What is the MCAT? The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is the main entrance exam for medical schools in Canada, the U.S and other countries, administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It is computer-based and currently composed of three sections: Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences.[Read More…]
Articles by Kieran Steer
3D printing takes the stage in modern market
In the future, children may not be pasting their coloured pictures to the fridge. Instead, parents can breathe life into these drawings by adding a 3D model to their kitchen.
Physics paradox proposes universal Inception
What are the chances that our existence—or lack thereof—could be a mere projection from someone or something’s mind, just like the premise of The Matrix or Inception? Ludwig Boltzmann (1844-1906), the same German physicist who derived the blackbody radiation laws, proposed this reasoning during the 1800s and it is still discussed today as one of the most interesting and disturbing ideas of science.
The health benefits of “taking five”
Three weeks ago when I volunteered to play music for patients at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), I was given a special request to play in the psychiatric care centre. The managers who made this request noted that researchers recently released evidence that music can counter the ‘sundowning effect,’[Read More…]
Up in arms against mental illness diagnosis
In times of stress, students are accustomed to the familiar feelings of anxiety and mood changes. However, although people encounter stress from exams, work, and life’s challenges, this natural response to the demands placed on the body should not be classified as severe anxiety or depression. One of the most[Read More…]
A healthy breakfast or worse than smoking?
The question of whether eggs are a healthy protein source or a deadly cholesterol bomb is among the most disputed topics in dietary sciences. An online query into the subject proves more confusing than helpful—many studies give contradicting results. Some say that eating eggs is worse than smoking, while others[Read More…]
Science Capsule
Building a house out of French fries seems like a bad idea, but fried potatoes and lumber are, chemically, very similar. Only one bond distinguishes the food we enjoy from the wood with which we build. Potatoes, made from starches, and lumber, made from cellulose, are both derived from the[Read More…]
Quantum computers: science fiction brought to life
Constructing the fastest computer has always been a huge challenge posed by technology. In the past, computer developments werheld back, as the machines, though extremely fast, could only perform one binary operation at a time. Today, this is no longer true. In May 2011, computing company D-Wave released the first[Read More…]
Taking a broader view of nicotine addiction
Over the past 20 years, scientists have completed hundreds of studies on the adverse effects of nicotine consumption—especially from cigarette usage. However, the progress made in lowering the fatalities and costs from the drug has been disappointing, given the amount of money put into these studies. Approximately 37,000 deaths and[Read More…]
CWTA creates blacklist for stolen mobile devices
By Sept. 2013, would-be thieves may not want to bother with cell phones and wireless devices. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) is working with the Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association (GSMA) to create a global database—employing new strategies to fight cell phone theft. The groups hope these new strategies will[Read More…]
McGill hockey lab has high impact on gear
Your professor could be testing the hockey gear that you bought this season. Researchers in the McGill Ice Hockey Research Group perform tests for some of the biggest companies on the market, and are involved in numerous projects involving the safety and efficiency of ice hockey equipment. One of the[Read More…]
Researchers seek to unfog mysteries of hurricanes
Last week, Hurricane Sandy caused massive storms as far north as New England and Southern Ontario. Sandy’s aftermath is still making headlines across the East Coast. Like many hurricanes and storms, Sandy’s early development seemed erratic and unruly; sources from the American Global Forecast System and other organizations in North[Read More…]
Global epigenetics project granted millions in funding
Last week, scientists came one step closer to understanding the human body on a new level—down to each type of body tissue and its specific stages of phenotypic development. Through Genome Canada and the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada finalized an agreement to supply $41 million towards epigenetic[Read More…]
Charitable auction site launched
Big companies have always been pressured by customers, governments, and charities to take an active role in social responsibility. Technology is now bridging this gap. CampusAuction, an online, Vancouver-based company that launched this August, connects students, businesses, and charitable organizations for the benefit of all. Open to any user, the[Read More…]
Fish scales serve as new model for protective armour
Imagine a hockey player preparing himself for a game and donning his socks, skates… and fish scale shoulder pads. This is not as outlandish as it seems—researchers are using fish scales as the model for a new wave of stronger protective armour. Since 2006, Francois Barthelat—associate professor of mechanical engineering[Read More…]
Freak ants reveal evolutionary truths to researchers
It turns out your high school science teacher was wrong. While evolution can seem like a random series of events, some researchers are arguing that there may be a non-random, or even predictable, aspect to the process. Ehad Abouheif, Canada research chair in evolutionary developmental biology, and associate professor of[Read More…]