ScienceUpFirst

Shout out to the sci comm fam! 🔥

Let us know who your favourite science accounts are!

A vintage textbook style illustration with halftone earth on the top and bottom. Text in graphic: "Yes, it's cold outside. Yes global warming is still real. Read the caption to learn more." #ScienceUpFirst

Some people use cold snaps and big winter storms as ‘evidence’ that the world isn’t warming. But global warming – or, more broadly, climate change – is about more than hot weather. 🌨️

👇 scienceupfirst.com/climate/glob...

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Correlation does NOT equal causation. Just because two lines move together on a graph does not mean that one causes the other. More on this in today’s video.

For more critical thinking resources: tinyurl.com/SUFCriticalThinking

#ScienceUpFirst #LaSciencedAbord #TogetherAgainstMisinformation

An upside down wine glass is shown on the right side of the slide. The left side of the slide reads: “No amount of alcohol is good for your health. Research doesn't support the idea that alcohol benefits your health. Major health organizations agree that there is no amount of alcohol that can be considered "healthy".”

For years, many of us heard that “a glass of wine a day” was good for your health. We now know that isn’t true.

How do we know that? 👇
scienceupfirst.com/nutrition/no...

This post was made in collaboration between @camhnews.bsky.social and @scienceupfirst.bsky.social

Rather trying to warn. We have another post coming very soon about what is a healthy amount of alcohol to consume. Spoiler alert: research suggests that even consuming small amounts can have negative impacts and there doesn't seem to be any health benefits to it.

Pregnant?
Getting the Tdap vaccine is the best way to protect you and your baby against pertussis (whooping cough).

Learn more about pertussis: tinyurl.com/PertussisInP...

This post was made in collaboration between (@Immunize.ca) and (@ScienceUpFirst)

A stack of textbooks and graduation cap on the left. Text: "Some people use a journal’s impact factor as proof that an article must be trustworthy. But even high–impact factor journals can publish flawed or harmful work.Impact factors are not a measure of journal quality, but a measure of influence. "

Impact factors get brought up sometimes in scientific debates, but many people are not familiar with what they mean.

Learn more about impact factors, and what they can – and can't! – tell you about a journal here. 👇
scienceupfirst.com/science-101/...

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Five wine glasses in the middle. Text: "Binge drinking is excessive consumption of alcohol in a short period"

The amount for what is considered binge drinking, which is tied to many health risks, might surprise you.

For more information see our site: scienceupfirst.com/lifestyle-be...

#ScienceUpFirst

What is the scientific consensus? Scientific consensus The collective position experts share after repeatedly testing and reviewing the full body of evidence available. It is not a matter of opinions, preferences, or beliefs.

Reaching a consensus about where you and your friends should eat on Friday night is not the same as reaching a scientific consensus.

Scientific consensus takes a lot of time and effort, and not every subject currently has one.

Learn more here👇
scienceupfirst.com/science-101/...

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Flu season is still in effect | ScienceUpFirst Even healthy people can be hospitalized, and in Canada, influenza and pneumonia are among the top 10 causes of death.

The flu can be dangerous, do you know how to protect yourself in the best way possible?

See our post on it here. scienceupfirst.com/public-healt...

#ScienceUpFirst

A grey background of medical masks with a red stop sign shape on top. Text in graphic: "This flu season is bad. Swipe to see what's normal and when you should seek care." #ScienceUpFirst

Flu is high right now, and this year H3N2 is spreading fast. Most people hospitalized because of the flu are not vaccinated.

Even if the vaccine isn’t a perfect match, it still helps reduce severe illness and hospitalization.

👉 scienceupfirst.com/public-healt...

#ScienceUpFirst

A mustard yellow background with a line of pills at the top. Text in graphic: " No. “Big Pharma” is not withholding effective cancer cures to profit off existing treatments. We explain everything here" #ScienceUpFirst

There’s no secret cancer cure being hidden by “Big Pharma.”

Cancer research is global, complex, and driven by people who dedicate their lives to helping patients.

