Environment

Beating the Heat: The History of the Air Conditioner

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:44:26 +0000

While I thought I was lucky enough to escape Europe’s intense June heatwave, I was greeted by equally brutal temperatures upon my return to New York City. With temperatures exceeding 37ºC in the few days leading up to the Fourth of July, I was to be found either at the beach or in the comfort of my air conditioned (AC) home. In New York, and most of the United States, air conditioning is omnipresent. Homes, department and grocery stores, and even public transit are equipped with ACs, providing some relief in the scorching summer sun.

Fertilizers Don’t Make the News Until There is a Shortage

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:47:50 +0000

We have to feed plants so that they can feed us. That conclusion was arrived at by virtually every early agricultural civilization be it in China, Mesopotamia, Europe or the Americas. Their key observation was that crops grow better in fields where animals leave their droppings. Yields can also be increased with the use of human “night soil,” as the ancient Chinese discovered.

Sustainable Until Disposal

Sophie Tseng Pellar BSc — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Something I’ve noticed lately is that it has become nearly impossible to buy anything without being informed that it is somehow saving the Earth. Toothbrushes are sustainable. Laundry detergent is eco-conscious. Garbage bags are, counterintuitively, biodegradable. At this rate, even my impulse purchases are apparently participating in climate action.

An Ode to Cyanotype Printing

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

I wouldn’t consider myself one to be too artistically inclined. I am unable to draw, I am not crafty, and I certainly cannot make music. It’s not that I don’t enjoy doing crafts; I do. I just was not blessed with this natural talent. That’s why, when I came across cyanotype, I was intrigued.

The Case of the Missing Coffee Cup

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Where did the coffee cup go?

It is a demonstration that never fails to draw oohs and ahhs from students. Pour a small amount of acetone into the bottom of a beaker and drop in a foamed plastic coffee cup. It instantly seems to melt into the liquid and within seconds just vanishes.

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.

Taylor Swift, Earthquakes, and Land Mines?

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:51:58 +0000

At 12:51pm on February 22, 2011, the world crumbled before the residents of Christchurch, New Zealand. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit the city, killing 185 people and injuring thousands more. This earthquake was an aftershock of the more severe but far less deadly 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit the region six months earlier on September 4, 2010.

Putting Concerns About Weed Killer Glyphosate Into Perspective

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:14:05 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

COP30: Reclaiming the Truth

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

On January 7th, 2026, Donald Trump explicitly withdrew the United States from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), along with 65 other organizations. His reasoning was that these organizations and treaties “no longer serve American interests.” This action is one of Trump’s many attacks on the integrity of climate change.

The Uninvited Guest in Your Cup of Tea

Harshita Arora — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

I love a good cup of tea as much as the next person. Rainy afternoon indoors? A cup of tea sounds about right. A suspicious tickle in my throat that suggests a cold might be brewing? Tea, obviously. Mild emotional inconvenience? Tea again. Now imagine my surprise, when I learned that a comforting cup of tea also comes with a dose of microplastics.

Say Toodle-oo to the Winter Boo-hoos

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Each October, like clockwork, a dear friend of mine reminds me to begin taking vitamin D supplements– just in time for the perils of daylight savings time. His reasoning? Its prophylactic effects against seasonal depression. In his words: “[it is] the most important thing you can do for your mental health.” For many years, I haphazardly followed his advice, both out of the appreciation I had for him to think about my wellbeing in the face of winter’s darkness, but also because I figured, why not? But can regularly taking vitamin D really have such an effect?

Building the Modern Skyscraper: Architectural Lessons from Wedding Cakes

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The Home Insurance Building, the world’s first skyscraper, and the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, both owe their origins in the city of Chicago.

A Bear’s Den and a Spaceship May Have More in Common Than You Think

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Having recently moved to Prague, I have spent many of my weekends in the Czech countryside. Life there is slow, with a usual day involving a long walk in the forest as the main event. I am often reminded by my grandmother to keep my eyes and ears peeled (my words, not hers) for wild boars – especially young ones. Now might be a good time to look at this image of these delightful beasts.

Organic Doesn’t Mean Clean: Here’s Why Washing Fruits and Vegetables Matters More Than You Think

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Growing up, the arrival of apple season was always enough to get me through the back-to-school blues. The sweet aroma of apple cider doughnuts and the numerous haystacks provided necessary relief from the pungent smell that lingered in the city. While my siblings would fight over who got to use the long stick to reach the highest apple on the tree, I spent my time traversing the orchards searching for low-hanging fruit. There was something about picking an apple from the tree and taking a big ol' bite that just hit the spot.

Seeds of Hope Require Roots of Integrity: Remembering Jane Goodall

Eva Kellner B.A.Sc. — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday October 1st, 2025, Dr. Jane Goodall passed away while on a speaking tour in the United States. As an esteemed scientist whose life mission was to advocate for wildlife, promote conservation, and strengthen ties between humans and other members of the animal kingdom, she stayed true to her mission up until her final moments. A researcher who spent more of her time traveling than not (300 days out of the year), Dr.