Articles by Sean
How the Giant Panda Evolved to be Vegetarian
Giant pandas—bamboo-chomping, sleep-loving, rolling balls of fur—are among the most adorable animals alive today. Unlike their relatives, such as the grizzly and polar bear, the panda doesn’t eat meat but is content surviving on a diet of only bamboo. Their anatomy seems more suited toward a carnivorous or omnivorous nature, so why and how have pandas abandoned their taste for meat to pick up a vegetarian diet? […]
Evaluating Modafinil as a Smart Drug (20 Years of Data)
Modafinil (Provigil) first entered the U.S. markets in 1998 after FDA approval. Although it was initially intended to treat narcolepsy and related sleep disorders, it quickly garnered a reputation as an off-label ‘smart drug’. We evaluate the effectiveness of modafinil as a smart drug using over two decades of scientific data in this article, looking at its effects on cognition and creativity, and the future of cognitive enhancers. […]
How Scientific Illiteracy is Causing Society to Fail
Despite the prevalence of science-driven inventions and advancements that shape our society, there is a worrying lack of public knowledge—and even interest—in scientific thinking. But the result isn’t as trivial as the general public not knowing what makes the sky blue. The scientific method aids our everyday decision making; filtering facts from fiction, promoting rational thought and correcting mistakes of the past. A scientifically illiterate society is one that is geared toward failure. […]
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Literature Review
Congratulations! You’ve been accepted into a graduate program and you’re thrilled with the prospect of doing groundbreaking research work. But hang on a minute; before diving straight into a new project, it is worth taking some time to perform a literature review. A review of existing literature can establish the importance of your work, and lay the foundation for future research direction, all while ensuring that you’re not repeating someone else’s experiment! […]
Coronavirus Vaccine Development—Look Before You Leap
Nothing short of a medical miracle, coronavirus vaccines may be on the verge of being available to the public. Just months after its rapid spread throughout the world, scientists are making great strides toward delivering much-needed protection against the deadly virus. However, as much as a vaccine offers hope, a blind rush into delivering one would be a blatant act of negligence. Now, perhaps more than ever, we must strive to maintain our filters of scientific skepticism. […]
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.