Volume 2 — Issue 2
The SSC’s Official Science Newspaper
uwoscience.ca/thecurrent
PHYSICS AND MATH
CERN’s super-fast neutrinos challenge our understanding of reality Jesse Tahirali
Current Contributor Faster than a speeding photon, more powerful than a particle from a locomotive, able to leap Einstein’s theory of relativity in a single bound—the superluminal neutrino. On September 22, 2011, scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (known internationally as CERN) made an announcement that sent the scientific community into a particle physics frenzy. They modestly announced to the world that they had measured particles moving faster than the speed of light. “This result comes as a complete surprise,” Antonio Ereditato, spokesperson for the project responsible for the discovery, said in a press release. “After many months of studies and cross-checks, we have not found any instrumental effect that could explain the result of the measurement.” Many months of checking for errors is necessary in this situation—saying you’ve observed some-
thing moving faster than the speed of light is, without exaggeration, one of the most audacious claims possible. “If correct, it would be a breakthrough. It would be very important,” says Dr. Vladimir Miransky, an applied mathematics professor at Western who researches elementary particle physics. “This limit that nothing could move faster than light is a very bold conse-
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“This limit that nothing could move faster than light is a very bold consequence of Einstein’s theory of relativity, and it would imply this theory is wrong.”
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- Dr. Vladimir Miransky
INSIDE THE ISSUE, YOU’RE GOING TO FIND...
Why we should go have a beer in celebration after you read this paper to in appreciation of our health Page 3
Quasicrystals. We love our chemistry.
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Do you have a habit of watching your laundry in the machine to make sure nobody touches your shit? Here’s why you shouldn’t. Page 5 Besides eating brains and stuff, zombies have actually done a few deeds for mankind. Page 6 Do you own a farm? Have you helped out with the chores since you were old enough to talk? Read about how goats can give you cancer. Page 7
Image Courtesy of CERN
quence of Einstein’s theory of relativity, and it would imply this theory is wrong.” Einstein’s theories have been rigorously tested, and this discovery is planted firmly outside of the reality we’ve constructed based on the concept of relativity. And like
any scientific discovery, this result will be subject to heavy skepticism. “First of all, what is important is that one should check whether this conclusion is correct or not. A lot of papers appear every day discussing this work, and many papers criticize their conclusions,” explains Miransky. “The variation in the speed of light is very small,” he continues. “It’s what is called a very precise experiment. There is a danger that there is some kind of inner error, and it’s not easy to immediately clarify where it is.” If these results do stand up to the impossible test, the implications would be drastic. Although the universe itself would remain intact, our understanding of reality’s rules would have to be overhauled. Perhaps not immediately, but practical application of faster-than-light speeds would almost certainly follow. “Experiments like this lead to very big discoveries, including atomic bombs,” Miransky says, referencing the enormous consequences that a more complete understanding of the atom had on human life. It will likely be a long time before our textbooks have to be updated, but the breaking of the light speed barrier would lead to a rewrite of physics literature—and these new editions would serve a purpose beyond squeezing cash from student pockets. Miransky believes that this discovery would be more important than the observation of the Higgs Boson, one of CERN’s most important and ambitious goals. Proving the existence of the Higgs Boson—which has been dubbed the “God particle”—would provide insight into the nature of mass, and give weight to the idea of fundamental force unification. These tiny neutrinos could be remembered as one of the biggest discoveries of the century. But like any seeker of truth, Miransky has a healthy amount of doubt. “I’m a bit skeptical, but on the other hand, I would not say that I believe it’s wrong. It’s quite interesting— but I believe there is quite a big probability that this conclusion is incorrect.”
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.
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The Current—October 2011
LIFE NOT AS WE KNOW IT
Our planet is home to many awe-inspiring organisms. If you’re fascinated with life on Earth, but don’t want to get out of your chair to explore the world, here is a glimpse of a few bizarre, exotic, or unconventional creatures your lazy eyes might have otherwise never seen.
