Office for Science and Society - Separating Sense from Nonsense

Creatine a Supplement With a Rare Commodity: Evidence

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:33:22 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

I have always been a fan of the Olympics, particularly the 100-metre sprint to decide “the world’s fastest human.” Like all Canadians, I was elated when Ben Johnson won the event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, then devastated when we learned that he had cheated by doping with stanozolol, a muscle-building synthetic steroid.

Why the World Cup Ball Matters than You Think

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

The origins of soccer can be traced back to 2nd century BC during the Han Dynasty, when the game cuju was played. Cuju, a sport resembling hacky sack, is cited by FIFA as the world’s first “kicking game.” Cuju resembles modern soccer gameplay in its organization. Two teams face off, each with the common goal of getting the ball through a little hole in the opposing team’s net.

Should We Be Reaching for that Greek Cup of Coffee?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:15:47 +0000

According to Greek mythology, Icarus tried to soar like a bird with wings he had fabricated out of feathers. Unfortunately, he plunged into the sea after the wax with which he had attached the wings melted when he flew too close to the sun. The Greek Island of Ikaria was named after Icarus and has become a focus for longevity researchers because along with Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica and Loma Linda in California it boasts unusually high rates of longevity.

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.

Forget the Supplements and Bring On the Berries

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:38:05 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

You Do Not Have a Lizard Brain

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:07:10 +0000

Inside you are three animals: a primitive crocodile, a panicky mouse, and a pragmatic human being.

The Barbie Drug Your Dermatologist Has Never Heard Of

Julia Nevski — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:12:37 +0000

Spray it up your nose, or inject it under the skin, and within days your skin turns a deep, even, suspiciously permanent bronze. No sun required. TikTok calls it the “vacation peptide.” The compound is melanotan II, and its more famous nickname, the “Barbie drug,” has been showing up in dermatology journals since at least 2010 — for the tan, plus a side effect serious enough that it later spun off its own FDA-approved libido drug. The name conjures exactly who you’d picture: young, female, chasing an Instagram-ready glow.

Resveratrol Supplements. Trifling Facts. Lots of Conjecture.

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:32:12 +0000

A quick online search for “resveratrol supplements” finds dozens produced by various companies. They contain anywhere from 50 to 500 mg resveratrol per capsule and sport labels that scream “source of antioxidants.” But there is no mention of any condition that resveratrol is expected to treat or prevent. For good reason! While there is plenty of speculation about what this compound can do based on laboratory experiments that use cell cultures, yeasts, worms, flies or rodents, it is best to remember that humans are not giant test tubes or colossal rodents.

I Would Have Loved to Be There (and Not Just for the Toilets)

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:25:59 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

The first sight visitors encountered at London’s Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in 1851 was a 27-foot glass fountain that continuously dispensed Schweppes naturally carbonated spring water sourced from the Malvern Hills in England.

Quackery in Quebec: The Trojan Horse Bill I Worry About

Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:13:56 +0000

A new bill has been proposed at the National Assembly of Quebec, and while it may look like it will benefit our health, there is a lot going on under the surface. It is an excellent example of how the rebranding of pseudoscience gives it legitimacy, and this Trojan horse is now knocking on our legislative door.