Category: public posts
The select public posts from syn·op·sis, written and reviewed by iSci students at McMaster University. Each post is interdisciplinary in nature, and a wide variety of subject matter is covered. So sit back, relax, and start learning.
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Antivirals from yours truly: Another virus
Viruses have taken the spotlight in recent years, no matter how much we want them gone. We normally think of these agents as something dangerous and harmful, which is not always true. There are many many viruses that have benefitted humanity, such as ancient retroviral DNA integrated into our genome that helps us get rid…
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Our Tadpole Origins
Have you ever rummaged through a memory box and stumbled upon some kindergarten self-portraits? Your earliest depictions of the human form were probably peculiar, and by no means anatomically accurate. When most children begin drawing humans, their sketches consist of a round head and a pair of lines representing legs, but interestingly, the torso is…
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Impact of Climate Change on Grapevine Genetics and Wine
It is no surprise that our changing climate does not only affect humans. Plants are also greatly impacted by environmental fluctuations, especially grapevines. Viticulture is the farming of grapevines used in winemaking and this agricultural system is recognized as an indicator of climate change due to its climate sensitivity; the lifecycle of grapevines, is so…
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The One-Man Environmental Disaster
The story of Thomas Midgley Jr. is a cautionary tale of the power of scientific research, and its consequent potential dangers. As an engineer with over 100 patents by the end of his career, Midgley (Figure 1) could always be expected to be working on the next big breakthrough (National Inventors Hall of Fame, 2003).…
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Heavy Metals and Crop Contamination
Implementing a sustainable framework for agriculture to promote food security and produce safe food is a facet of goal two within the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations, 2022). However, as the world becomes increasingly industrialized, environmental contaminants are released from more and more anthropogenic sources, particularly from the fields of agriculture and industry,…
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Bedtime Procrastination
Before you begin reading, please take the time to respond to each of the following nine phrases with a simple yes or no (Kroese et al., 2014). I go to bed later than I intended to. I go to bed late, even if I have to get up early in the morning. If it is…
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Fly Away Little Salamander
Humans have long been fascinated by flight. As a dominant terrestrial species, the notion of sustained suspension in the air has created a wonder that transcends both cultures and generations (Alexander, 2002). While the flight of birds has created an entire industry, from bird watching to backyard feeders (Tobalske, 2006), many other species have mastered…
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Applications of Audiovisual Storytelling in Science Communication
“It was a dark and stormy night,” is a well-known phrase insinuating the beginning of a story, written by the English novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Although popular and recognized by many, this quote is ridiculed for its overuse. In a world of illustrative anecdotes, this phrase is less effective in capturing an audience than more meaningful…
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Next Time You Have an Infection, Think of the Earth
The discovery of antibiotics is one of the most important medical discoveries in history (Hutchings, Truman and Wilkinson, 2019). Over the last century, we have seen drastic development of new antibiotics, which are used in a number of cases, such as treatment of infections, treatment of cancer, and in aquaculture (Hutchings, Truman and Wilkinson, 2019).…
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Do I Help My Sports Team Win?
The Effect of Fans on Sport While you can “take [yourself] out to the ball game” and “root, root, root for the home team”, will it really alter the game’s outcome (Norworth and Von Tilzer, 1908)? Many sports fans, as well as sports literature, believe that fans’ stadium presence with their team, wearing the team’s…