TONGUE-EATING LOUSE
ANGLERFISH
You might want to rethink the second bite of that tuna sandwich before you read about the modus operandi of Cymothoa exigua, the tongue-eating louse. This parasite is native to the south-western waters of North America (specifically California), and it enjoys dining on the blood of the tongue of snapper fish. It starts off its terrible life cycle by entering through the gills of an unsuspecting, horribly unlucky fish, and proceeds to lodge itself onto the
Did you know that every anglerfish—the (extremely ugly) fish with a lantern growth on its forehead— that you have ever seen is female? All that were ever caught were females, all of which had curious parasite-looking lumps attached to them. It turns out that the males of the species have no purpose in life other than to deposit its swimmingly handsome genes into a female, as they are often many times smaller than its female counterparts. However, they are gifted with an exceptional
midsection of the tongue, feeding off the blood. Eventually, the tongue falls off altogether from loss of blood. What’s the next logical step? Of course it would attach to the muscle fibers at the base of the mouth, ensuring itself a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients from the fish. The kicker? This strange attachment binds the fish and the parasite into a lifetime relationship where the fish can use the engorged parasite as a makeshift tongue. *Cringe.* —Steven Robilliard
Image Courtesy of Marian University Science Blog
Image Courtesy of Dr. Nico Smit
DAYLIGHT CACTUS OWL
MAYFLIES
What’s small, ferocious and lives in a sauguro cactus? If you thought the honey badger was badass, think again. The cactus ferruginous pygmy owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum) can take on doves twice its size and nests in prickly beasts of plants. Oh, and it’s only 6.5 inches tall. It’s a daylight owl that competes with lizards, rodents and insects along with things ten times its size in desert scrubs and the Tuscan forests of Arizona. Talk about being gutsy. Despite its toughness however,
Most of us humans enjoy eating food (or at least eating to survive), but surprisingly, not all animals in the world are blessed with the physiological capacity to eat. Mayflies are a species of insects that are closely related to dragonflies and damselflies that have the unfortunate fate of developing vestigial mouthparts and air-filled digestive systems when they reach adulthood. In other words, once they are mature enough to mate, their lives become a ticking time bomb, as they essential-
this fighter is having a hard time battling humans in its habitat. It is slowly becoming harder for this owl to find a good home due to urban development. What makes life even harder for these tiny tanks is that they don’t migrate-so the home they have in their habitat is all they’ve got. As friends of the pygmy owl, we can only hope it continues to resist being threatened. —Akemi Liyanage
Image Courtesy of Animal Pictures Archive
Current Editors Cecilia Kwok — Editor-in-Chief Ryann Kwan — Features Editor Kevin Chen — Wire Editor Steven Robilliard — Creative Editor Akemi Liyanage — External Editor
olfactory system that allows them to sniff out a female’s pheromones. Once a male finds his love interest, he bites into her skin and releases an enzyme that fuses them together. It then slowly loses his digestive tract, heart and brain until all that’s left of him are his family jewels. The female can then use these to impregnate herself whenever she fancies. Turns out the parasite-like things found on the females were actually many pairs of gonads. Ballsy, eh? —Crystal Chan
ly have a short amount of time to reproduce, before they die of starvation. To make the best out of a bad situation, Mayflies often hatch as a large group which creates a cloud of population large enough to maintain their existence and be a phenomenon in some countries. —Kevin Chen
Image Courtesy of Anything About Bugs Blog
Current Contributors Jesse Tahirali, Crystal Chan, Lakshman Vasanthamohan, John Haddad Special courtesy to Gwen Turner-Juarez for our featured banner photo.
Do what Einstein failed to do—contribute to the Current. thecurrent@uwoscience.ca
The Current—October 2011
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UNUSUAL STUFF
Vampires, werewolves, the Justice League, and a job interview. The symptoms manifests soon after the child is 24 months old (some second birthday) and the development of scaly hardened skin is prevalent. There are no effective treatments against it, unless you count putting bringing in your 4 year-old for daily dialysis treatments. It is caused by a new mutation but fortunately, it’s so rare that there are only approximately 40 people living with it at this moment.
Cecilia Kwok Editor-in-Chief
Jumping on the Halloween-zombieapocalypse-we’re-so-screwed bandwagon, I have sacrificed my Saturday night to put myself through some of the worst Google images ever to deliver you a list of diseases worth knowing about. If you have eaten something delicious that you’d really like to keep in your stomach… do not proceed. You have been warned. 1. Porphyria (The Vampire Disease) This is a disorder that affects the enzymes that produce heme (the thing in your hemoglobin that transports oxygen and makes blood red). Because of this deficiency, the body’s tissues get poisoned. People with this disorder exposed to sunlight will develop swelling, itchy blisters on their skin, and symptoms such as vomiting, constipation, and pretty much pain everywhere. Not agonizing enough? Those with the disorder also excrete purple crap. And you know what sucks even more? It’s inherited. The treatment is to inject bags of blood into the veins.
