From The Vault of Schrodinger’s Cat: A Collection of Posts From the Schrodinger’s Cat Blog Featuring Updated Footnotes

By Natasha Parkinson

Schrodinger’s Cat was a science blog set out to debunk the science misinformation that was and is rampant on social media, as well as be a credible and trusted source to answer all of readers’ science questions, such as:

- What makes fireworks different colours?

- How do birds find their way when migrating?

- What is a GMO?

- Is it possible to recreate Frankenstein’s Monster?

- What causes that Thanksgiving day “turkey coma”?

- What is healthier? Eating meat or being vegan?

- Is green energy more efficient, and how much would a city need to power itself?

- Can sunscreen really give you cancer?

- How far away are we from having a zoo full of extinct animals?

- Is the science and technology in my favourite movie/video game even possible?

- Did they actually find water on Mars?

- Why are the InSight and Parker Solar Probe missions so important?

All of this and more are answered in “From The Vault of Schrodinger’s Cat”, a collection of readers’ favourite posts from the beloved blog, Schrodinger’s Cat, including footnotes of updates of how the science has progressed since the post was released and extensive works cited and resources to provide the same level of transparency, dedication to fact-checking, and search for knowledge that the readers of Schrodinger’s Cat have come to know.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ebook Copy
• Release date: Aug 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781739024512

Book preview

Natasha Parkinson

From The Vault of Schrodinger’s Cat

A Collection of Posts from the Schrodinger’s Cat Blog Featuring Updated Footnotes

First published by Natasha Danielle: The STEM Gal Media 2023

Copyright © 2023 by Natasha Parkinson

Natasha Parkinson asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Natasha Parkinson has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review or in response to a specific blog post.

First edition

ISBN: 978-1-7390245-1-2

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

Publisher Logo

This book is dedicated to my Dad, who was always proud of my big sciencey brain and never missed an opportunity to call me his little Sheldon Cooper.

my Mom, who had to listen to all my random science facts when I was growing up and helped me put together my first science fair project when I was in Grade 2.

& Nick for showing me the wayback to Schrodinger’s Cat.

