Archive: March 2021
Social Initiatives
Strawmates is a sustainable bubble tea company that is taking small steps to make a bigger impact. It is founded by My and Meli who are two sisters from the Greater Toronto Area. They mainly sell portable, convenient and cute reusable straws that are different from the ones in the market. They allow you to have any drinks including bubble tea, coffee, smoothie, etc. Currently, they also sell DIY bubble tea kits to allow you to have a bubble tea experience at home.
Scientific News
Sleep is more than just a daily routine—the human body needs it to function at its best. Studies have shown that sleep has a profound impact on brain function. It affects everything from concentration to memory to everyday brain cell activity. Over time, sleep deprivation can lead to long-term health consequences, which is why getting adequate sleep on a consistent basis is essential to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Cancer care has had its ups and downs throughout history, not only due to treatment ineffectiveness and side effects, but also due to high ambition and the reality of complete recovery and cure in many cases. The Roman physician Celsus along with many other ancient surgeons knew that even after the removal of tumors, the disease still, in many cases, comes back. They understood that once cancer has spread, there is no remedy. There are many treatments to look into, but surgery has evolved over so many years!
Xenobots are the first man made, self healing robots. Named after the African Clawed Frog (Xenopus Laevus), they are about 0.04 inches wide. These Xenobots have the ability to walk, swim and last for weeks without food. They are considered to be a different form of life, programmable organisms.
Genome editing has been a rapidly growing field in science due to its importance in providing food security as the global population grows. Genetically modified crops have been beneficial in many ways: it can lead to higher crop yields, a reduction in the use of chemical pesticides, and an overall reduction of poverty and malnutrition in the areas in which this process is used. Many technologies, including the most recent, CRISPR, which is able to change an organism's DNA, the location of the cell’s genetic material through which traits are coded for. It is definitely an exciting way in which science is able to help solve global issues!
Beginning in March 2019, the international COVID lockdown began to make its mark on people’s mental health. Since lockdown, there has been an increase in the incidence of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts. In contrast, the psycho-social impact was evident in the unprecedented increase in domestic violence rates. Unlike the biomedical model and the social model, the Biopsychosocial model states that the determination of health and disease depends on dynamic interactions between three entities, including the biological, psychological, and social factors.
Personalized medicine (PM) is a course of treatment catered towards an individual based on their genetics, epigenetics, and clinical information. Instead of having patients undergo trial-and-error to find the best course of treatment, a PM approach favours proactive actions and narrows down potentially effective treatments for an individual. While personalized medicine can be highly beneficial to patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare industry, there are also ethical concerns that arise regarding the drug development process and clinical trials.
CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) t-cell therapy is a recently emerged cancer treatment. It is a form of immunotherapy that begins with the collection of t-cells from the blood of a cancer patient. The t-cells are then changed by adding a man-made receptor. Each receptor (CAR) is made to target a specific type of cancer, and will help t-cells better identify cancer cell antigens. With the promising success rates of CAR t-cell therapy, scientists are currently working to develop this treatment for leukemia, and testing ways to make it safer, more reliable, and faster.
The opioid epidemic is plaguing communities across the globe, but especially so across our nation. In order to better understand this epidemic, we must deconstruct what those struggling may deal with. Growing a biological tolerance to a substance describes when a person no longer responds the way they initially did to that substance. More substance has to continually be taken in order to achieve that initial effect as the person’s body has grown accustomed to the effects of said drug. Someone struggling will also experience bodily dependency on a substance. If that person were to abruptly stop their drug use, their body would go through a prolonged period of withdrawal. Addiction, the centre-stage of the epidemic, is a disease. It results from repeated substance use and abuse. This widespread addiction costs North America billions of dollars annually, and affects countless individuals and their families.
Advice/Tips
Due to the lockdown, 2020 has been the year when we all turn towards the kitchen for all our cravings.Home cooking has become the new normal. Many people have discovered fresh ingredients and new brands to spice up their home-cooked meals. Since we cannot dine-in, some people even try to recreate other cuisines and restaurant dishes. As such, there have been many food trends on the rise during the pandemic.
Growing up, many of us were constantly told that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Despite this, teens often skip breakfast and opt instead for an extra few minutes of sleep. However, a nutritious and filling breakfast is essential to maximize your productivity throughout the day. Whether you have a hearty bowl of oatmeal or a quick yogurt parfait, sometimes all that’s needed is some breakfast inspiration to get you started. Find what works for you and make it a routine!
