The time around the World Wars was an interesting one for science. A great many things were discovered, then invented off these new illuminations. There was one that stood out for his slow, creative genius that, through his belief that physics and chemistry are intertwined, discovered thermodynamics. Following the threads of evidence, Max Planck travelled …
The formation of potholes. Water is one of the few liquid compounds that expands when it freezes, instead of contracting. The power of expansion packs a destructive punch. It is responsible for causing extensive damage to streets and roads all over the world. While the freezing and thawing of water is one of the driving …
Hundreds of papers. That’s how many papers I had to write through my academic career. There were at least 5 per class, and each one required reading, summarising, synthesising, and citing countless pieces of work. 5 classes per semester, 2 semesters per year, and 9 years of education. After the first semester I was desperate …
Bismuth crystals. They are majestic and beautiful looking structures, and since bismuth melts at 520°F, it can even be made at home — if you have stainless steel pot you don’t mind sacrificing for science. All you need for this is a stove, a stainless steel pot, and a stainless steel spatula. Take a look …
Legends from antiquity talk of two different weapons used in warfare, Greek fire and the Archimedes death ray. In fact, both of these weapons have been mentioned in some of the popular medieval fantasy books, movies, and television series, like Game of Thrones. But what exactly were these two cool-sounding ancient weapons and could they …
Humans love beautiful things. There is just something about the concept of beauty that draws our eyes, captures our minds and hearts. The public perception of sciences doesn’t usually include the beauty we scientists see in our work. This past month I was able to participate in two science fairs. The feedback that the public …
As reptiles, alligators are cold-blooded and need the heat of their surroundings for their body warmth. Fortunately, alligators are found in tropical and subtropical habitats so it is not uncommon for them to experience freezing temperatures. Weather patterns in recent years, however, have gone awry and occasionally, a cold snap hits a normally balmy region. …
More than 350 million years ago, warm, shallow seas covered many parts of North America, including much of the Midwest. During this time period, known as the Devonian era, these shallow waters were teaming with salt water marine life. Fish, mussels, crustaceans, and micro-organisms flourished in the region. In addition to the other sea animals, …
It was 1966, and an idealistic group of doctors thought there was a better way to both teach and learn medicine. These were the founding fathers of McMasters Medical School and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) . The goals of the McMaster’s programme were to focus on the individual rather than rote memorization and regurgitation of facts. …