The history of science: The story of humanity’s pursuit of knowledge

University of Toronto laboratory where insulin was discovered. Photo from University of Toronto Archives. Public domain.

Mary Anne Schoenhardt, Science & Society editor The summer of 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, which is credited to the two Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best. Insulin has saved the lives of millions of people who have diabetes. This discovery won the Noble Prize in Physiology and Medicine […]

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Better disposal for disposable masks

Esme Symons, Technology & Engineering editor   They are appearing everywhere like dandelions in spring: disposable masks. But while dandelions are a natural phenomenon that heralds warmer weather, disposable masks on the sidewalk or in the street are just garbage. Uptick in disposable mask usage Disposable mask usage has increased dramatically due to the COVID-19 […]

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The complicated relationship between Alzheimer’s disease prevention and diet

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Tamara Rosner and Elizabeth Benner, Health, Medicine, and Veterinary Science editors A recent study shows that eating fruits and vegetables and drinking tea can help prevent you from developing Alzheimer’s disease. Well, actually… the study shows that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is reduced in people who voluntarily eat foods with high amounts of […]

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Gut feelings: How the bacteria in your body affect your brain

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Tamara Rosner, Health, Medicine & Veterinary Science co-editor Your body plays host to millions of bacteria. In fact, the number of bacterial cells in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract is about equal to the number of cells that make up your body. While we typically think of bacteria as “bad” or “unhealthy”, the bacteria that make […]

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Multidisciplinary collaboration helps researchers solve complex, real-world problems

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Harrison Brooks, New Science Communicator Newly minted doctor of virology Arinjay Banerjee has always been a gifted student. However, as happens with many graduate students, the way Banerjee thought about his research was flawed at its core. It wasn’t until 2014, when he came to the University of Saskatchewan that he realized it and changed. […]

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