Image Courtesy of European Journal of Dermatology
Image Courtesy of Tim King
People used to crave feeding on blood because they believed that blood could somehow diffuse from their stomachs to their bloodstream to help with their condition. It is also this disease that gave rise to this multi-billion-dollar vampire pop culture today. I don’t know about the rest of you, but Edward Cullen with blistering, bleeding skin trying to hide the signs of his purple shit is just a huge friggen turn-off. 2. Progeria – The 70 year-old 7 year-olds If you think “time flies when you’re having fun”, you might want to reconsider. Victims of Progeria will be dead by their early teens. The patients progress through the different stages of life so quickly that they never actually get to experience anything before their skin wrinkles and sags. No throwing sand at the neighbour’s cat, struggling with the multiplication table, first kisses, driving lessons or losing their virginity during their first year in university. A disease that leads to many others, sufferers experience physiological changes of aging such as osteoporosis, arthritis, heart disease, kidney failure, loss of vision, and premature balding in the first ten-or-so years of their lives.
3. Flesh-eating Disease Simply put, it’s just a bunch of little bacteria screwing around under your skin living the high life and consuming you alive. The little buggers eat fast, and without some newbie doctors aggressively injecting antibiotics into your body (or what’s left of it), you could probably lose your arm, or your face, or your gonads… in the span of 24 hours. How to land your worst enemy in this unfortunate event? All you need is to come into contact with somebody’s bodily fluids that are infected with Strep A. To keep the necrotic cells from spreading, your only option is to let your surgeon open you up and snip out everything that is infected. If it’s your foot? Amputated. If you don’t mind not having an appetite for the rest of
the month, go right ahead and type in ‘Necrotizing fasciitis’ on Google Images. 4. Congenital Insensitivity to Pain The blond giant of Steig Larsson’s Millenium series, anyone? No? You don’t read anything other than The Current? Fair enough. I still haven’t decided whether this disease is a blessing or a curse. At my next interview, if they ask me “If you could have any superpower (genetic disorder) you want, what would it be?”, I’m going to answer with ‘congenital insensitivity to pain, bitches.” Allow me to explain the badassery of this disease in response to the interviewers’ (very likely) raised eyebrows. If I was insensitive to pain, I can K.O. virtually anybody. Superman, Spiderman, Green Latern would all be lining up to battle me, and I’d be like “POW!” and they’d be like “OW!!” and then they’ll go “WHAM!” and I will duck, but I’m not quick enough, so I will take the blow, but there will be no yelps or screams of pain, because I DON’T FEEL PAIN, THEREFORE I AM INVINCIBLE! Well actually, not having the sensation of pain probably doesn’t mean I won’t suffer if I get my face pounded by Captain America. People with this disorder are able to feel all other sensations. It’s just that they have never known the feeling of pain, and never will. Children born with this disorder are often found to have injuries in their mouth by biting their tongue, which brings me to point out that this is, in fact, very dangerous. Although it seems like nothing but good to be mentally “invincible”...you really are not. The sensation of pain is what serves as a warning of danger, and without it, you would not nearly be as aware to your environment as you are now.
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
CHEMISTRY
Quasicrystals... a scientist’s best friend Akemi Liyanage External Editor
Whether or not you have heard of the prefix “quasi”, it’s definitely one worth keeping in your dictionary. This little snippet is used to describe things that are not exactly what they seem. For example, a “quasirock” is something that appears to be a rock but actually isn’t. But what are quasicrystals? If you follow the thought process of most scientists, you might dismiss the term as odd. After all, how can you find a crystal that isn’t exactly a crystal? Daniel Shechtman, Nobel Prize Laureate for Chemistry 2011 first confronted this question when he saw a strange pattern in the x-ray diffraction of a manganese-aluminum (Mn-Al) alloy he had made in 1982. Instead of showing the regular 2, 3, 4 or 6 rotational symmetry representative of existing crystals, the electron diffraction spots showed 5-fold rotational symmetry. For further clarification on why
this was thought to be a geometric impossibility, imagine yourself sitting with five pentagonal tiles. Now try to fix the five pentagon tiles into a shape with five-fold rotational symmetry. Close to impossible, right? Rotational symmetry is based on the symmetry of a shape as it is rotated. A square for example, has four-fold rotational symmetry because it looks exactly the same four times in one rotation. In the 1970’s, a scientist named David Penrose discovered a special rhombus which could construct a 3-D shape with five-fold rotational symmetry. Although this was verified as a breakthrough in an ancient geometric problem, scientists never thought such a shape could exist in nature as a crystal. This is why Daniel Shechtman’s research was considered ridiculous by his research group. Although he was rejected from the group when he defended his findings, his determination drove him to continue the battle for the next ten years to gain full recognition for his discovery. And boy did his struggle pay off!
