Summary of Joe Schwarcz's Is That a Fact?

Summary of Joe Schwarcz's Is That a Fact? PDF Author: Everest Media,
Publisher: Everest Media LLC
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 38

Get Book

Book Description
Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 We are constantly being bombarded with information, and it is up to us to separate sense from nonsense. We must learn how to scrutinize that information in the light of what we already know. #2 Scientific knowledge is gained through a distillation of the relevant peer-reviewed literature. And that literature is the altar at which scientists worship. But there is faith involved, and that faith cannot be blind. It must be tempered with a dose of skepticism. #3 The peer-review process is not perfect. It is possible for humans to be lazy, and results that do not seem to fit the curve may be deemed erroneous and ignored. #4 Peer review is not the end all, but it is the final stage in a scientific investigation that began with an observation that prompted a comment along the lines of that’s funny.

Summary of Joe Schwarcz's Is That a Fact?

Summary of Joe Schwarcz's Is That a Fact? PDF Author: Everest Media,
Publisher: Everest Media LLC
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 38

Get Book

Book Description
Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 We are constantly being bombarded with information, and it is up to us to separate sense from nonsense. We must learn how to scrutinize that information in the light of what we already know. #2 Scientific knowledge is gained through a distillation of the relevant peer-reviewed literature. And that literature is the altar at which scientists worship. But there is faith involved, and that faith cannot be blind. It must be tempered with a dose of skepticism. #3 The peer-review process is not perfect. It is possible for humans to be lazy, and results that do not seem to fit the curve may be deemed erroneous and ignored. #4 Peer review is not the end all, but it is the final stage in a scientific investigation that began with an observation that prompted a comment along the lines of that’s funny.

Is That a Fact?

Is That a Fact? PDF Author: Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: ECW Press
ISBN: 1770905286
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 202

Get Book

Book Description
The bestselling “quackbuster” and “tireless tub-thumper against pseudoscience” fishes for the facts in a flood of misinformation (Maclean’s). Eat this and live to 100. Don’t, and die. Today, hyperboles dominate the media, which makes parsing science from fiction an arduous task when deciding what to eat, what chemicals to avoid, and what’s best for the environment. In Is That a Fact?, bestselling author Dr. Joe Schwarcz carefully navigates through the storm of misinformation to help us separate fact from folly and shrewdness from foolishness. Are GMOs really harmful? Or could they help developing countries? Which “miracle weight-loss foods” gained popularity through exuberant data dredging? Is BPA dangerous or just a victim of unforgiving media hype? Is organic better? Schwarcz questions the reliability and motives of “experts” in this “easy-to-understand yet critical look at what’s fact and what’s plain nonsense. “Takes its readers through the carnival of pseudoscience, the morass of half-truths and, finally, the relatively safe road of reproducible scientific knowledge. This journey is made all the more enjoyable by Dr. Schwarcz’s surgical use of words and his mastery of public writing . . . [He] can always be counted on to write about the chemistry of the world in a way that is both entertaining and educational.” —Cracked Science “Written with a light touch and refreshing humor, this book provides a solid, authoritative starting point for anyone beginning to look at the world with a skeptical eye and a refresher for those further along that path.” —Library Journal

Monkeys, Myths, and Molecules

Monkeys, Myths, and Molecules PDF Author: Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: ECW Press
ISBN: 1770907017
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Get Book

Book Description
The bestselling popular science author “has made it his mission to tackle myths about science and the so-called experts who spread them” (CBC Radio). The internet is a powerful beast when it comes to science; the answer to any query you may have is just a few keystrokes away. But when there are multiple answers from various sources, how do we know what information is reliable? In Monkeys, Myths, and Molecules, bestselling author Dr. Joe Schwarcz takes a critical look at how facts are misconstrued in the media. He debunks the myths surrounding canned food, artificial dyes, SPF, homeopathy, cancer, chemicals, and much more. Unafraid to expose the sheer nonsense people are led to believe about health, food, drugs, and our environment, Dr. Joe confronts pseudoscience and convincingly and entertainingly advocates for a scientific approach to everyday life. “A compendium of short articles on a variety of subjects, written in a humorous, accessible style, and larded with intriguing trivia . . . Dr. Joe skewers food myths, opposition to GMOs, Dr. Oz, and Vani Hari, aka the Food Babe.” —Science-Based Medicine “Ultimately, the author successfully demonstrates how claims should be queried and analyzed before they are accepted . . . Recommended for readers of health, nutrition, and popular science.” —Library Journal “The book is chock-full of captivating anecdotes . . . The author engages readers with his wit and wisdom.” —The Canadian Jewish News

