/oss/taxonomy/term/179/all en /oss/article/health-and-nutrition/dont-throw-baby-out-hydrogenated-bathwater <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in the <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/the-right-chemistry-dont-throw-the-baby-out-with-the-hydrogenated-bathwater">Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>“Congratulations! You have in your hands one of the best available tools to increase your health and vitality.”</p> Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:50:47 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9843 at /oss /oss/article/general-science/earth-moon <p>No, this story is not about space travel. It is about the naming of elements, specifically, selenium, discovered by the Swedish chemist Jons Jacob Berzelius in 1817. He named it after Selene, the Goddess of the Moon. One might therefore assume that selenium has some connection to the moon, but it doesn’t. The element has no lunar link, but on earth, selenium-bearing minerals are often found together with tellurium-bearing minerals. When Berzelius discovered selenium, tellurium was already known, and had been named after Tellus, the Roman Goddess of the Earth.</p> Thu, 25 Nov 2021 22:57:24 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8931 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-history/no-silver-lining-colloidal-silver <p>As early as the ancient dynasties of Egypt, silver coins were placed in the drinking vessels of the nobility to protect them from harm.  Of course, this was not the result of any scientific investigation, the practice probably originated from some superstitious belief about the magical properties of precious metals.  Over the years it became apparent that the silver coins really did have an effect, they kept water from becoming slimy.  Storage of water in silver vessels was an obvious extension of this observation, affording the well-to-do some protection from water-borne diseases that were</p> Wed, 13 Oct 2021 16:35:44 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8896 at /oss /oss/article/health-pseudoscience-history/there-any-validity-claim-some-people-are-human-magnets-their-bodies-able-attract-assortment-objects <p>Leonid Tenkaev and his wife claim that the nuclear accident at Chernobyl in Ukraine transformed them into human magnets. Pictures of the couple show spoons, keys and even irons sticking to their bodies as if they were glued there. Perhaps they were. From the photos, one cannot tell. The Tenkaevs, however, are not the only ones to claim to have such magnetic powers. Indeed the web is ablaze with pictures and videos of “human magnets” plastered with everything from coins to cell phones. But for these living curiosities, cutlery, especially spoons, seems to have a particular appeal.</p> Fri, 24 Sep 2021 19:12:57 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8862 at /oss /oss/article/videos-technology/right-chemistry-teflon <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-8hm-q3bgi74" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on Teflon chemicals" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/8HM_q3Bgi74?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-8hm-q3bgi74&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on Teflon chemicals" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on Teflon chemicals</iframe> </div> </p> Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:01:44 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7799 at /oss /oss/article/videos-history/right-chemistry-secrets-mercury <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-2cbz1ise7pm" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the secrets of mercury" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/2cBz1ISe7pM?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-2cbz1ise7pm&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the secrets of mercury" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the secrets of mercury</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:04:24 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7547 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/did-you-know-when-you-are-drinking-tea-you-are-also-drinking-some-ink <p>Like any plant, the tea plant is composed of hundreds of different compounds. Some of the most interesting ones fall into the category of polyphenols, so called because of their molecular structure. These compounds, specifically a sub-category called “tannins” are responsible for the dark colour you sometimes get in tea and they also account for the possible health benefits of tea.</p> Thu, 22 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7460 at /oss /oss/article/health/are-vegetables-grown-tire-gardens-safe-eat <p><span>When it comes to chemical composition, tires are extremely complex. Different kinds of rubber, carbon black, vulcanizing agents, antioxidants, antiozonants, polymerization accelerators, plasticizers, oils and solvents are all components of tires. Roughly 5% of the weight of a tire is made up of “processing chemicals.”  When tires are burned, these chemicals can be released, and even more nasties form as a result of their combustion. However, a tire that lies dormant in the back yard is not being incinerated.