Volume 1—Issue 1 thecurrent.uwoscience.ca September 2010 Welcome back to school! A message from your Science Students’ Council president
Alcohol, magnified See what your drink looks like under the microscope
Calculus used in real life it’s possible, we swear!
Science comics Featuring humour only a true nerd can appreciate
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The chemistry behind your caffeine addiction Kevin Chen Current Editor
Jesse Tahirali
Something as simple as a cup of coffee is often the only thing that keeps the many students at Western awake and strong. Whether it is the crunch of last minute assignments or the pressure of cramming for final exams, coffee is by far the world’s most popular stimulant. As one of the most consumed beverages in the world, coffee has had an impressive impact on everything from the culture to the environment of each nation. However, as interesting as that may be, what kind of science students would we be if we didn’t ever
wonder about the scientific facets of coffee? Coffee is produced from the seeds of trees and shrubs of the genus Coffea. Since these seeds bear a striking resemblance to beans, they are known as “coffee beans.” These beans easily make up one of the most valuable commodity crops in the world. Originating in tropical Africa and Southern Asia, coffee plants of various species are now found growing around the world, the majority of which is produced in South American countries like Brazil and Columbia. Facing relatively few regulations and laws—and often grown with other crops that Contiued on page 4
A pharmaceutical researcher’s historic bicycle trip Zahra Sakkejha Current Editor “Turn on, Tune in, Drop out” – the words of Dr. Timothy Leary, LSD’s most prominent enthusiast. A Harvard professor of psychology in the 1970s, he believed that LSD could have profound benefits for many— everyone from criminal offenders to mental patients to regular citizens. But Leary wasn’t the first to advocate a recreational and medicinal use of the drug. Its original popularity came from Switzerland at the Sandoz Laboratories (now Novartis) in 1943. Albert Hoffman, an employee of the Laboratories, was the first to synthesize lyser-
gic acid diethylamide-25—what is genic bicycle ride home from the now commonly known as LSD. Hoflab. He later wrote in his journal mann discovered its effects in an that he felt completely stationunusual way. When he accidentally ary while riding his bike, and that absorbed some of the compound the images of the world around through the tips of his fingers, he him were curved, as if seen in a began seeing a funhouse mirkaleidoscope of “[he] woke up feeling ror. Once he arcolours in his healthier, even noting that rived home, he mind. Confused began accusing his breakfast tasted ‘unusuand curious, he his neighbour ally delicious’.” decided to give of being a witch, it another go. but eventually —describing Albert Hoffman, Hoffman took a started enjoying creator of LSD, after his first dose of 250 mithe experience experience with the drug crograms, which and woke up we now know is more than ten times the lowest active dose. The result of this pioneer acid trip is now known as “Bicycle Day” because of Hoffman’s hallucino-
feeling healthier, even noting that his breakfast tasted “unusually delicious”. For some reason that may have to be experienced to be understood,
Hoffman took his day-long acid trip as an indicator of the drug’s potential clinical effectiveness. He was convinced that nobody would want to use it for recreational purposes, but that psychologists would be very interested to use it as a treatment. As you might have guessed, these predictions have yet to be realized and mainstream psychological treatment using LSD is still non-existent. Although Albert Hoffman might have missed the mark with his prediction, he did teach us one very important thing—scientists do wonderful things for the world of illegal drugs.
The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. Its contents do not reflect the opinion of the University Students’ Council of the University of Western Ontario (“USC”). The USC assumes no responsibility or liability for any error, inaccuracy, omission or comment contained in this publication or for any use that may be made of such information by the reader.