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Living World

Field of tobacco plants, which are a source of nicotine

How do alkaloids cause addiction?

STEM Explained

Alkaloids are found in some of the most addictive substances that humans consume. What are alkaloids, and how do they cause addiction?

Human kidney cross-section

Osmosis and Its Role in Human Biology and Health

STEM Explained

Learn how and where osmosis takes place in the digestive system and excretory system and the role of osmosis in kidney dialysis.

Abstract image of brain connections

Neurons: The Building Blocks of Your Brain

Backgrounders

How does your brain allow you to do and experience so much? It’s all because of the building blocks of your brain - neurons!

Namratt Joshi dans ses habits de graduation au doctorat

Namrata Joshi

PhD Neuroscience

Namrata Joshi has a PhD in Neuroscience and works with Moffitt Cancer Center.
Looking at a donut and a brain through a magnifying glass

How Sugar Affects the Brain

STEM Explained

Consuming sugary foods and drinks activates your brain’s reward system - the same system that can cause addiction.

3D representation of a portion of human female brain

Clay-Adams Brain

Interactives

This brain model helped doctors better explain things to their patients. Learn about this Ingenium artifact and make your own version using 3D printing!

Rendering of the human brain

Brain Architecture

Backgrounders

The human brain has many different parts. Each one plays a different function. But they all work together to manage complex thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Mitosis of kidney cells © Ian P Newton & Paul L Appleton [CC BY-SA 4.0], Wikimedia Commons

What is Mitosis?

Backgrounders

Mitosis is an important part of cell division that helps organisms grow and repair themselves.

Bread and wheat with a warning sign

Celiac Disease: When You Really Need to Stay Gluten-Free

STEM Explained

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. Gluten triggers an immune system response, seriously affecting nutrition.

Suffering from a hangover

Why Do People Get Hangovers?

STEM Explained

Why does drinking too much alcohol make people feel so bad? Read about four theories.

What is in blood?

What is in blood?

Hands-on Activities

Make a model of blood and learn about the function of each of the parts that makes up blood.

Like trees, brains grow and develop

Understanding the Teen Brain

STEM Explained

Teen brain development prepares teens for adulthood, but also affects their emotions.

Students studying outdoors on grass

The Benefits of Going Outside

STEM Explained

Spending time outside has important physical and psychological benefits. It can even help you learn better!

man sick with the flu

The Surprising Reason You Feel Awful When You're Sick

STEM Explained

Viruses can make you feel awful! This article explains how feeling bad might be your immune system’s way of helping you heal.

Former Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk enjoys cycling on board the ISS

Spaceflight and Bone Loss

STEM Explained

Astronauts can experience bone loss in space. To understand why, you need to know a bit about how bones are formed and maintained in your body.