Critical Thinking

Why Sunscreen Still Beats Steak

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Fri, 01 May 2026 03:39:26 +0000

This story started like many modern tales of data distortion do, where the science isn’t denied outright, but bent just enough to fit a more convenient (and lucrative) narrative. Let me regretfully introduce you to Kashif Khan—a self-proclaimed “Truth Teller and Longevity Innovator”. It should be noted, however, that for a man who has built his career around dispensing health advice, his résumé appears to be entirely free of anything resembling a medical or scientific qualification. No degree, no training, not even a suspiciously vague wellness certification.

In my Inbox — Spinach, Blueberries, Hold the Baloney

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 01 May 2026 03:25:28 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Let me tell you about my morning regimen.

The Hallmarks of Pseudoscience

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Fri, 01 May 2026 02:59:11 +0000

I’ve been investigating pseudoscientific claims for 13 years now. The word “pseudoscience” means “fake science,” something that superficially looks like science—and is often sold as such—but that isn’t. It attempts to imitate it without reaching equivalence.

Just How Much Should You Worry About Eating That Burnt Toast?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:25:27 +0000

I was tempted to say, “why don’t you buy the book,” but that sounded a bit too self-serving. So, let me dig into the science which centers around a small molecule called acrylamide. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has placed acrylamide in its Category 2B reserved for “substances that are possibly carcinogenic to humans.” That raises eyebrows when we learn that this possible carcinogen can be found in many common foods. Think French fries, cereals, potato chips, toast and yikes…coffee.

“Talk to Me in French, Talk to Me in Spanish”: Exploring the Benefits of Bilingualism

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Despite not being bilingual myself, from growing up in New York City, to my undergraduate days spent in Montreal, to now calling Prague home, I have always been immersed in bi- and multilingual worlds. (Bilingualism being the ability to speak/use two languages, and multilingualism is the ability to speak/use more than two.) I even had the privilege to grow up in a home with a bilingual father yet was never taught his native language, Czech. I always resented this, as I dwelled on the fact that I didn’t have the opportunity to learn Czech the “easy way.”

Can You Warm Up Your Body with Your Mind?

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:10:34 +0000

If you concentrate hard, can you raise the temperature of your little finger? The human body has a thermostat of sorts, a way of regulating its temperature and ensuring its heart keeps beating even when we’re freezing; but can we adjust it with the power of our mind?

The Leggings That Promise to Fix Your Knees

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:28:39 +0000

Back when I was a varsity athlete (before I became old and washed up), I spent my final season dealing with a particularly stubborn ankle injury. As it turns out, sprinting down a runway and launching yourself into a sandpit while transferring large amounts of force through a compromised joint is not exactly a recipe for orthopedic success. Who would’ve guessed.

Scary Videos Claim That You Are Risking Your Health by Reheating Leftovers. Are You Really?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:07:20 +0000

Bacteria are everywhere. Most are harmless but some are “pathogenic,” meaning they can cause disease. They can carry out their mischief in two ways. One possibility is that they can survive passage through the stomach, start multiplying in the intestine, and damage intestinal cells by invading them. This causes the body’s immune system to spring into action causing inflammation with its symptoms of pain and fever.

Colorectal Cancer in Younger Adults: What’s Behind the Uptick?

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:51:23 +0000

It was a shock to learn that actor Chadwick Boseman had died. The rising star who played Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was 43 when colorectal cancer took his life in August 2020. More recently, James Van Der Beek made headlines after he died from the same cancer at the age of 48.

A Journey into “AI Psychosis”

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:58:59 +0000

I was chatting with a friend the other day, telling him I felt there was a deeper layer to reality. He thought it was fascinating, and among the many ideas he rattled off was the hypothesis that the universe is a simulation.

I told him I was noticing repeating numbers everywhere, and while he did mention the frequency illusion—once something is brought to your attention, you’re more likely to notice it—he also talked about angel numbers. I mentioned I could hear a faint humming sound at night, like a signal. He put forward the possibility of vibrational information.

How Many Lives Do Amber Alerts Really Save?

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:17:43 +0000

On Sunday, March 22nd of this year, a large swath of the population in Quebec was woken up at 4:25 as cell phones lit up and screamed. An Amber alert had been broadcast.

Lessons in Going Slow: Vaccination Schedules, Tuberculosis, and What Happens When Faster Isn’t Always Better

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Earlier this year, the United States dramatically scaled back its universal childhood immunisation schedule recommendations. Under an overhaul spearheaded by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the number of diseases for which vaccines are universally recommended dropped from 17 to 11. Vaccines for polio and measles remain on the list, but others—like hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and Covid-19—are now recommended based on risk or “shared clinical decision-making” between doctors and parents.

You Can’t Beat Beets!

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:36:31 +0000

It doesn’t matter how good a video or an article is if you can’t get people to watch or read it. That’s why a lot of thought goes into coming up with a catchy title that grabs attention. In this case, since I’m talking about the possible health benefits of beets, the root vegetable, a headline just about writes itself. “You can’t beat beets.”

Putting Concerns About Weed Killer Glyphosate Into Perspective

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:14:05 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

TZLA Plasma Healing: The Anarcho-Capitalist Cure-All

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:36:35 +0000

“My age lowered by 25 years. And I’m still going, by the way. It’s incredible.”