Now let’s get back to the definition of a quasicrystal. In all honesty, quasicrystals are not well understood by the best of scientists—just look at the reaction Daniel Shechtman got in 1982. But in simple scientific jargon, a quasicrystal is possible because it is quasiperiodic. In short, this means that quasicrystals are formed through an irregular, non-repeating pattern of shapes which altogether form five-fold rotational symmetry. The key point here is that the “repeating unit” which builds a normal crystal doesn’t exist in a quasicrystal, because every “repeating unit” is actually different in size and composition. And thus lies the heart of the matter. Quasicrystals are neither random particles of matter nor rows and rows of identical repeating units. As explained by Daniel Shechtman, they represent a structure that lies between order and disorder, a crystal and a non-crystal. As of right now, the quasicrystal may not be the best thing since sliced bread. But who knows where it might lead? Its discovery is definitely the tip of a whole new iceberg….
Image Courtesy of Tiling’s Math Encyclopedia
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The Current—October 2011 HALLOWEEN
Pssshhht... Amateurs.
You think humans are the experts? Think again.
Image Courtesy of Webecoist.com
Steven Robilliard Creative Editor
Once a year, costumed vampires, mummies and Lady Gagas are rewarded for scaring the crap out of other people by being able to stuff their faces with candy. However, every single day in the animal kingdom, organisms stuff their faces with each other. In order to avoid becoming a steaming pile of a predator’s waste, some animals have developed keen defence mechanisms that rely on scaring one another to survive. Halloween ain’t no thang to these guys. The frilled dragon, a reptile native to Northern Australia, has scale colouring ranging from dark green to light brown, depending on its habitat, and extends to about 70 cm in length. Its main predators are large birds of prey, dingoes
Image Courtesy of Malcolm McDonald
and snakes. The muscles of its mouth and jaw are connected to a large frill of cartilage running 360° around its neck. Upon being frightened, the lizard opens its mouth wide, pushing the cartilage in an outward direction, fanning the frill in a full circle around its head. This gives it the appearance of being much larger and stronger than it actually is, kind of like wearing a muscle shirt to class. In addition, the frilled dragon will thrash its tail against the ground and hiss loudly to discourage any predators that are posing an immediate threat. Although the reptile spends about 90% of its time in the trees, it forages downward to find food and protect its territory from any pencil-necked animals. An amphibian counterpart to the frilled dragon, the hairy frog’s way of fending off those on the upper links of the food chain is no less intimidating,
Image Courtesy of Nature’s Crusaders Database
and a lot more horrifying. The peaceful looking frog, usually 10-12 cm in length, calls Central Africa—specifically Angola, Cameroon and Nigeria—its home. The name stems from the hair-like filaments called papillae that develop on the males’ sides. The extensions contain arteries and are used for surfaceto-surface gas exchange to provide additional energy to the males, who stay with the eggs longer than the females. When threatened, the frogs break their own bones and force them up through their skin to develop make-shift hind leg claws. Pre-sharpened bones are encased in a sheath under the frog’s hind toe, and in the presence of a predator, it will break the bones of the toe, propelling the sharpened claws through the skin. This tactic is a +10 to intimidation, and serves as a viable weapon should the frog ever need to defend itself. The
claws are able to retract slowly over time as the connections to the sheath and the skin are repaired. Somewhere manicurists are rolling in their graves. The next organism takes a page out of Snooki’s book and has a frightening face on permanently. The gladeye bushbrown is a species of butterfly native to India boasting large eyespots on both sides of its wings. It is speculated that the large fake eyes have been favourable from an evolutionary standpoint because they provide a leg up on predators. These spots give the illusion that the butterfly is much larger than it actually is, discouraging others from approaching. The bushbrown’s main threats are species of small birds and toads in Southern India. Its eyespots are also known to “wink” at the observer when it flaps its wings to fly away.
STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Partying under the influence... of stress.
Probably something we are not proud to admit Ryann Kwan Features Editor
October is a month when we science students can take one of our longstanding mottos to heart: “Work hard. Party harder.” As October brings us waist-deep into the “seriously-howdid-you-get-here-so-fast” midterm season, we find ourselves frantically learning material we were supposed to have learned ages ago and pulling all-nighters to cram all that necessary information into our brains. In short—and I’m sure you’ll agree—October brings a most unwelcome load of stress. But this month also brings with it the promise of one (or two, or three…) awesome night(s) of unadulterated, drunken university fun (Halloween anyone?). To most university students, us-
ing alcohol to deal with stress is generally considered rather harmless. Having a hectic week? Flunked your exam? Take the edge off with a few drinks. It’s a pretty common practice. But a new study shows that stress actually changes your body’s response to alcohol—whether for better or for worse depends on who you talk to. The University of Chicago ran a study with a group of men in their midtwenties to determine how stress influences the effect of alcohol. The participants were split into two groups and put into either a non-stressful situation (a game of solitaire on the computer), or a stressful one (a meeting with a panel of unimpressed interviewers). Meanwhile, the men were each given an intravenous drip of either alcohol (the equivalent of about three beers) or a saline solution without know-
ing which one they were getting. This eliminated the chance of having their responses influenced by the knowledge that they were drinking, since most people expect to feel a certain way after having consumed alcohol. During the study, researchers monitored the participants’ heart rates, blood pressures, stress hormone levels and blood alcohol levels. The men were also asked to fill out a survey to assess their anxiety level and their desire for more alcohol. The results showed that under the influence of stress, participants experienced the opposite of their usual response to alcohol. In general, people respond to alcohol in one of two ways: they either become drowsy and lethargic, or they become energized and animated. In the study, if a participant was usually stimulated by alcohol, he became tired when he was stressed out and vice versa.