</span></p> Thu, 02 Aug 2018 18:18:33 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7201 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/how-are-mirrors-made <p>Imagine the surprise of the first cave person who ever glanced into a reflecting pond. The image probably wasn't too pleasing but the effect was surely intriguing. Vanity was instantly born and the search for better reflective materials was underway. The discovery of metals yielded polished sheets which served well until sometime in the 12th century when it was discovered that glass with a metal backing produced a near perfect image. Craftsmen adept at making mirrors guarded the secrets of their process jealously.</p> Tue, 12 Jun 2018 15:03:14 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7129 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/beavers-have-metal-teeth <p><span>I once broke my tooth on some toffee my mom made. Every time I see a beaver, I think of that day and wonder how they can gnaw on trees all day without chipping an incisor when I couldn’t even conquer candy. </span></p> <p><span>Since beavers are </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodent">rodents</a> it’s not too surprising that their teeth constantly grow. This allows them to chew away on their sticks while keeping their teeth, but my guinea pigs are also rodents and I wouldn’t put them up against a log.</p> Tue, 12 Jun 2018 15:49:39 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7130 at /oss /oss/article/technology/silver-tarnish-and-tarnished-claims <p>Silver is more than just an object of beauty. It’s the stuff of memories. Prior to digital photography, all picture taking relied on compounds of silver. The reduction of silver ions to metallic silver by the action of light that is at the heart of the chemistry of photography. Silver is in fact so light sensitive that a crystal of silver chloride could detect the light of a candle on the moon!</p> Wed, 23 May 2018 15:37:21 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7101 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/can-you-heat-food-metal-container-microwave-oven <p><span>Apparently this question was prompted by a remark a guest made on the Dr. Oz Show. While speaking of “toxins” released from plastic he said something about stainless steel being preferable. This caused quite a commotion in chat rooms with some people commenting that only someone with the IQ of plankton would suggest the use of metal in a microwave. I'm not sure how the IQ of Oz's guests compares with that of greenery, but using metal in the micro is far from the silliest thing ever heard on that show.</span></p> Thu, 12 Apr 2018 16:20:31 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7011 at /oss /oss/article/technology/black-panther-science <p>"Black Panther", the latest of superhero action movies based on Marvel comics, is the most science-positive of the series. Unfortunately, it is also completely scientifically unrealistic, <span>thanks to the film’s deus ex machina <em>vibranium</em>, the fictional metal around which the movie is centred. <em>Vibranium</em> is an alien material which crash-landed on Earth 10,000 years ago with extraordinary (and extraordinarily fictional) properties. Think invisible flying ships, sports cars formed instantly out of sand, and bracelet-controlled holograms.</span></p> Thu, 22 Mar 2018 19:30:00 +0000 Cassandra Lee, OSS Intern 6967 at /oss /oss/article/food-health-technology/metal-micro <p>Because I take the odd shot at Dr. Oz (he is after all such an inviting target) people send me reports of some of his antics. Apparently he, or one of his guests, muttered something about using stainless steel containers in the microwave instead of plastic which was claimed to release "toxic chemicals." This caused quite a commotion in chat rooms with some people commenting that only someone with the IQ of plankton would suggest the use of metal in a microwave.</p> Sat, 01 Feb 2014 03:28:21 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2084 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/there-lead-my-lipstick <p style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/?p=4872"><img alt="Red lipstick" height="150" src="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2013/04/Lipstick-150x150.jpg" width="150" /></a>Had a question about lead in lipstick. You won't see lead listed on the label but doesn’t mean that there is no lead in the product. Certainly there is no lead added on purpose, but the presence of trace amounts is very difficult to avoid. That’s because lead compounds are widely present in minerals and ores from which a number of chemicals used as ingredients in cosmetics are produced. Certain colorants used in lipstick do contain tiny amounts of lead because it is virtually impossible to eliminate all contaminants. Amounts, however, are carefully regulated. In the U.S., all colorants used in cosmetics, unlike other ingredients, require FDA approval and cannot contain lead over a certain amount. For example, in the case of FD&C Red #6, commonly used in cosmetics, lead content cannot exceed 20 parts per million. The final cosmetic product of course will have a much lower level. In Canada, we follow the FDA’s lead.</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/2013/04/15/is-there-lead-in-my-lipstick/">Read more</a></p> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:59:54 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1911 at /oss