More sour than sweet: the truth behind citrus waste

By Zahra Nasser, Chemistry editor It’s a fact that’s likely to turn some heads: composting certain kinds of food waste is not as good for the environment as we think. That’s because some food waste contains chemical compounds that are detrimental to local soil and water quality. It is important to understand the biochemical composition […]

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COVID-19 wastewater surveillance in Canada

By Qiaochu Liang, Biology & Life Sciences co-editor Although COVID-related restrictions have eased and the social activities of Canadians have resumed, the pandemic persists, especially with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants. As information gathered from individual testing has decreased, Canadian health authorities have adopted a more effective approach for keeping track of the presence and […]

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Tick talk: tick-borne pathogens in Canada

By Sonja Soo, Environmental & Earth Sciences editor Many people know that they risk contracting Lyme disease — a serious illness with symptoms such as a bullseye-shaped rash, fever, chills, fatigue and headaches — if they venture into tick-infested areas. You can contract Lyme disease if a tick carrying a specific bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi […]

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Air pollution is a major threat to our health

By Jenna Finley, Biology & Life Sciences co-editor Man-made pollution is one of the biggest threats we face — microplastics everywhere, contaminated drinking water, plastic garbage floating on the oceans. Data show that pollution is already causing deaths, and new evidence suggests that it may be worse than previously assumed. In 2016, the World Health […]

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Music and the human body: the effects of live performances

By Amanda Scanga, Science in Society co-editor Music is a form of art enjoyed by many, including myself. Throughout my life, I have used music as a form of entertainment, as a stress reliever, and as a mood booster. And whenever my favourite artists announced a concert in my hometown, I would buy tickets the […]

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