Author: isci

Meat biofabrication shakes the very foundations of the modern day food industry. Its far-reaching applications surpassing that of the mere Costco veggie burger. In vitro meat production systems (IMPS) yield a great deal of possibility for the plant-based market (Bhat, 2011). The popularization of this technology will benefit not just those with dietary restrictions but…

Feeling anxious about your upcoming exam? Stressed about all the assignments you have yet to complete? Chances are that all of us have experienced the feeling of anxiety at some point in our lives. Anxiety is known to be accompanied by excessive fear and extreme worry, both of which interfere with one’s daily life, causing…

“Science isn’t science until it is communicated!” For anyone in the Integrated Science program, it’s a quote that we’ve heard many times.  The importance of communicating science cannot be understated; however, it can sometimes be difficult to engage the public in a way that will interest them. Now, imagine if there was a way to…

When neuroscience is the topic, neurons tend to take all of the spotlight due to their association with information processing. However, glial cells have also been shown to contribute to higher functions such as the modulation of nociception, the sensation of pain, in addition to performing supporting roles (Spitzer, Agathou and Karadottir, 2013). Due to…

Democrats and Republicans seem to never get along. Although that’s only the case for government policies and controversial topics right? There should be an agreement on topics that have a strong scientific consensus and objective truth, correct? Unfortunately, that is not the case. In fact, there have been consistent trends on the growing partisan divide…

As the healthcare system advances, one of the most essential factors in prognosis for a medical condition is early detection and treatment. While this can be done for many diseases, it is still difficult to identify the early stages of glaucoma, an eye condition that is the leading cause of blindness worldwide (Tham et al,…

It may be hard to believe, but our planet started off with very little oxygen. When O2 levels began to rise, species and organisms started to diversify and become more complex. While some experts believe that complex eukaryotic life was able to emerge and evolve on Earth due to the rise of oxygen levels, its…

Often, we find that what we’re looking for is closer to home than we think. Exciting research is one of those things that you will find in abundance at McMaster University. For instance, you may or may not know that Dr. André Bédard, from McMaster’s very own Department of Biology, utilizes a unique model, that…

Climate change consequences such as increased precipitation and higher surface temperatures are imminent if these effects are not mitigated (Pachauri et al., 2014). Furthermore, since human populations are continuing to grow, resource demands per individual will also increase. Thus, larger urban communities will need to be developed (Gill et al., 2007). If these expansion trends…