Contents

Foreword

I. BIOCHEMISTRY + CHEMISTRY

1. The Chemistry of Cannabis

2. The Science Behind Fireworks

3. The Colours of the Wind

II. BIOLOGY

4. Bet You Didn’t Know That Was A GMO

5. 10 Endangered Animals Brought Back From The Brink

6. Un-Bee-lievable

7. They Are Taking Over: Aquatic Invasive Species

8. Diving Into the World of Sharks

9. Left-Handed, Right-Handed

10. Turkey Coma: Fact or Scapegoat?

11. The Great Avian Migration

12. It Came From The Deep: The Headless Chicken Monster

III. EARTH + ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

13. 4 Ways to Make the Planet Greener, While Saving You Some Green

14. The Lowdown on Wind Turbines

15. Kilauea: The Bubbling Giant

16. Hurricanes, Cyclones, Typhoons… Oh My!

17. Schrodinger’s Cat’s Quick Guide to Climate Change

18. 6 Ocean Habitats You’ve Never Heard Of

19. Shining A Light on Solar Energy

20. Put Down The Plastic

21. Breath of Fresh Air

22. The ABCs of Climate Science

IV. HEALTH SCIENCE

23. Unraveling Your DNA

24. Can Sunscreen Really Give You Cancer?

25. What the SPF?

26. Vegan vs. Meatarian: The Science of Food

27. Big Pharma’s Big Cover Up? A Look At The Rife Machine As A Cure For Cancer

28. The Not-So-Secret Side of Dream Science

29. Cuppa Poison?

V. MATH + PHYSICS

30. Paper Plane Physics

31. Luck of the Draw

VI. SCIENCE IN POP CULTURE

32. Journey to Alpha Centauri: A Review of the Netflix Reboot – Lost in Space

33. George of the Urban Jungle: A Look At The Movie Rampage

34. Technology Behind Avengers: Infinity War

35. Finding Mermaids: Analyzing Mermaids: A Body Found

36. Genetic Memory: Looking at Assassin’s Creed

37. Regrowing Deadpool

38. Racing the Millennium Falcon

39. The Jurassic Park Question: 5 Extinct Animals Being Brought Back

40. Dissecting Frankenstein’s Monster

VII. SPACE

41. Nibiru: Destroyer of Earth

42. A Co-operative Mission of Firsts: InSight & Mars Cube One

43. Water on Mars?

44. Shooting For The Star: Looking at the Parker Solar Probe

45. The Ultimate Guide to the Perseid Meteor Shower 2018

VIII. TECHNOLOGY

46. Making The World More Accessible, One Piece of Tech At A Time

47. Watch Where You’re Driving!: A Look At Driverless Cars

48. 5 Canadian Innovations that Changed the World

49. Driving on Sunshine: An Analysis of Solar Roads

50. 6 Science Apps That You Need On Your Phone

IX. WORKS CITED

51. Works Cited

Foreword

Schrodinger’s Cat was a project that arose after I caught myself countless times fact-checking my friends’ posts on social media. I realized that social media was rampant with misleading information and pseudoscience, which is difficult for the average person to sort out. It was through my training from some of the most esteemed professors that I have had the pleasure to be their student, that I learned to pull facts from fabrication and ask questions like, What is their motivation? Who is backing this? Is it information or an infomercial? This is a skill set that I wish everyone had the opportunity to receive in their educational journey. Unfortunately, that is not the case. So it became my mission through Schrodinger’s Cat to provide informative content that my readers could trust. Each section in this book is a blog post that at one time was a part of the Schrodinger’s Cat blog, just slightly reformatted. As such, you may notice the in-text citation is extensive, almost to excess. This is because, in the original format, I had hyperlinks for my readers to be able to read the articles that I got my information from (in the spirit of 100% transparency). For obvious reasons, it’s difficult to have hyperlinks in a book, especially in a physical copy. As a result, the passages that had hyperlinks now have an in-text citation, with full citations listed in the Appendix.

I

Biochemistry + Chemistry

1

The Chemistry of Cannabis

(Originally Published June 6, 2018)

Last week, Canada passed new legislation making it the second country ever to nationally legalize marijuana. As there are many people that are overjoyed by the news, there are also some that are reluctant to this new change. There is plenty of time between now and October 2018 (when legalization is scheduled to occur in Canada), so let’s take this opportunity to get some education out about marijuana and debunk some of the myths that are floating around out there. So, let’s get started on the Countdown to Cannabis, Part 1, and talk about some of the differences in the chemistry of cannabis.

Marijuana use by humans dates back as far as the Neolithic period (8,000 – 5,000 BC) (Inside: Marijuana Facts, n.d.). There are two main species of the cannabis plant that humans utilized, Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa (NIDA, n.d.). There are two main active chemical components of marijuana, THC and CBD (although, there are more than 100 different cannabinoids present in marijuana plants), that vary in concentration depending on the species of plant. Indicas have a higher level of THC, whereas, Sativas have a higher level of CBD (Hilig et al., 2004). Because of these differences, these plants have varying effects on those that use them. Indicas are best suited for those that are seeking to relax or calm down and are used by those dealing with conditions such as MS, glaucoma, chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, anxiety, and troubles with sleeplessness (Rafael-Hawkins, 2017). Whereas, Sativas are more energizing and used by those dealing with mental ailments, such as anxiety, ADD/ADHD, depression, and mood disorders (Rafael-Hawkins, 2017). In addition to these two main species, there are also hybrids of both Indicas and Sativas, in order to achieve a desired THC and CBD blend concentration. But what are THC and CBD?

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the chemical in marijuana that gives the high feeling (Vandergriendt, 2019). It is because of this psychoactive effect that many of the stigmas against marijuana users come from, as well as, why Canada’s legalization of marijuana has been a long process. As the legalization process moves forward, many law enforcement branches are trying to figure out a way to test for those under the influence, as the traditional means of testing just indicates if an individual has used marijuana in the past 21 days or so (as the time to clear the body varies from individual to individual). Despite the impairment that THC can cause, it does have many benefits, including pain management, when used correctly, without the harsh side effects of many pharmaceutical methods.