The implications? Stress essentially flips the switch that dictates how you’re going to feel after drinking. If alcohol normally acts as a stimulant for you, you won’t get the same energy boost that you usually do if you’re stressed out. Similarly, if alcohol normally makes you sleepy, when you’re stressing, you’ll be able to drink more than usual without ever getting drowsy. So depending on what type of person you are, you’ll either have yet another reason to curse this stress-filled midterm month, or you might actually have a reason to be thankful for it…
The Current—October 2011
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MOVIE REVIEW
Digesting science at the movies: Student goes apeshit over the unscientific The Rise of the Planet of the Apes Lakshman Vasanthamohan Current contributor
The Planet of the Apes is currently the latest film franchise to re-boot. The iconic series where non-human primates take over the future world is brought back to life with a new story about its origin. This film explains that the primates gained their greater intelligence by way of a new wonder drug for Alzheimer’s disease. Should we be worried that such a drug can be created to irrevocably change society? Or is this just another instance of the film industry taking liberties with science? The movie begins with a chimpanzee being given the experimental drug ALZ-112. Tests show that the chimp’s cognitive functions improve, and the research group moves to do human testing. The lead scientist then presents the drug as a gene therapy capable of neurogenesis. Neurogenesis—the process of creating neurons—is a topic of much discussion and disagreement in the scientific community today. It was pre-
Image Courtesy of IFA Film Stills
viously believed that brain development in humans was complete soon after birth. However, recent research has shown that there is continual growth in certain areas of the brain including the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb.
The data in the hippocampus is of particular interest to neuroanatomists because it is the area of the brain involved in memory and learning. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the degeneration of neurons in
the brain due to accumulation of certain cytoskeletal proteins like B-amyloid and Tau. The condition spreads to the hippocampus early in the disease process. New research shows that a mouse model for Alzheimer’s with a triple knockout has inhibited neurogenesis in the hippocampal area. These mice showed similar dementia and memory problems seen in humans. Importantly, this data opens up an avenue of drugs that can potentiate neurogenesis as possible treatments for Alzheimer’s progression. Ultimately, the use of a drug that promotes neurogenesis could indeed be the answer to the problem of Alzheimer’s—unfortunately, we are not even close to finding such a drug. There are however a large number of Alzheimer’stargeted clinical trials, and there is now more hope to finding a cure than ever before. Overall, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes does not go into enough scientific detail to be considered factual, but it does introduce a possible solution to a question that has been plaguing mankind for decades.
GREEN
Clean clothes or clean environment? Kevin Chen Wire Editor
It’s generally a good idea to babysit your laundry to make sure no one messes with your clothes. However, due to the general good Samaritan actions of Canadians, most of us just leave the laundry room in search of more exciting things such as watching paint dry. Watching laundry is one of the most boring things in the world, and although you could read a book or something else, it’s just easier to go home and do something productive and exciting. Today I’m here to tell you that what we’ve been doing all along is in fact the correct decision by far. Although we risk weird people touching our stuff, we gain the safety of not inhaling volatile organic compounds. Fragranced laundry products play a huge role in the lives of Canadians as general etiquette calls for clean and fresh smelling clothes. However, these same laundry products are a significant contributor to outdoor emissions. Researchers have analyzed the emission products after laundry and have found over 25 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When analyzing these VOCs, high levels of acetaldehyde and benzene were detected. Both these compounds are hazardous air pollutants and known carcinogens with no
safe exposure level. To put things in perspective the study discovered that the levels of acetaldehyde emissions recorded during the use of one laundry detergent was comparable to 3% of the total acetaldehyde emissions in the area from automobiles. Most surprisingly, many of the chemicals detected were absent from the product’s MSDS. The only indicators were written in general terms that could be extremely misleading to consumers. Although this study accomplished its intended goals, the authors note that more research is necessary to determine the impact on the environment and human health. The primary method of these laundry product emissions come from the venting of air through the dryers, and through laundry waste water. Lesser methods of transmission involve remaining residue on laundered items. The danger from these chemicals is rather minimal due to proper venting of most drying machines, but the effects on the environment from laundry products requires further study. The danger to which you expose yourself while waiting for your laundry is probably extremely minimal compared to the more likely dangers such as exploding washing machines. Overall, laundry remains a pretty safe activity, but the next time you decide to sniff your fresh smelling laundry you should think twice about what you could be inhaling.
