/oss/taxonomy/term/781/all en /oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/feeling-blue-about-evidence-blue-blocking-glasses <p>In 2016, numerous headlines fed the flames of blue light panic. A <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/06/17/selfies-can-age-the-skin-and-cause-wrinkles-warn-dermatologists/"><i>Telegraph </i>article by the publication’s science editor</a> claimed that taking selfies is aging our skin and that doctors can even tell which hand a person holds their phone when taking a portrait of themselves by noticing which side of their face is the most damaged.</p> <p>The reason for this premature aging? The blue light from our phone and that burst of illumination from the flash.</p> Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9615 at /oss /oss/article/covid-19-health-and-nutrition/masked-kids-are-alright <p>It is easy to raise the spectre of science to scare people. Talk about a new vaccine technology messing with your DNA and you’ve conjured up instant anxiety. It is an especially potent technique when the target of the sciency boogeyman is a child. Children are frequently at the center of moral panics, from video games to heavy metal music, from alleged Satanic ritual abuse to reactionary views on gender expression.</p> Fri, 25 Feb 2022 18:56:31 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9039 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/plexiglass-protection-pieta-and-us <p>Some companies have benefitted from COVID-19. Like those that manufacture plexiglass. Banks, stores, automobile dealers all feature plexiglass panels to reduce the chance of viral transmission. The prevalence of this rather remarkable plastic conjures up memories for me of my first trip to New York in 1964. A couple of buddies and I decided we had to see the World’s Fair. When we finally made it to Flushing Meadows, we had to decide what to see first. The longest line was in front of, all things, the Vatican pavilion. We joined it. All these people, we figured, must know something.</p> Sat, 11 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8839 at /oss /oss/article/health-technology/can-these-glasses-put-end-colour-blindness <p>Serendipity plays a big role in science. Many discoveries begin with a puzzling observation followed by, “That’s weird”. Don McPherson developed special lenses for surgeons to use when employing lasers and he lent them to a colour blind friend on a Frisbee field. His friend reported he could now see the orange cones on the field. He’d never seen them before. That’s weird.</p> <p>But not every “that’s weird” moment results in game-changing technology.</p> Wed, 12 Dec 2018 19:13:47 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7485 at /oss /oss/article/technology-you-asked/how-do-anti-fog-sprays-glasses-work <p>When water vapour from the air condenses on a cold glass surface, such as one's eye glasses, you'll end up with droplets of water. These droplets are commonly known as fog. And with fog, comes distorted vision.</p> Wed, 25 Apr 2018 16:51:14 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7040 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/what-bone-conduction <p>There are some <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zungle/zungle-wear-the-beats">cool products</a> on the market right now that <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vue/vue-your-everyday-smart-glasses">claim to conduct sound through the bones</a> in your face or head, allowing the wearer to hear music or phone calls, but not allowing others to listen, all while keeping the ears free to hear their surroundings. Sounds cool and futuristic right?</p> Wed, 31 May 2017 21:38:56 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2519 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health/dr-sens-perfect-vision-system <p>I’m accustomed to being forwarded all sorts of videos about miraculous cures that are being suppressed by the establishment. There’s usually some “maverick doctor” who has made an astounding, shocking discovery about curing every disease known to mankind with some revolutionary herbal treatment, exotic juice or dietary supplement. There are testimonials, “rock solid” money back guarantees, and warnings about the need to click on the “buy now” button right away because of the uncertainty of keeping the video on the web. Why?</p> Wed, 23 Jul 2014 22:05:01 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2171 at /oss /oss/article/environment-news/cadmium-issues <p>Shrek the friendly ogre delighted audiences in the 2010 movie hit “Shrek Forever After.” But for fast food giant McDonald’s, Shrek turned out to be a nightmare. As a cross promotional feature, the company introduced a set of glasses decorated with images of Shrek and other characters from the film. After millions of the glasses had been sold, a problem cropped up that led to a large scale recall. The yellow pigment used on the cups turned out to be cadmium sulphide, a substance toxic even in small amounts.</p> Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:20:13 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2325 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/how-do-anti-fog-sprays-glasses-work <p>The fog on glasses consists of small droplets of liquid water. This happens because water vapour from the air condenses on the cold glass surface. The droplets are thick enough to distort our vision. There are two ways the problem can be approached. Heat up the surface, as is done with bathroom mirrors in some expensive hotels, or prevent the condensed water from forming droplets. This can be achieved by lowering the water's surface tension; the force with which water molecules are attracted to each other.</p> Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:35:01 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1820 at /oss