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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Do our dogs feel anything for us?

Dorottya Harangi, Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences editor You may have heard the story of a dog named Hachiko. Hachiko met his owner at the train station every day like clockwork to walk home with him. However, one day, his owner suffered a tragic accident and never came home again. Despite his owner’s death, Hachiko […]

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Update All? Re-contacting genomic research participants

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Katie Compton, Policy & Politics editor Genetic testing is more accessible than ever. For around $100, anyone can order a direct-to-consumer DNA spit kit to learn about her ancestry. Doctors are using genetic tests to diagnose, treat and prevent disease. And ambitious research projects such as All of Us, UK Biobank, and Personal Genome Projects […]

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New research sheds light on how plants sense their world

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Plant behaviour is modulated by a special class of proteins on their cell walls that help them sense and adapt to their environment Jenna Finley and Sunitha Chari, Biology & Life Sciences co-editors Plants lack the five basic senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing that help animals interact with their environment. Yet they […]

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