Image Courtesy of Claire Elaine & Adeline Rose Blogspot
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The Current—October 2011
HALLOWEEN
Zombies: Eating brains and inspiring jobs since 1968. Steven Robilliard Creative Editor
The pop-culture prospect of the living dead has been scaring people for generations. From the slow-shuffling titular characters in George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, to the frenzied, “I’m screwed” brain-eating zombies in films such as 28 Days Later, the zombie trend has exploded into mainstream media. The walking dead show up in video games, comics, music, works of art, social events and just about anything else you can think of. Their popularity, as well as their premise, is truly infectious. Zombies have amassed hordes of devoted followers and enthusiasts, some even willing to dedicate their careers to the genre—specifically the
science behind their functioning. Dr. Austin, a self-proclaimed “Theoretical Zombiologist” and founder of the Zombie Institute for Theoretical Science (Z.I.T.S.) is one such individual. Austin runs a successful zombie education program in the UK dedicated to the biology of how a zombie apocalypse might occur. Interestingly enough, his program is certified by the University of Glasgow. Providing seminars at science conventions and guest speaking at horror festivals and universities across the United Kingdom, Austin’s program contains a textbook, an online exam, and even a fictitious certification upon passing. Among Austin’s staff are gene therapists working at the University of Glasgow and a PhD candidate in astrophysics. Check out zombiescience.co.uk to try the online exam and equip yourself with the knowledge need-
ed to survive, should great-grandma suddenly rise from her grave. Dr. Steven Schlozman, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School has also dedicated his life to his love of the undead. Schlozman is an expert in the neurobiology of the zombie populace, and has released numerous videos and articles explaining the differences between a human brain and a theorized “zombie brain.” He has written a book, The Zombie Autopsies, which follows a scientist main character as he uncovers the cause of an undead infection. Along the way, he explores the biology of the brains of the zombies plaguing the earth. Schlozman’s love of the genre has not only provided career opportunities for himself, but has also inspired scores of similar “zombie-researchers” destined to prove the living dead are a very real possibility.
Whether or not you’re a fan of flesheating androtting corpses, you have to respect the impact they have had on popular culture. Their mere presence has become a scientific point of interest, and has prompted some fans to dedicate their lives to their study. Eating brains is sooo hot right now. ‘Fundead’ Zombie Movies for if you decide to stay in on the fateful night
Shaun of the Dead—Starring Simon Pegg and that chubby guy who hangs out with Simon Pegg. British zombie comedy at its finest. Fido—Keeping zombies as pets is funnier than you think. Oh, and it’s Canadian. Army of Darkness—Medieval undead meet not-so-medieval chainsaw and shotgun. Over-the-top gore makes for a laughable movie.
STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Evading the virus: avoid getting sick 101 Ryann Kwan Features Editor
So we’re nearing the end of October, temperatures are starting to drop, and it will soon be the start of a new season—flu season, that is. We all know what to expect: coughing classmates
in lecture, the non-stop sniffler behind you in the exam room, and if Lady Luck hates you, or if you’re just not careful enough, you’re in for a couple of weeks of a sore throat, a nose that doesn’t want you to breathe, fatigue, headaches, and—well, you get the picture. Getting sick sucks, and once you’ve caught the virus, all you can do is wait it
Image Courtesy of Bioquell
out. Your best option is to avoid getting sick in the first place. If you think you’ve got the basics of practising flu avoidance down, skip on down to the fourth paragraph (unless of course, you want to maximize the procrastination value of this newspaper, in which case feel free to read through the whole thing). You may have heard that the most effective way to avoid the flu is to get your flu shot. This is true. You should also know that the sooner you get your shot, the sooner your body produces the antibodies that protect you from the virus. The best time to get stuck by that needle is from mid-October to mid-November, so hop to it. We also all know that the flu is contagious. You can contract the virus if you get coughed or sneezed on by someone who has it—another reason to hate that sick person behind you in the exam—and also by touching contaminated surfaces and objects, then touching your eyes, mouth or any other orifice you happen to contact. So get into the habit of washing your hands after you’ve touched communal objects like doorknobs. It’s also a good idea to get out of the habit of touching your face—it turns out your parents actually had a point when they told you to stop rubbing your eyes. If you’re still reading and thinking “dude, everyone knows this, what a pointless article,” well, I told you those were the basics. But now we get to the interesting part of this article—stuff you might not actually know. There are certain surfaces and objects that once touched, require a hand-washing out of common sense, like bathroom door handles and public computer keyboards. But there are a lot of places that many of us don’t think of as having the potential to harbour nasty viruses and bacteria that can make us sick. These three objects are likely suspects when we catch the flu despite having covered the basics mentioned above. So with-
