could be fatal.</p> Wed, 24 May 2017 23:17:32 +0000 OSS 2488 at /oss /oss/article/history/how-was-spaceshipone-powered <p>Who would have ever thought that rubber tires and laughing gas would be instrumental in getting a privately funded craft into space to claim a prize of ten million dollars? Yet, that is just what happened a few weeks ago. SpaceShipOne, built by the private “Scaled Composites” company made it into space twice in a week to meet the condition that had been set for winning the ten million dollar Ansari X Prize. This was no small feat.</p> Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:08:01 +0000 OSS 1743 at /oss /oss/article/general-science-history/curious-landing-first-hand-account-landing-mars-rover-curiosity <p>Dr. Lorne Trottier was in attendance of the recent landing of the Mars Rover, Curiosity. Here, he describes his account of the experience as well as the complexities and nuances of what went into this truly historical event.</p> Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:09:38 +0000 Dr Lorne Trottier 1721 at /oss