If two pieces of paper, one crumpled up and one flat, were to be dropped, which one would reach the ground first? Without much deliberation, most people would likely say the crumpled piece of paper, and they would be correct. Air resistance slows the descent of the flat piece of[Read More…]
Articles by Atticus O’Rourke Rusin
SciTech Reviews: ‘Superior: The Return of Race Science’
Science has helped society make sense of the natural world and all of its intricacies. Advancements in medicine, technology, and mathematics have all led to improvements in human welfare. At the same time, science can be applied unequally, benefiting those of a specific race or class, in ways that distort[Read More…]
SciTech Reviews: ‘Emperor of All Maladies’
Although the risk of cancer-related death is declining in Canada, cancer remains the leading cause of death in this country. Given this reality, scientists have dramatically ramped up their research in the past several decades. However, cancer is not a new disease—humanity has made note of its presence for millennia,[Read More…]
Food fuel: Waste’s wasted potential
Climate change is a pressing issue across the world: As the dramatic toll of human habits on the environment becomes increasingly evident, researchers and policymakers must find new, creative ways to address these habits’ detrimental impacts. World leaders, scientists, and even many citizens don’t lack knowledge about the causes of[Read More…]
SciTech Reviews: ‘The World in a Grain’
The world as we know it would not be the same without the small but infinitely useful substance of sand. Incorporated into critically important products such as concrete and beauty processes such as microdermabrasion, sand finds its way into nearly every crevice of our lives. Author Vince Beiser knows this[Read More…]
Concrete’s sandy underbelly and hidden carbon costs
As McGill students, we might not find the sidewalks we walk on during our daily walks to class particularly interesting. And yet, concrete is a major pillar of our society—quite literally. Its use and production affect our lives in innumerable ways. The construction industry uses more concrete than any other[Read More…]
“Seeing” viruses in real time
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2022, when thousands of people were getting sick every day, healthcare professionals were worked to the bone. One particularly difficult task in preventing the spread of COVID-19 was contact tracing. In other words, finding out who was sick and how they[Read More…]
Penguin feathers and the ice cube tray effect
One thing that is always on the mind during a Montreal winter is the cold and, more specifically, the ice. Living in Montreal makes slipping on ice inevitable. A painful landing on your behind, however, is not the only inconvenience associated with this crystalline structure. The buildup of ice on[Read More…]
Honey, I shrunk the brains!
Aging is one of the few truly universal experiences, yet it is one of those things that no one really looks forward to. Along with visible signs like wrinkles and grey hair, however, comes a more insidious and harder-to-combat symptom: The decline of brain function. But according to a new[Read More…]
Is Montreal the next powerhouse of AI research?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly commonplace in our society—from its implementation in smartphone apps like Siri and the curation of playlists on platforms like Spotify, to credit score calculations and even works of art. Over the past several years, McGill and, more broadly, Montreal, has emerged as a hub[Read More…]
From bioink to cryogenics: The rapid acceleration of 3D printing technology
A nozzle squeezes out a stream of molten plastic, ceramic, steel or even cells—layers and layers of which stack up, one after the other. Every layer laid down must wait for the last to dry before the next is begun. Patience is a virtue, and these machines are virtuous. 3D[Read More…]
CRISPR-Cas9, the unwitting revolutionary
Bacteria get a bad rap, and often deservedly so: Different strains cause a range of infections and diseases, including pneumonia, strep throat, and tuberculosis. However, any well-researched health food advocate can list the many benefits of the bacteria present in yogurt, and your local pub would be doomed without the[Read More…]
Computational witness stand: A new way to prevent credit card fraud
In 2018 alone, reported fraud cases increased by 18.4 percent from the previous year and over 20 billion dollars were lost. Although not the only source of card fraud, one major concern is the security of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). With the spread of ATMs throughout the world, personal banking[Read More…]