out further ado, let the learning begin. 1.Your bag—Let’s face it, your bag goes everywhere with you, and from the floor next to your feet at the food court to the corner of the bathroom stall, it gets exposed to some pretty gross things. And really, who washes their backpacks or purses on a regular basis? A study by the University of Arizona found that the average woman’s handbag is actually 100 times dirtier than the average toilet seat, with bacteria counts in the tens of thousands (a bacteria count of 200 is considered to be safe). And the worst part? Your bag then proceeds to be placed on the table where you eat or on the kitchen counter where you prepare your food without a second thought. 2.Your wallet—So it’s not so much your actual wallet as the stuff that goes inside it. Money exchanges hands so often, you can bet that as you’re slipping those coins into your wallet, you’re also coming into contact with viruses and bacteria left over from their previous owners. You’ve probably been told to wash your hands after handling money, but my money says you don’t actually do it. Truth is, it’s not such a bad idea. 3.Water fountains—Sick people need to drink lots of fluids, so water fountains see more than their fair share of viruses and bacteria. But the moist surface area of a fountain is also the perfect breeding ground for the disease-causing little buggers, which makes them even more of a no-go zone if you’re trying to avoid getting sick. My advice? Stick to a water bottle. So a quick recap for those of you who want to avoid the flu this year. 1) Get your flu shot. 2) Wash your hands often. 3) Stop touching your face with your hands. 4) Be aware that your bag, your money, and water fountains are usually covered in the virus you’re trying to avoid. Good luck!
The Current—October 2011
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CANCER
Goats chillin’ and grazin’, and causin’ cancer Kevin Chen Wire Editor
Everything seems to have some kind of causal link to cancer these days. It’s hard not to notice the constant reports in the media about the carcinogenic effects of everyday things such as smoking, red meat, cell phones, lack of sleep... the list goes on. It’s as if one would have to leave the city and take up the life of our ancestors—waking up to a rooster call, tending crops, perhaps even raising a herd of goats—in order to avoid cancer. Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly), one of the previous three options is also carcinogenic (although I wouldn’t rule out the other two just yet). That’s right. Proximity to goats can increase the risk of a certain rare lung cancer. Pneumatic-type lung adenocarcinoma (P-ADC) is a distinct and rare subset of lung cancer found in humans. In September of this year, French scientists presented a study to the European Respiratory Society’s Annual Congress about the effects of professional goat exposure with PADC. Usually, lung cancer is strongly linked with smoking, but P-ADC has surprisingly low linkage in comparison to other subsets of lung cancer. While studying the possible alter-
native triggers for P-ADC, scientists noticed a similarity between P-ADC and a viral infection found in sheep and goats that causes the presence of tumour growths in the lung. This led researchers to investigate whether a viral agent from these sheep and/or goats could be transferred to humans who handle these animals on a regular basis, creating a higher risk for P-ADC. Using an epidemiological study to compare goat handlers and non-goat handlers, it was found that individuals with a professional exposure to goats were five times more likely to develop P-ADC over other types of lung cancer. Although you are now equipped with this new-found knowledge, you shouldn’t worry about your nearby petting zoo (unless you’ve worked there since you were a pre-teen). The results of the study concluded that it would take years of constant exposure to goats that had this particular viral infection to raise your chances of developing this form of cancer. You will probably have more prominant carcinogens to worry about to avoid, such as air quality, meat consumption, and level of sleep. I suppose the take-home message here would be: goats may cause cancer... but then again, so does everything else. Are you even surprised ?
