Introduction Cellphones have always been the hot topic amongst teenagers alike. Conversations of the latest model, all the upgrades it contains, and where to find the cutest cellphone cases run rampant throughout schools. The real problem lies within the constant usage of cellphones in classrooms, disrupting the sole student and others around them. Cellphone Bans Across Schools Cellphone bans have steadily increased across [...]
In an increasingly technological world, it is no surprise that our systems of education focus on training young thinkers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or as they are known together: STEM. STEM has become a leading buzzword on the resumes of up and coming professionals, guiding how educators and employers prioritize the development of these practical, technological skills. Studies show that STEM [...]
In this mediascape, the forms literature can take varies wildly. Whether you want to pop in some headphones and listen to hours of someone reading you a story or if you want to simply pull an ebook up on your smartphone on the train, you can enjoy books from the comfort of anywhere. The dissemination of literature like this seems to be a [...]
Humanities vs. STEM If you’re on any secondary education campus that offers degrees in both humanities and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) studies, then you are bound to come across the ongoing debate of the value of which field of study is more ‘valuable.’ You might even hear a group of STEM students during finals bemoaning all the cramming and memorization for [...]
Introduction Over the past decade or so, Artificial Intelligence a.k.a. AI has taken the world by storm—some people are fully in support of AI’s many capabilities, while others argue that it does more harm than good. AI refers to machines' capability to learn through artificial neural networks that resemble humans’ [1]. However, AI is still in its infancy, and it’s difficult to tell [...]
Introduction Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a topic of conversation in academic communities. Experts in all fields have been trying to decide if AI use should be allowed and, if so, how it can be detected and disclosed. The scientific publishing community also finds itself asking: what are the potential gains and risks of using AI to [...]
Introduction to Virtual Reality (a.k.a. VR) Rock climbing, skydiving, extreme mountain biking, roller coasters, even tropical vacations: Thanks to VR, all these endeavors are now possible without leaving the comfort of your home. VR refers to the use of computer-generated imaging and stimuli to replicate a “real” environment. In their selected environment, users can experience sound, touch, and even 360-degree panoramic views, as [...]
If you’re a writer, you might have always thought that your mind works in a unique way. Well, science may have proved that to be true. In 2014, German scientist Martin Lotze and his team of researchers studied the brain activity of writers and non-writers as they wrote to compare their brain functions. With the help of fMRI scanners to see which parts [...]
The ability to recognize familiar faces or to learn to recognize new ones is a complex image process that we, humans, take for granted. Other mammals such as chimps have that ability, but what about sheep? A recent study revealed that scientists succeeded in training sheep to recognize the faces of four celebrities by repeatedly presenting the sheep with photographs of their faces. [...]
With the holiday season upon us, many of us will indulge in sweet treats at the office and at home, unless you are someone who does not care much for sweets, a concept that may surprise some of us candy lovers! It turns out our sweet tooth has to do with two genetic variants of a hormone known as FGF21. Published research from [...]