Office for Science and Society - Separating Sense from Nonsense

Red Cabbage Does Not Know the Sex of Your Baby

Angelina Lapalme — Fri, 15 May 2026 19:07:20 +0000

Old wives’ tales were the original social media trends. One person would try something new to fix a problem, convinced themselves that it worked, and pass the tip along to their friends and children until it spread, slowly. Today, these tales still circulate but their reach has exploded thanks to the invention of a story teller’s most powerful tool: the internet. And now, it seems that red cabbage is having its moment.

Health Monitoring Has Come a Long Way, From Rolled-Up Paper to AI

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 14 May 2026 21:14:04 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Remember Theranos, the company that promised to revolutionize longevity by making health data instantly available from blood collected from a finger prick, allowing for “alerts” to make lifestyle changes?

Alex Clark’s Right-Wing Wellness Podcast Reaches New Lows

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:43:31 +0000

“Raw milk is better for your teeth than any of these toothpastes you’ll get.”

The Sparkle in Sparkling Water

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:31:46 +0000

Many consumers today are shying away from soft drinks because of legitimate concerns about their sugar or artificial sweetener content and are gravitating towards plain carbonated water. This has triggered questions about the safety of this beverage. First, a bit of background.

There Is a Hair-Raising Amount of Chemicals Around Us: Are We in Danger?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:01:00 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Until recently, I had not given any thought to hair extensions, although I was once in a salon where I was amazed at the variety of these products. They were to be found in every possible length, shade and style, made either of real hair or of various synthetic fibres.

Why Did LLMs Steal Our Em-Dashes?

Lia Erisson — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Upon ChatGPT's release in 2022, I realized that I wrote like AI. My sentences were long, my writing patterns were predictable, and my use of em-dashes was frequent. Initially, I was not concerned: if models are being trained to write like me, I must be doing a good job, right?

Farmers’ Almanacs Are No Better than a Coin Toss

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:45:51 +0000

A bicentenarian is about to die but I doubt many will notice. Farmers’ Almanac is calling it quits after being in business for 208 years. Its 2026 issue will be its last.

RFK Jr. Has Visions of the Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics Dancing in His Head

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Tue, 05 May 2026 19:54:22 +0000

U.S Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is sticking his fingers into many pies. One of these contains psychedelics that are either synthetic or natural substances capable of producing changes in mood, cognitive processes and an altered perception of reality often accompanied by hallucinations. Kennedy believes that the U.S. government has hindered research into psychedelics which have been unjustifiably painted with a broad brush as being dangerous.

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.