What is Crash Course? As the name implies, Crash Course is an educational YouTube channel that provides a crash course, or a condensed and simplified discussion on a subject. John Green and Hank Green, which are names you may be familiar with, run this channel. John teaches literature, US history and world history, while Hank teaches…
On June 12, 2014, as the world tuned in to watch the commencement of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the first kick off to the games was done by a paraplegic man. Check out this video of the ceremonial kick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZrvdODe1QI The 29 year-old man by the name of Juliano Pinto was joined by…
Everyone has competed in a competition that involves pinching the nose and trying to hold one’s breath for the longest. I have never won such games. So I have looked at the victor’s purpling face in puzzlement and have always wondered how long it can be humanly possible to go without oxygen. But this all depends…
Although it is rare that we will ever see the bite of radioactive spiders produce the powers of Spider-Man, science may be bringing us closer everyday. Today, we will explore the primary aspects that makes Spider-Man our hero. Spidey’s web: Spider-Man’s iconic weapon, of course, is his web. Contrary to belief, Spider-Man’s web is spun from…
When one hears 3D, an automatic response would be to think of mega-blockbuster films. But the world of 3D reaches beyond those somewhat uncomfortable 3D glasses. The world of 3D printing has and continues to defy the impossible. Whether it is design, construction or medicine, 3D printing is being used every day to break down barriers, once…
Have trouble falling asleep? Find yourself always tired in the morning? Now there is a night-light that can help you get to sleep. This light is called the Drift Light and it is a scientifically designed light that “lulls” you to sleep. Designed by Saffron, it costs $29. It is also very energy efficient, like…
Recently, on my trip to Dubai, I had the pleasure of watching the sunset from the tallest building in the world. Spectacular could not even cover it. Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper in Dubai, is the tallest manmade structure in the world. At a staggering 839.8 m, it gives a 360 degree view of Dubai from…
Forget Elsa’s perpetual world of snow in Frozen; in Calgary, a perennial snowfall is reality. People complain about the snow at this time of year, yet, snow in the spring/summer season is old news for Calgarians. In July 15, 1999, a snowfall surprised Calgary during the Stampede. Just imagine actual snow falling into your snow…
The Olympic oval seemed crowded with the beaming crowd young scientists and curious minds attending the 2014 Calgary Youth Science Fair, which was a part of Youth Week Calgary. Students in Grades 5-12 presented the projects they have been working on from months. It was very nice to see students being so excited about science,…
LED stands for “light emitting diode” and it seems like they are taking the spotlight when it comes to energy efficient lighting. So why are they so beneficial? Let’s take a look at the three big advantages of LED lights: Energy efficient: Once you have an LED, they don’t cost as much to run. Being…
The last few weeks of April will have the skies treat us to a heavenly experience. Complete with a meteor shower and a lunar eclipse, make sure to gaze at the sky in the days to come. Total Lunar Eclipse: This rare lunar eclipse showcased a red-moon below Mars on the evening of April 14. It…
For centuries, scientists have made many guesses as to why zebras have stripes. In Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man, he concluded that zebras use their stripes to attract potential mating partners. On the other hand, Alfred Russel Wallace believed that the stripes of a zebra help them camouflage into the background in twilight. Some…
Ever since the 1960s, scientists have tried to figure out whether or not dolphins communicate with a language. The World Dolphin Project has created Cetacean Hearing and Telemetry (CHAT), a prototype dolphin translator, and works with Dr. Denise Herzing and her team. After 25 years of tracking a member of a dolphin pod, she finally…
With the recent snow storm in Calgary on the first day of spring, I decided to investigate if Canada really did have the coldest weather around. Here are the top five coldest countries in the world. 5. United States of America When you think of America, you probably imagine the warm sunny beaches and the…
You use it for tea, soup, cakes, toast, and even as medicine, but honey might not be as sweet as it seems anymore. Since 2006, researchers have noted a significant decrease in the population size of bees in North America. An estimated 10 million beehives have been wiped out, a tragedy worth $2 billion. But…