Blog Archives - SciFeye

Search

Using A.I. to analyze mammogram screenings as reported by The New York Times

2/24/2020

Reviewed by: Kennedy Barkhouse and Celina Tang

Average Score: 5 / 5

In Summary: A.I. is learning to read mammograms to help doctors find breast cancer. Radiologists and A.I. were shown mammograms and determined if the patient had cancer or not, A.I. was able to decrease the percent of false positives and false negatives. The New York Times article summarizes the scientific article and doesn’t shy away from discussing the shortcomings of A.I. The article avoids the use of jargon and presents the information without bias.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

Interesting study about molecular interactions that could impact future medicine discussed by Phys.org

2/23/2020

Reviewed by: Victoria Han and Kyra Horsthuis

Average score: 5 / 5

In Summary: Phys.org effectively summarizes a research study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in a way that is understandable by both the scientific and non-scientific community. The author writes neutrally and appropriately while describing the study’s findings; however, there are a few unjustified claims throughout.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

Important findings about dendritic action potentials that clarify human behaviour oversimplified by IFLScience

2/21/2020

Reviewed by: Rachel Lacroix and Vicky Chang

Average score: 4 / 5

In Summary: A new discovery that provides insight into a specific human action potential that has not yet been found in other mammals; however, the author tends to generalize the research. Katy Evans efficiently summarizes the new findings but tends to add her own interpretations to the research and also lacks further support from other research.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

Men's Journal inappropriately makes connections from study that relates personal well-being to sexual frequency

2/20/2020

Reviewed by: Julia Schmid and Kimya Manouchehri

Average score: 2 / 5

In summary: A study relating personal well-being to sexual frequency was misused by Men’s Journal to characterize sexual happiness. The supporting sources, apart from the main research study, are unreliable and even further decrease the credibility of Steele’s claims. Although Steele summarizes the study’s findings without any jargon, she borders on colloquialism.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

Easy-to-read article by Vice on the discovery of two new cannabinoids in a recent study

2/19/2020

Reviewed by: John Samuelian Jr and Rachel Lacroix

Average Score: 5 / 5

In Summary: The article in Vice summarizes a new study published in Scientific Reports described the discovery of two previously unknown cannabinoids. The two discovered chemical compounds (THCP and CBDP) are very similar to the commonly known cannabinoids, THC and CBD. The authors also describe how various combinations of these four compounds can possibly attribute to the different types of “highs” people experience when using cannabis. The article is well-written and easily accessible to a lay audience.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

Well-written MedicalXpress article on Immunotherapy clearly summarizes T-cell mechanism discovery

2/16/2020

Reviewed by: Ryan Yee and Victoria Han

Average Score: 5 / 5

In Summary: A study by researchers in University College London investigated specific immune system mechanisms to induce apoptosis (cell death) in the cancerous cells of mice. The researchers were able to identify both a growth and transcription factor present in the T-cells that can aid in this process. With multiple perspectives from scientists within the community, the article written in MedicalXpress provides accurate background information and the findings are explained in a manner that is accessible to a lay audience.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

CNN reports unbiasedly about the genetic influences and sources of anxiety

2/15/2020

Reviewed by: Adrianna Rizzuto and Hadi El Roz

Average Score: 4.5 / 5

In Summary: CNN’s Ryan Prior summarizes several sources studying the genetic influences and outside sources of anxiety. The research article uses a series of veterans’ data to determine the genetics at play with anxiety disorders. CNN’s article, while unbiased and well supported by the research, could have benefitted from more personal interviews to broaden the diversity of the information.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

ScienceNews article on Tardigrades defying death fails to expand beyond the primary research article

2/12/2020

Reviewed by: Celina Tang and John Samuelian Jr

Average Score: 4 / 5

In Summary: Tardigrades are able to survive under harsh conditions due to the protein Dsup (damage suppressor). The ScienceNews article discusses the findings of an eLife scientific article and summarizes the key findings of the research. Although the story describes the important findings of the article, additional sources are not referenced which harms the credibility of the news article.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang

Study investigating the link between mutations in a fathers’ sperm cell and the risk of autism in their children accurately summarized an article by TIME

2/10/2020

Reviewed by: Catherine Choueiri and Ryan Yee

Average Score: 4 / 5

In Summary: A new study investigated the link between mutations in a father’s sperm cells and the risk of autism in their children. The TIME article discusses the implications of the findings. The article takes in the viewpoints of the authors of the research paper, but there was little research outside of the primary source which hurts its credibility. The article does not fear-monger and remains neutral in its recounting of the scientific paper.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang

Story by CTV News on celestial gases in Milky Way lacks scientific clarification

2/9/2020

Reviewed by: Caelan Mestinsek and Patrick Grzela

Average Score: 4 / 5

In Summary: CTV News article discusses the discovery of the ‘Radcliffe Wave’, a colossal arm of star-forming gases in the Milky Way. The discovery provides new insight into the astronomers’ understanding of our galactic neighbourhood. Although the article clearly describes the galactic phenomenon with little jargon, it fails to reinforce the explanation with adequate scientific details or reasoning.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang