/oss/taxonomy/term/3722/all en /oss/article/you-asked-general-science/how-keep-cut-flowers-looking-fresh-science <p>It's a lovely feeling to wake up in the morning and be greeted by a beautiful bouquet artfully arranged in a vase. But it's a far less pleasant one when you start to notice their petals falling, leaves wilting and stems drooping. Drawing on some knowledge of chemistry and biology, here are a few things you can do to prolong the life of cut flowers using nothing outside what's likely already in your home.</p> Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:45:52 +0000 Ada McVean M.Sc. 9841 at /oss /oss/article/pseudoscience-general-science/claptrap <p>Our brain controls the production of certain hormones and neurotransmitters such as melatonin, serotonin and dopamine. Simplistically, one can say that “rest and repair” hormones are activated by a lack of light, while “coping with stress” hormones are produced when light is abundant. But the situation is actually more complicated. Hormonal activity is governed by messages sent from the eye in response to specific wavelengths and problems arise if there is exposure to an unnatural mix of wavelengths, termed the “unnatural wavelength effect” (UWE).</p> Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:02:43 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9748 at /oss /oss/article/medical/no-eating-honey-wont-help-your-seasonal-allergies <hr /> <p><em>This article was originally posted in the <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/christopher-labos-no-eating-honey-wont-help-your-seasonal-allergies">Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>Apparently, if you search the internet, you will find articles saying that eating honey will help treat your seasonal allergies. It won’t. Honey can do many things, but it can’t do that.</p> Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 9483 at /oss /oss/article/history/valentines-day-time-smell-roses <p>There are more red roses sold on Valentine’s Day than on any other day of the year. They hold a special place among flowers, particularly because of their associations with romance. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, The Goddess of Love, fell in love with the mortal shepherd Adonis. When he was gored by a wild boar, she rushed to his aid but as she brushed by a wild rose bush her skin was pierced by its thorns. Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her blood and dripped on the rose bush which thenceforth produced the red roses that came to symbolize love and passion.</p> Wed, 08 Feb 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9379 at /oss /oss/article/environment-did-you-know-general-science/scents-and-sensibilities <p>It is quite amazing how very small changes in an odourant’s chemical structure can radically change our perception of its scent. For example, octanol, a synthetic compound used in perfumes and flavourings smells sweet and fruity, while its very close relative, octatonic acid, smells rancid and pungent.</p> Fri, 07 Aug 2020 15:19:51 +0000 Caitlin Bard, OSS Intern 8357 at /oss /oss/article/history/under-microscope-rose-petals <p>Nowadays roses are mostly used for Bachelorette ceremonies and hipster lattes, but once upon a time roses, and their fruit, rose hips, were widely used as medicines.<br /> Diarrhodon is the name given to herbal treatments containing roses, and there are lots of them, said to treat everything from liver problems to heart problems to digestion issues. Traditional Chinese medicine made use of the China rose for regulating menstruation, pain relief, thyroid problems and diarrhea.<br /></p> Mon, 06 May 2019 17:58:23 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7746 at /oss /oss/article/environment/under-microscope-bees-knees <p><img height="1536" width="2048" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" class="file-original " src="/oss/files/oss/img00008.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><img height="1536" width="2048" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" class="file-original " src="/oss/files/oss/img00009.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><img height="1536" width="2048" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" class="file-original " src="/oss/files/oss/img00010.jpg" alt="" /></p> Wed, 06 Mar 2019 19:01:24 +0000 Adam Oliver Brown PhD and Ada McVean B.Sc. 7635 at /oss