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Women in STEM

A set of nine bite-sized infographics on women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Originally created for 2020 International Women’s Day.

Illustration of a mummy making sounds using an artificial vocal tract

Unlocking a 3,000-Year-Old Voice

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to know how historical figures sounded when they spoke?

Illustration of a cartoon star with eyes and an open mouth that looks like it's burping. Coming out of its mouth is a cloud with the words 'Space Burp' in it

The Discovery of What May Be a “Star Burp”!

When we look up at the night sky, we see many beautiful twinkling stars. One star in particular, Betelgeuse, is part of the Orion constellation and one of the seven brightest stars we can see at night.

Illustration of a giant squid with tentacles turning into strands of DNA

Cracking the Code of the Giant Squid

The giant squid is an incredible creature of great interest for researchers. However, the creature has often managed to stay just out of their reach until now.

Illustration of a scientist knitting a fabric with a DNA pattern. Two other scientists assist by providing yarn and cutting the fabric with a pair of scissors

CRISPR Innovations in 2020

Last October, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work in developing a gene-editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9. This discovery opened up a world of medical possibilities and revolutionized the field of biology!

An illustration of a vivid blue sky over mountains and clouds. There are shimmering green and blue lights in the sky, resembling the Northern Lights. There are simple doodles of stars, rain and snow clouds, and a snow man over the scenery.

Setting the Atmosphere

You may only know little, if anything, about the atmosphere, but we have a lot to thank it for. It’s an invisible blanket of air that surrounds Earth, protecting it and allowing for life to exist!

An illustration of a breakfast that includes a plate of toast with an avocado spread and eggs, clementines, and different types of coffee.

The Caffeine Conundrum

Maybe you’ve started every morning with a coffee for years, or perhaps you reserve it for your most desperate all-nighters. Wherever you fall on that continuum, you’re not alone—on the average day, 71% of Canadian adults are taking a sip from at least one cup of coffee, and 48% are drinking tea.

A silkworm spinning silk thread into a spool on a leaf.

The Science Behind Silk

Silk has always been associated with luxury. And in recent years, there has been a growing hype over silk products, such as silk pillowcases and eye masks. But where exactly does silk come from, and what makes silk so special?

Illustration of a translucent human eye, a bee, a butterfly, and a mantis shrimp. There are three circles (blue, green, and red) behind the human eye; three circles behind the bee (blue, green, and one uncoloured circle); five circles behind the butterfly (blue, green, red, violet, and one uncoloured circle); and 16 circles behind the mantis shrimp (blue, green, red, and 13 uncoloured circles).

The Stained Glass Windows to the Soul

If you have a dog, you may know that they don’t see the same colours as humans do. Different animals and individuals have different views of the world—literally. But why do these differences exist? Are there whole worlds of colour that we’re missing out on?