A Grain of Salt

A Grain of Salt PDF Author: Dr. Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: ECW Press
ISBN: 177305385X
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 256

Get Book

Book Description
Bestselling popular science author Dr. Joe Schwarcz debunks the baloney and serves up the raw facts in this appetizing collection about the things we eat Eating has become a confusing experience. Should we follow a keto diet? Is sugar the next tobacco? Does fermented cabbage juice cure disease? Are lectins toxic? Is drinking poppy seed tea risky? What’s with probiotics? Can packaging contaminate food? Should our nuts be activated? What is cockroach milk? We all have questions, and Dr. Joe Schwarcz has the answers, some of which will astonish you. Guaranteed to satisfy your hunger for palatable and relevant scientific information, Dr. Joe separates fact from fiction in this collection of new and updated articles about what to eat, what not to eat, and how to recognize the scientific basis of food chemistry.

Science Goes Viral

Science Goes Viral PDF Author: Dr. Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: ECW Press
ISBN: 1773058096
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 205

Get Book

Book Description
Science has gone viral! In more ways than one. Bestselling popular science author Dr. Joe Schwarcz breaks down the science of essential oils, placenta creams, intermittent fasting, and of course the spread of COVID-19 misinformation in this new collection from the master of demarcating non-science from science Since we first heard rumblings about a novel type of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, terms like pandemic, spike protein, viral particles, variants, mRNA vaccines, antibodies, hydroxychloroquine, social distancing, immune response, convalescent plasma, aerosol transmission, and of course, face coverings, have entered our everyday vocabulary. The scientific literature has exploded with studies exploring every facet of COVID-19, but unfortunately the “viral” spread of misinformation about the pandemic has also reached epic proportions. Science Goes Viral provides a framework for coming to grips with the onslaught of COVID-19 information and misinformation in this ever-changing pandemic. Here, you’ll learn about the first antibodies ever identified, the connection between tonic water and coronavirus, and whether we can zap COVID with copper. And although our thoughts and daily activities have been hijacked by the pandemic, life does go on, as does the pursuit of science. Dr. Joe features his usual array of diverse topics, including biblical dyes, essential oils, Jean Harlow’s hair, Lincoln’s magician, and bioplastics along with assorted examples of quackery. Delving into the many fascinating facets of science can serve as a welcome distraction from the COVID curse. In fact, enchantment with science can also be contagious. Will you be infected?

An Apple A Day

An Apple A Day PDF Author: Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
ISBN: 1554686156
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 386

Get Book

Book Description
Eat salmon. It’s full of good omega-3 fats. Don’t eat salmon. It’s full of PCBs and mercury. Eat more veggies. They’re full of good antioxidants. Don’t eat more veggies. The pesticides will give you cancer. Forget your dinner jacket and put on your lab coat: you have to be a nutritional scientist these days before you sit down to eat -- which is why we need Dr. Joe Schwarcz, the expert who’s famous for connecting chemistry to everyday life. In An Apple a Day, he’s taken his thorough knowledge of food chemistry, applied it to today’s top food fears, trends and questions, and leavened it with his trademark lighthearted approach. The result is both an entertaining revelation of the miracles of science happening in our bodies every time we bite into a morsel of food, and a telling exploration of the myths, claims and misconceptions surrounding our obsession with diets, nutrition and weight. Looking first at how food affects our health, Dr. Joe examines what’s in tomatoes, soy and broccoli that can keep us healthy and how the hundreds of compounds in a single food react when they hit our bodies. Then he investigates how we manipulate our food supply, delving into the science of food additives and what benefits we might realize from adding bacteria to certain foods. He clears up the confusion about contaminants, examining everything from pesticide residues, remnants of antibiotics, the dreaded trans fats and chemicals that may leach from cookware. And he takes a studied look at the science of calories and weighs in on popular diets. An Apple a Day is a must-read book for anyone who looks forward to digesting the truth about what we eat.