THC

CBD

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has nearly no psychoactive, or high, effect (Vandergriendt, 2019). Many that utilize the purified form of CBD oil, you wouldn’t even be able to point them out on the street, as they do not exhibit any of the stereotypical high characteristics, and most even experience an improved ability to function in their day-to-day lives. Unlike many countries, including most of the United States, CBD oil has been legal in Canada for quite some time and has been used by many to treat various ailments without a prescription.

CBD

The Downside

Despite the benefits that marijuana, THC, and CBD present, there are some drawbacks. First of all the psychoactive effects, or high symptoms, that THC can present. These can include altered senses, altered sense of time, mood changes, impaired body movement, difficulty with critical thinking and problem solving, reduced memory, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and psychosis (NIDA, n.d.). Also, for those who start to use at a younger age, in their teenage years, there have been cases of impaired brain development (NIDA, n.d.). However, these risks are not unlike those associated with drinking alcohol. Except you rarely hear of a raging pothead, do you?

With the legalization of marijuana in Canada, it presents an opportunity to educate ourselves on alternative therapies. Nothing is without its risks; even vitamin supplements and over-the-counter painkillers have their short-term and long-term risks. And as we approach the big day in Canada, in October 2018, we will look at more information and some of the myths associated with marijuana. So whether you are a Canadian who chooses to partake in the enjoyment of marijuana or not, we hope to have you fully informed when you make your decision. No smoke and mirrors, no bribes from pharmaceutical companies to sway you, just the facts. And that starts with what we discussed today, and how marijuana may have a legal place in society. With that said, thank you, everyone, for tuning in, and be sure to Keep Looking for the Science in Things.

Footnote:

According to Global News, as of February 2022, the cannabis industry in Canada had contributed $43.5 billion to Canada’s overall GDP and an additional $15.1 billion to federal tax revenue (The Canada Press, 2022). The booming industry has also created around 151,000 jobs (The Canada Press, 2022). In just two years after legalization (2020), cannabis-related drug offences made up only 19% of all drug-related offences in Canada, whereas prior to legalization cannabis-related drug offences made up 68% of all drug offences (Research and Statistics Division, 2022). That being said, drug-impaired driving rates in Canada have increased by 105% from 2017 to 2020 (Research and Statistics Division, 2022). However, according to the Department of Justice, this may be due in part to new means of detecting drug-impaired driving as a result of new legislation that was brought into effect with the legalization of marijuana.

2

The Science Behind Fireworks

(Originally Published June 28, 2018)

Over the next week, both Canada and the United States will be celebrating Canada Day and the Fourth of July, respectively. And you know what that means? Besides the fact that everyone has a reason not to have to go to work, there will be FIREWORKS. I don’t know about all of you, but I have always been awestruck by fireworks. The pretty colours, the twinkly lights, and the noises. I love fireworks so much that, on more than one occasion, I asked my dad for a fireworks display for my birthday. Fortunately for me, I grew up out in the country, and my birthday is in December. But how do fireworks work? What makes fireworks flash in different colours and even make them come alive? You’re about to find out in today’s post.

History of Fireworks

Historians have reason to believe that the origin of fireworks came from China some time during the second century B.C., when people threw bamboo stalks onto the fire as a primitive firecracker, which would then produce a loud bang in order to ward off evil spirits (Cohen, n.d.). It wasn’t until between 600 and 900 A.D. that Chinese alchemists, searching for the elixir of life, unknowingly produced gunpowder (Cohen, n.d.). With this discovery, Chinese people began to stuff gunpowder into bamboo stalks to form firecrackers (Cohen, n.d.). From there, bamboo was replaced with paper, and the use of firecrackers spread from scaring away evil spirits to celebrating festivals to even being used as crude bombs during military skirmishes (Cohen, n.d.). By the 1400s, gunpowder had made its way into Europe and the Middle East, and along with it, fireworks. Fireworks then found use in celebrating military victories, public celebrations, and religious events (Cohen, n.d.). Colourful and elaborate displays first made an appearance during the Renaissance, with the Italian firework masters discovering that certain metals could be added to give the fireworks different colours (Cohen, n.d.). As time has progressed, fireworks have become the favourite of many European monarchies, hitched a ride to the New World, celebrated the independence of a nation, and even seen a restriction put into place (due to a rampant firework detonation problem). And yet, to this day, fireworks continue to delight millions - not too bad for an accidental discovery.

