Scientists are using video games to tap the collective intelligence of people around the world, while doctors and educators are turning to games to treat and teach. [鈥 鈥淢SA is probably one of the most important tools in bioinformatics today,鈥� says J茅r么me Waldisp眉hl, a bioinformatician at 9I制作厂免费 in Montreal, Canada. But the computer algorithms employed to perform MSA don鈥檛 guarantee perfect accuracy, so Waldisp眉hl and colleagues created Phylo 鈥� an online game that transforms the MSA problem into a simple puzzle that anyone can play.
Let鈥檚 start the new year on sound footing by addressing some nutritional falsehoods that circulate widely in cyberspace, locker rooms, supermarkets and health food stores. As a result, millions of people are squandering money on questionable, even hazardous foods and supplements. For starters, when did "chemical" become a dirty word? That鈥檚 a question raised by one of Canada鈥檚 brightest scientific minds: Joe Schwarcz, director of the Office for Science and Society at 9I制作厂免费 in Montreal. Dr.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
(9I制作厂免费's Dan Levitin): Tom was one of those people we all have in our lives -- someone to go out to lunch with in a large group, but not someone I ever spent time with one-on-one. We had some classes together in college and even worked in the same cognitive psychology lab for a while. But I didn't really know him. Even so, when I heard that he had brain cancer that would kill him in four months, it stopped me cold鈥�
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
(Chris Barrington-Leigh, economist at 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 Institute for Health and Social Policy): Over the last 25 years, Quebec has gone from by far the least happy province in Canada to one of the most content places on the planet. What happened?
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
(Antonia Maioni, Associate professor of political science at 9I制作厂免费):聽 Most of North America counts down to New Year's through images from Times Square in New York. For most Quebeckers, however, the holiday tradition is an annual Bye-Bye comedy revue. From Bye-bye Jean Charest to Bonjour Charbonneau commission, 2012 served up plenty of political fodder. The new year in Quebec promises to be just as interesting. Here are five things to watch for.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
(Desautels' Karl Moore): No regrets, none at all. Over the last couple of years I have read a number of retiring CEOs asked by various newspapers whether they have had any regrets, all that I read said they had no regrets.聽 My initial reaction was to roll my eyes; I found this a bit much because in my career, I have and have had many regrets.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
(Joe Schwarcz): It was back in 1961 that I had dinner with the Montreal Canadiens. Well, not exactly with them. But I did eat in the old Texan restaurant across the street from the hallowed Forum, at the same time that my boyhood idols, 鈥淏oom Boom鈥� Geoffrion, Jean B茅liveau, Dickie Moore, Bill Hicke (my favourite), Jacques Plante and the rest of that legendary team were digging into their pregame meal. And I vividly remember what they were digging into. Steak! That was standard fare for athletes at the time. The more protein, the better the prospects for butt kicking.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
It may seem bizarre that Canada has a maple syrup cartel at all. But think of it this way: Quebec, which produces about 77% of the world鈥檚 maple syrup, is the Saudi Arabia of the sweet, sticky stuff, and the FPAQ is its OPEC. The stated goal of the cartel, in this case, is keeping prices relatively stable. The problem with maple syrup is that the natural supply of it varies dramatically from year to year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 highly dependent on the weather,鈥� explains Pascal Theriault, an agricultural economist at the 9I制作厂免费 in Montreal.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
Parents of hyped-up, candy-fuelled kids, brace yourselves: There is no such thing as a sugar high... Hyperactive behaviour is more likely attributable to excitement around the activities that typically come with extra treats 鈥� such as holidays and birthdays, says Katherine Gray-Donald, an associate professor of dietetics and nutrition at 9I制作厂免费, and president of the Canadian Nutrition Society.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
It's hardly a secret that Barack Obama, like every president no doubt, muses about his ultimate legacy and spot in the presidential pantheon. He approaches his second term confronting tough and shifting challenges that will play big roles in shaping the rest of his presidency and his eventual place in history鈥� "Americans are yearning for leadership," said Gil Troy, a presidential scholar at 9I制作厂免费.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
With a new planet-wide analysis of vertebrate life, an international team has used 21st century science to update an iconic 1876 map of Earth鈥檚 zoological regions. By incorporating data on 21,037 species of mammals, birds and amphibians, Jean-Philippe Lessard, now at 9I制作厂免费 in Montreal, and his colleagues have revised a zoological map created by Alfred Russel Wallace, an oft-overlooked cofounder of the theory of evolution. Wallace鈥檚 map divided Earth鈥檚 landmasses into six major regions, each with its own distinctive blend of vertebrates.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
The Schulich School of Music has talented graduates and talented professors. Richard King is up for his 10, 11 and 12th Grammy Award. Christine Long reports.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
(Desautels' Karl Moore): "Hormones can affect traders鈥� views.聽 Cambridge鈥檚 John Coates believes that the financial crisis was created, to some degree, by people鈥檚 body chemistry.聽 Would having more women on聽 Wall Street and in the City help?聽 Let鈥檚 listen to John鈥�"
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
n search of genomic incentives Medical innovation involves a peculiar mix of seemingly contradictory motivations. We need to strike the right balance, says Jonathan Kimmelman.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
Doctors should think twice about prescribing drugs like Ritalin and Adderall used to treat attention deficit disorder to healthy individuals seeking to boost their brain power, says an article in this weeks edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The authors say prescription stimulants are used by some people for cognitive enhancement in the absence of any medical need.
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Published on: 10 Jan 2013
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