Reading may not immediately seem like the ideal past-time for our current, fast-paced society, but it holds true as one of the most valuable hobbies you could put time into. It has been known to strengthen the brain, expand overall knowledge, and even prevent cognitive decline. Dependance upon social media has indisputably shortened our attention spans, making reading more difficult than it used to be. By reading for even a few minutes each day, you can begin to rebuild your reading stamina. There are a multitude of different genres and writing styles so there is bond to be something out there that will catch your interest.
We always hear about mechanical engineers, but have you ever stumbled upon media design professions? There are many unique media careers to choose from, and what makes them engaging is their multidisciplinary responsibilities that entail innovation, visual arts, marketing engineering, and artistry.
Other News
The term ‘cryptocurrency’ has grown to be a popular term over the last few years by changing how people view money. It is a digital currency fortified by cryptography, making it nearly invincible to counterfeit crimes or double-spending. People may use this form of currency to purchase services and goods, just as one would with standard money; however, it is not as viable for daily purchases as not every person has access to cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies garner more value through an increase in engagement. A few examples of cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Litecoin, and IOTA. This category of currency is still mostly new, but there is room for potential and an infinite amount of possibilities as it continues to develop.
In our current state as a society, it’s relatively normal to be experiencing feelings of unhappiness. Our regular routines have been disrupted and thrown astray, and most of the special events and occasions that we tend to look forward to can no longer safely take place. Happiness can be defined as feelings of contentment and joy, but how exactly do we encourage this into our present day lives? Firstly, by looking at the “happiness hormones”, we may dissect what aspects of life encourage the production of each type of hormone. For example, while you cannot eat serotonin, you can consume tryptophan, which your brain converts into serotonin. Other hormones that are responsible for what we define as happiness include dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin. While feeling somewhat unhappy is normal given our situation, encouraging the production of “happiness hormones” will alleviate those negative feelings.
What determines whether someone displays more introverted or more extroverted traits? Some believe that genetics play the biggest role, while others argue that the environment the person grew up in has a greater effect. Either way, one thing that’s important to recognize is that people are not always classified distinctly into one category; rather, a combination of introverted and extroverted traits makes up a person's personality. For example, an introvert can display extroverted traits when giving a speech, and an extrovert may seek alone-time when they need to focus on a task.
Giant Pandas, also known as panda bears, or by their scientific name Ailuropoda melanoleuca, are a species of black-white bear-like herbivores that inhabit the forests in southwestern China. They became an endangered species in 1990 due to a large amount of deforestation in the 1980s that took away their habitat; since then, the government and The Nature Conservancy have built more than 60 reserves to protect this species. In 2016, they moved up to a vulnerable species, a statue in the “threatened” category, though not yet endangered.
As the pandemic has brought many restrictions to schools, many field trips have unfortunately been cancelled across Canada. However, advanced technologies have allowed us to move to virtual field trips, which bring their own benefits and are often free. Their purposes range from education, to entertainment, to exploration, so there’s something out there for everyone! In this article, we look at different types of field trips that are available on the Internet, complete with links so that you can visit them on your own time!
Fossil fuels are carbon-rich deposits formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals. Examples include oils, coals, and natural gas. Since the 1800s, the use of fossil fuels as an energy source has been on a consistent rise, and with the world becoming increasingly dependent on them, the fossil-fuel industry has adopted drilling techniques such as fracking. It is important to note, however, that fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources, meaning once they have been used, they cannot be replaced. In order to combat the global issue of climate change, we must transition to using renewable alternative sources such as hydroelectricity and solar energy.
As most people have been studying at home for the past year, music has become a routine part of many students’ studying routines. And although certain types of music have been scientifically proven to help learning by improving mood and engagement, other studies suggest that music can actually detract from a person’s ability to learn new information effectively. In this article, we examine the pros and cons, as proven by scientific studies, as well as those of different types of ambient noise, like sounds of nature or white noise. Whatever you listen to while you study, you’ll be sure to find interesting information on its effects on your brain!
Due to the pandemic, many teachers and educators of different levels were forcibly removed from teaching in traditional settings to COVID-safe environments, most often online. As current projections of infections continue, resumption of traditional in-person learning may still be improbable or pose significant risks/challenges compared to virtual learning. It is necessary to protect everyone within the education system, from teachers to students and those they come into contact with.
Les articles en français
Pendant les dernières 50 années, le domaine de l’oncologie chirurgicale s'est développé d’une façon extraordinaire: la chirurgie est devenue beaucoup moins radicale et intrusive ainsi que de nombreuses nouvelles technologies ont été créées. C'était en raison de plusieurs chirurgiens qui ont ouvert la voie aux progressions des croyances de l’oncologie et ont, à son tour, amélioré le traitement du cancer partout dans le monde. Néanmoins, ce domaine est en constante évolution, et c’est certain que la chirurgie pour traiter le cancer continuera à se développer sans cesse.