Making a Firework

Most fireworks manufacturers keep their recipes in absolute secrecy. However, every firework has the same basic construction: the shell, lift charge, black powder, lift charge, a binding resin, a time-delayed fuse, bursting charge gunpowder, and pyrotechnic stars (Dematto, 2010).

Shell, commonly made of cardboard and heavy paper, holds all the ingredients of the firework together as it is launched into the sky (Dematto, 2010).

Lift Charges are the initial fuse that is lit by the firework technician (Dematto, 2010). It ignites the black powder as well as its time-delayed fuse.

Black Powder is made up of approximately 70% potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpetre; 15% charcoal; and 10% sulfur (Dematto, 2010). This combination is responsible for launching the firework off the ground and into the sky.

Binding Resin, typically dextrin, is used to hold all the ingredients together and prevent them from crumbling (Dematto, 2010). This is part of the reason why old fireworks aren’t the best to launch. They either end up being rather wimpy or downright dangerous, and they can detonate before they reach a safe height.

Time-Delayed Fuse, similar to those found on dynamite and other explosives, dictates the length of time between initial ignition and when the firework explodes (Dematto, 2010). The longer the fuse, the longer the time until the explosion, and in this case, the longer the firework soars into the sky and the higher up the explosion occurs.

Bursting Charge Gunpowder is the gunpowder at the core of the firework that gets the colourful show going (Dematto, 2010). Once it ignites, it starts the change reaction, which blows apart the shell and ignites the pyrotechnic stars.

Pyrotechnic Stars, or stars, are pellets that are embedded into the shell of the firework in various configurations and patterns (Dematto, 2010). These different configurations and patterns allow the fireworks to appear as starbursts, flowers, smiley faces, etc., all based on how they are placed in the shell. In addition to their configuration, the stars vary in shape and size (which dictates how each stream of coloured light will trail out) and contain different metals (which produce different colours). They are made up of five general components:

-Fuel – allows the star to burn.

-Oxidizer – a chemical compound that produces oxygen, which helps

burn the fuel.

-Colour-producing chemicals – determine the colour of the star as it

burns and finally explodes.

-Binder – holds the pellet together and prevents it from crumbling or

breaking apart prior to the explosion.

-Chlorine Donor – provides chlorine, which helps to make the colour

brighter, stronger.

All the Pretty Colours

As previously discussed and as we all know, fireworks appear in a large assortment of colours, and that is because of the colour-producing chemicals found in the pyrotechnic stars. At the base of these chemicals are metals. If you aren’t aware, different elements, and by extension, different metals, display different colours as they burn. Please do not try to burn different types of metals at home just to see these colours. Yes, I am a pyromaniac at heart and have tried this myself. Some metals produce toxic gases, which are hazardous. Also, fire is dangerous. So even though I know some of you will try this despite my warning, I AM NOT ENDORSING THIS, and therefore will not take any responsibility for anything that results from you trying to burn stuff to see pretty colours. And for those of you who ignore my warning, Safety First.

Ok, back to the discussion on different metals producing different colours. I find this information is best shown in a chart:

So, as you can see, there are many different chemical combinations out there to give fireworks their different colours.

Firework Effects

In addition to being able to make fireworks appear in different colours, there are different things that make them glitter, change colour part way through, and seem to never end. Roman candles are famous for being glittery. This is achieved by the type of stars embedded in the shell as well as where they are positioned (Dematto, 2010). Also, little strobes are embedded inside the tube to create a glittering golden feather effect (Dematto, 2010). Fireworks that change colour part way through by using two different types of stars, with one colour at the core of the shell and the second colour stars in the outer layers of the shell (Dematto, 2010). Finally, fireworks that never seem to end, or those that are commonly seen in the grand finale. This is because the shell is made to break into smaller sections, each with a time-delay fuse of varying lengths, so they detonate at different intervals of time. The first explosion breaks these pieces apart and spreads them out in the air, then the following explosions are each section, thanks to their time-delayed fuses.