Brain Fuel

Brain Fuel PDF Author: Dr. Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: Anchor Canada
ISBN: 0385666039
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Get Book

Book Description
National Bestseller From the #1 bestselling author – a cornucopia of mind-expanding insights into the science of the real world. Dr. Joe – as he is affectionately known to millions of readers, listeners, viewers, and students – brings his magic formula to Doubleday Canada with Brain Fuel. As with Dr. Joe’s previous best-selling books, Brain Fuel informs and entertains on a wild assortment of science-based topics. But this is not "science trivia." If you are looking for serious scientific discussions, you’ll find them here. If you are looking for practical consumer information, that’s here too. If you are searching for ways to stimulate interest in science, look no further, Mom. And if you are simply wondering why the birth of Prince Leopold was so different from Queen Victoria's previous seven; or why an iron rod that went through a man's head is now on display in a museum in Boston; or why white chocolate has such a short shelf life; or why eggs terrified Alfred Hitchcock – and what all of this means for the rest of us, and why – then bingo.

Summary of Dr. Joe Schwarcz's Dr. Joe & What You Didn't Know

Summary of Dr. Joe Schwarcz's Dr. Joe & What You Didn't Know PDF Author: Everest Media,
Publisher: Everest Media LLC
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 38

Get Book

Book Description
Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The walls of refrigerators are typically insulated with polyurethane foam, which was originally blown with chlorofluorocarbons. The refrigerant was later replaced by hydrofluorocarbons, which contribute to the greenhouse effect. #2 The snake that coiled around a staff is a symbol of healing, and it was originally found in Greece. It may be that snakes have some healing properties because their mouths are vulnerable to damage as they ingest their prey. #3 The workers who built the underwater foundations of the Brooklyn Bridge often experienced excruciating pain when they returned to the surface of the Hudson River. It was caused by decompression sickness, but they referred to it as the bends. #4 The snake that coiled around a staff is a symbol of healing, and it was originally found in Greece. The workers who built the underwater foundations of the Brooklyn Bridge often experienced excruciating pain when they returned to the surface of the Hudson River. It was caused by decompression sickness, but they referred to it as the bends.

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles PDF Author: Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: ECW Press
ISBN: 1554905362
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 276

Get Book

Book Description
The bestselling popular science author reveals “the connections between what we teach in chemistry courses and the world in which . . . [we] live” (ChemEd X). Interesting anecdotes and engaging tales make science fun, meaningful, and accessible. Separating sense from nonsense and fact from fiction, these essays cover everything from the ups of helium to the downs of drain cleaners, and provide answers to numerous mysteries, such as why bug juice is used to color ice cream and how spies used secret inks. Mercury in teeth, arsenic in water, lead in the environment, and aspartame in food are also discussed. Mythbusters include the fact that Edison did not invent the light bulb and that walking on hot coals does not require paranormal powers. The secret life of bagels is revealed, and airbags, beer, and soap yield their mysteries. These and many more surprising, educational, and entertaining commentaries show the relevance of science to everyday life. “A delightful and informative read. Dr. Schwarcz tells it like it is, whether the subject is light at heart or as weighty as death.” —The Cosmic Chemist “Fascinating [this book] is, thanks to the author’s lively style and contagious enthusiasm for chemistry, and his ability to make it accessible . . . connects the dots between such unlikely events as the madness of King George III and the royal fondness for sauerkraut; and between gluten, the molecular make-up of trans-fatty acids, and how the cookie crumbles.” —Montreal Review of Books

Dr. Joe's Health Lab

Dr. Joe's Health Lab PDF Author: Joe Schwarcz
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
ISBN: 0385671571
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Get Book

Book Description
The bestselling author of Brain Fuel and An Apple a Day reveals the science of being well, eating well, and staying well clear of "alternative therapy" charlatans. Health Lab's theme is the most popular of Dr Joe's specialities. There are riveting and sometimes hair-raising vignettes from the history of medicine and food production. There are reports aimed at equipping readers to recognize and beware muddled thinking, misunderstandings and deceptions in media stories about health and nutrition and in the claims made by the peddlars of "alternative" therapies. There is a wealth of information on the science of inner well-being and outer beauty. The secret to good health lies in understanding the chemistry involved. Ask Dr. Joe.