Image Courtesy of Denying AIDS and other oddities blog
UNUSUAL STUFF
1 fish, 2 fish, blowfish, blue fish
SEASONAL
Colours of the wind Akemi Liyanage External Editor
While turning onto the damp sidewalks that criss-cross our campus, you may have noticed the brilliant autumn colours emerging from the trees. Every year, fall turns Western into a wonderland of reds, oranges and yellows. But how does the change in colour within the leaves actually happen? You can count on science to find out! Let’s start with the basics. During the seasons of spring and summer, trees have enough light and warmth to produce an abundant amount of chlorophyll to soak up the sunshine. What you may not know is that each leaf also has hints of accessory pigments called carotene and xanthophyll, which are orange and yellow. When trees sense a decline in the hours of daylight and a drop in temperature, they begin sealing off each leaf from the branch using a corky membrane. This barrier prevents leaves from receiving the nutrients they need to synthesize chlorophyll, leading to a halt in the production of chlorophyll molecules. And since chlorophyll is an unstable molecule, once the leaves do not replenish their store, the remaining molecules break down. This causes the green colour to
fade away. Once chlorophyll is out of the picture, all that remains are the more stable carotene and xanthophyll accessory pigment molecules which paint the leaves orange and yellow. But another mechanism is responsible for the emersion of reds among the fiery yellows and oranges. The vibrant red colour comes from a class of pigments called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin is formed by a reaction between sugars and proteins in the leaf cells. Since a high sugar level and sunlight is required for this reaction to occur, anthocyanin production only begins when trees stop pulling sugars out of their leaves and stores the carbohydrates instead. The fun with anthocyanin doesn’t end there though. The specific colour of anthocyanin is regulated in accordance to the pH of the cell sap, leading them to be red in acidic conditions and purpler in basic conditions— think litmus paper in chemistry labs. Essentially, although every tree has its fair share of chlorophyll, carotenoid, xanthophylls and maybe anthocyanin, it’s up to the environmental conditions and genetic instructions of the leaves to decide the exact amount of these pigments in each leaf. So the next time you fly by those trees, don’t take the beautiful colouring for granted—thank Mother Nature for her nifty chemistry skills.
Images Courtesy of John Haddad
John Haddad
Current Contributer Look at those big blue eyes and silly smile! While the porcupine puffer fish (Diodon holocanthus) may appear to be extremely adorable, it packs one of the deadliest poisons known to man in its body’s organs. Tetrodotoxin (TTX), 10 times more poisonous than potassium cyanide, binds to voltage gated sodium channels on cell membranes, which causes global body paralysis which leads to suffocation. However, TTX does not cross the blood-brain barrier, which means victims are fully conscious as they are paralyzed and suffocate to their agonizing death. Every now and then, an unlucky victim might fall into a coma rather than immediate death, with the victim is entirely conscious. If they were lucky enough to survive, they may even be able to recount events that happened around them during the coma! Interestingly, in the voodoo prac-
tice, the puffer’s poison is included in a potion mixture which is then administrated to people to turn them into “zombies” due to its pseudo-comatose effects. The puffer fish is not thought to produce the poison itself; it actually shares a symbiosis relationship with bacteria in its organs that produce the toxin. Puffer fish sushi (fugu) has led to many deaths and hospitalizations over the past decades, but most, if not all, are due to improper preparation. Puffer fish sushi can only be served in restaurants by licensed master chefs. Sometimes, even after rigorous preparation of the fish to remove the toxic organ systems, the sushi can still cause light-headedness and slight tingling sensations in the lips. Need a better visual? Check out the 11th episode of the second season of The Simpsons, titled One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish to watch Homer Simpson cope with his inevitable death after eating the improperly prepared fugu! Pictured here above is my very own pet porcupine puffer, Ody, short for Odysseus, who turns a year old this month.
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The Current—October 2011
Did you know... Volume 1—Issue 1 Welcome back to school! A message from your Science Students’ Council president
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...that Uranus is 4x larger than the www.uwoscience.ca/thecurrent Earth, Alcohol, magnified Calculus and used in20x real life See what your drink looks it’s possible, we swear! more fun to say. like under the microscope
September 2010 Science comics Featuring humour only a true nerd can appreciate
ON NEWSSTANDS NOW; GET YOUR COPY TODAY! Page 5
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The chemistry behind your caffeine addiction Kevin Chen
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
We are the official newspaper of Current the Editor Science Students’ Council. Last year, we were known as “Absolute Zero”, but after a little Something as simple as a cup of remodeling we are now printing under new name. coffee isa 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
A name with several different scientific meanings: It could mean the movement of electric charge. It could mean the flow of water or air. YOUraisin DRAW’EM,fruit WE PRINT’EM AND which MAKE YOUR–DREAMS It also sounds like those little black things, By: Scott McCain COME TRUE. THECURRENT@UWOSCIENCE.CA depending on how you use them – could also be pretty scientific.
COMICS:
We’re devoted to delivering you as much science-related stuff as Jesse Tahirali Contiued on page 4 you can handle, and delivering it in the most interesting way possible.
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 citi-
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 Science Students’ Council | The Current through the tips of his fingers, he him were curved, as if seen in a began seeing Faculty a funhouse mirof Science • The University of Western Ontario Natural Sciences Centre, Room 108 London, ON, CANADA N6AOnce 5B6 he arkaleidoscope of “[he] woke up feeling ror. Email: thecurrent@uwoscience.ca • Web: www.uwoscience.ca colours 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,
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