There is a lot of thought, planning, and science that goes into each individual firework that explodes in a matter of seconds. But that is all part of the beauty and splendour of fireworks. And without the work of early Chinese and Italian scientists, Canada and the United States would not be getting their elaborate display in the upcoming week. So with that, I wish everyone a Happy Canada Day and a Happy Fourth of July. Be safe, have fun, and most importantly, enjoy those fireworks. Keep Looking for the Science in Things.

3

The Colours of the Wind

(Originally Published September 5, 2018)

The children are back in school, and Pumpkin Spice has returned to local coffee shops. It’s already September, which means Fall (or Autumn, depending on your preference) is on its way here. And I will be the first to admit that I am a stereotypical female. Fall is my favourite time of year. It’s not because of the PSL (Pumpkin Spice Lattes); in fact, I’ve never actually tried one (oh, for shame), and it’s not because I get to pull my boots back out of the closet, although boots, sweaters, and scarves become my wardrobe staples this time of year. It’s because of all the colourful leaves. The changing of the leaves, how they dance and swirl as they sail towards the ground, and the sound of them crunching under my boots. It’s also no surprise the reason that I love Fall is due to one of nature’s most beautiful chemistry shows.

Well, it has to do with the various chemical processes that occur with the changing of the seasons. During Spring and Summer, leaves are luscious green thanks to the abundance of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a chemical in the leaves that helps the plant photosynthesize, making food for the plant. The process of photosynthesis is when the plant uptakes carbon dioxide and water and uses the energy absorbed from the Sun, using its chlorophyll, and transforms it into carbohydrates (sugars and starches) and oxygen (which is exhaled by the plant) (Bassham and Lambers, n.d.).

Chlorophyll A

In addition to chlorophyll, the plant’s leaves also contain chemicals called carotenes and xanthophyll pigments, which create yellow, orange, and red colouring (Palm Jr., n.d.). Throughout Spring and Summer, we do not see these colours because the green from the chlorophyll covers them up. A sunflower plant is an excellent example of the masking ability of chlorophyll. Sunflower petals (which are modified leaves) are yellow and orange due to their lack of chlorophyll, whereas their leaves and stem are often a vibrant green due to the presence of chlorophyll.

𝛃-Carotene

Xanthophyll

As Fall approaches, the days get shorter, the temperature gets cooler, and many plants (seasonal and deciduous) start to go dormant. They stop producing food, and they slow down their functions in preparation for Winter (e.g. sap, the nutrient highway in plants, stops flowing). Annual plants die off, while perennials, those that return every year, retreat to their nutritional storehouse, either tubers or bulbs or the trunk and branches of the tree, allowing its extensions to die off. In deciduous trees and shrubs, the chlorophyll breaks down in the leaves, which causes the green to fade out and the yellow and orange for the carotenes and xanthophyll pigments to pop (Palm Jr., n.d.). Some trees and plants also carry out other chemical changes in their leaves that result in the production of anthocyanin pigments, which give the leaves a red, purple, or orange colour (Palm Jr., n.d.). Those that are brown still have some chlorophyll residue mixed with the other pigments to provide their colour.

Anthocyanin

Once all the resources are pulled from the leaves back into the tree or plant, a layer of cells forms at the base of the leaf stem, which cuts the leaf’s support tissue from the branch and seals off the tree, like a scab or scar (Palm Jr., n.d.). Once the leaf falls, there is a leaf scar left behind on the branch where this cut has occurred.

Why Does It Seem Like the Colours Vary Every Year?

Like many chemicals, carotenes, anthocyanins, and xanthophylls are sensitive to external conditions. In the case of these colourful leaf pigments, they are affected by temperature, sunlight availability, and the amount of water available. Noticed a tremendous red in the trees? Anthocyanin is best produced in temperatures just above freezing, and yet, the vibrancy can be weakened with early frost (Palm Jr., n.d.). Everything so bright and colourful? Heading out with an umbrella on rainy and overcast days to see the leaves or driving to areas that receive a higher annual rainfall may allow you to see a higher intensity of colours as the water increases the potency of the pigments.

Whether you live in the city or out in the country, I challenge you to set out and marvel at all the colours that come with Fall. Maybe you’ll find a pretty leaf on the ground to take