Critical Thinking

AI Scribes in the Clinic: What Patients Should Know

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:16:13 +0000

The last time I went to the doctor, I was handed a form to sign. It was a consent form asking for my permission to allow the doctor to use an AI scribe during our appointment. I signed it without much hesitation, partly out of habit, partly out of an assumption that this is simply where healthcare is headed in the age of AI technology. Now, months later, after spending a semester conducting a health technology assessment on AI scribes for one of my courses, I realized that moment deserved more scrutiny.

Protein-Rich Bridges and Edible Houses

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

For most tourists in Prague, visiting the Charles Bridge is pretty much at the top of the sightseeing list. The medieval stone bridge, completed in the 15th century, was a part of the royal route – the path Bohemian kings took to the Prague Castle for their coronations. It also served as a key trade route, and now, is perhaps the most international place in Prague. Alongside its immense historical and cultural significance for the Czech Republic and the Bohemian Kingdom, there is one myth around its construction that may warrant some head scratching.

Whether Organic or Not, Put Fruit and Veggies On Your Grocery List

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 28 May 2026 23:57:10 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Aspartame: Not the Devil Incarnate but Not A Godsend Either

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 28 May 2026 23:43:46 +0000

Long before “wellness influencers” honed the art of spreading misinformation on the internet, the public was at the mercy of being befuddled by hoaxes through chain emails. Way back in the 1990s, I was the recipient of one of these from “Dr.” Betty Martini in which she described a speech given by one Nancy Markle at the “World Environmental Conference” in which she claimed that the artificial sweetener aspartame was the cause of multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, seizures, brain tumours, lupus and Alzheimer’s disease.

Talking to Animals… Telepathically? The Science Behind Pet Communication

Cici Chen — Thu, 28 May 2026 23:10:52 +0000

The Claim and How It Gains Credibility

Exaggerated Fears Over Cancer Biopsies Can Worsen Cancer

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:54:23 +0000

Fear of the needle is not reserved to the vaccine hesitant; it extends to biopsies as well. In corners of social media where misinformation accumulates, influencers with an axe to grind against doctors are warning people to stay away from biopsies that help diagnose a cancer. “NEVER do a prostate biopsy, NEVER do a breast biopsy,” you will read, as the biopsy is said to spread the very cancer it is sampling.

The Science Behind the Quest for a Non-Peptide Oral Weight Loss Drug

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 21 May 2026 20:02:24 +0000

Not only does it have a tongue-twisting name, “orforglipron” has a complex molecular structure that made its synthesis very challenging. A massive effort by chemists at the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company finally resulted in a viable synthesis, but why this massive effort? Because the payoff also promises to be massive! Orforglipron is the first “small molecule” to act as an oral “GLP-1 agonist". Its discovery takes us on a long and winding journey.

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.”

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.