Articles by Sean
The Natural Products Association Profits Off Misinformation
Within the food, cosmetic and personal care industries, there exists a growing demand for ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ products. However, the public’s desire for natural ingredients and sources is based on the clever marketing of misinformation and pseudoscience. And leading this profit-driven exploitation of consumers is the Natural Products Association (NPA) and their use of The Natural Seal. […]
Liquid Phase Exfoliation of Graphite to Obtain Pure Graphene
Although graphene has some fascinating properties that have real-life applications, pure forms of this ‘wonder material’ is elusive. Although a multitude of manufacturing techniques are available, many of them have poor control over the shapes, sizes or quantity of graphene sheets. Liquid phase exfoliation is a method that has the potential to produce pure, singular sheets of graphene at industrial scales. […]
Insulin: From Inspiring Discovery to Deadly Expense
Half a billion people today suffer from diabetes, a disease that causes high blood glucose levels. Although no cure exists as yet, the remarkable discovery and subsequent development of insulin injections have allowed millions of diabetics to lead normal lives. However, the high costs of insulin treatment in the U.S. have made this life-saving drug inaccessible to certain patients. […]
Can Dogs Really Play Poker? Science Answers
Dogs Playing Poker is a series of famous oil paintings depicting anthropomorphic dogs seated around a table playing poker. While nobody really expects their dog to have its canine buddies over for a card game, just how far removed is this scenario from reality? We take a frivolous look at what the science says about a dog’s intelligence in the context of poker mathematics and psychology. […]
What Science Can Offer You, Even if You’re Not a Scientist
For many of us, learning science ends with high school. And why not? Society is designed such that even if we neglect science altogether, we are still able to lead happy and successful adult lives. But even if you’re not a scientist, science freely offers us invaluable tools for skepticism, critical thinking and better decision-making. And the best part? It’s never too late to pick them up. […]
Sean is a consultant for clients in the pharmaceutical industry and is a lecturer at a local university, where unfortunate undergrads are subject to his ramblings on chemistry and pharmacology.
