Office for Science and Society - Separating Sense from Nonsense

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.

Are Dolphins the Clue to Anti-Aging?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 01 May 2026 03:11:23 +0000

No, we don’t have to eat dolphins, and neither are they eating yogurt. So, here we go. The latest product to enter the “anti-aging supplement sweepstakes” has the curious name “Fatty15.” That name certainly doesn’t conjure up an image of rejuvenation, but it is chemically descriptive. Fatty15 refers to a dietary supplement that contains “pentadecanoic acid,” a fatty acid with 15 carbon atoms linked in a chain without any double bonds, making it a saturated fat. That doesn’t sound particularly healthy since saturated fats are generally linked with increased blood cholesterol.

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.

A Trip From Rocket Fuel to Amazon Hallucinogen

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:44:37 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

I intended to write about rocket fuel. So, how did I end up writing about “ayahuasca,” a hallucinogenic brew originating from Indigenous Amazon traditions? Well, here we go.

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.

The Fascinating History of Magic’s Most Famous Illusion

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:19:01 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

On Jan. 7, 1921, the audience at London’s Finsbury Park Empire theatre was introduced to what was destined to become the most famous illusion in magic.