Learn why this myth doesn’t hold up here
👉 scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...

#ScienceUpFirst

A graphic of a stomach fills the image with text over top that says: "Your gut does not need to be "cleansed" of toxic buildup. #ScienceUpFirst"

There is no toxic buildup in your intestine, because…

• There’s a regular turnover of your intestine lining.
• Your body is built to effectively neutralize and eliminate toxins.

Read more 👇
www.scienceupfirst.com/project/your...

#ScienceUpFirst

A scrapbook style page in a notebook. Text in graphic: 2026. Ins: Asking yourself, “Hmm, is this accurate?”. Being able to say “I don’t know, let me do some research on that”. Checking credentials and multiple sources. Learning about the different misinformer tactics. Nuance. Starting conversations with “I’m open to changing my mind…”. Outs: Sharing articles after only reading the headline, Fully trusting AI summaries, Thinking others fall for misinfo but not you, Only counting on social media for news, Putting ideology over evidence, Trusting charisma over expertise.

In 2026 it’s cool to care. Myth busting and critical thinking are the in thing. But relying on AI answers, charming personalities and other less than accurate sources are all out baby!

Check out our site for more “in” tips on spotting misinformation.
www.ScienceUpFirst.com

#ScienceUpFirst

#PWHRCanada

Our team is taking a short break over the next two weeks to recharge, reflect, and get ready for 2026

While we’re away, let us know the topics you would like us to cover in the new year. 👇

#ScienceUpFirst

Two people looking frustrated with a turkey dinner on a dinner table and speech bubbles that aren't saying anything between them. Text in graphic: "Conversations on polarizing topics can often be challenging and can quickly become unproductive. Here are a few evidence-based tips we have found to be helpful." #ScienceUpFirst

Talking about polarizing topics can be difficult. Regardless of who the conversation is with it’s better for everyone if it goes positively.

Here are a few tips to help you get through these difficult discussions.😵‍💫

www.scienceupfirst.com/project/our-...

#ScienceUpFirst

Does it feel like there are difficult conversations hiding around every corner this month?

We know this can be a stressful time of year and we wanted to give you a few tips to hopefully help make it easier.

Happy holidays from the team at #ScienceUpFirst

Large bolded text on a teal background reads: “SHOULD YOU GO HERE TO THE HOSPITAL? Kids Edition” Under a flag that says “Start here” there is a question that asks “Does your child have a fever?” with three different options branching out and leading to more decisions.

Deciding whether or not to go to the ER with your child is stressful.

We've broken down key factors for you to look for in this decision tree, we hope it alleviates some of your stress. 👇
scienceupfirst.com/kids-health/...

#ScienceUpFirst

TikTok can be fun, but when it comes to cancer advice, a lot of what you see can be unsafe or unreliable. Let’s clear some things up 👇

#ScienceUpFirst

Six red flags in the centre, each one has a warning sign. There's a magnifying glass in the upper right. Text in the graphic: "Trusted Health Source Starting to Feel Off? 6 Signs A Source Is Unreliable. Breaks from broad expert consensus. Uses studies or data in a selective or misleading way. Ignores corrections or credible scientific criticism. Uses ideological or politicized language. Keeps moving the goalposts. Asking for impossible proof or proof of a negative” #ScienceUpFirst

Science is built on many voices, not one institution.

A single surprising statement, even from a familiar or historically trusted source, doesn’t replace the wider consensus.

But how to gauge reliability?👇
scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...

#ScienceUpFirst

A night sky cityscape with shooting stars. Text in the graphic: "The sun is setting by 5PM. That's tough on a lot of us. Here are some evidence-based approaches to managing seasonal depression." #ScienceUpFirst

Every year, as the days get shorter and darker, some people will experience seasonal depression.

Learn about what can help and what won’t help with seasonal depression symptoms here 🌨️
www.scienceupfirst.com/project/the-...

#ScienceUpFirst

The text at the top reads “Red Herring.” There are multiple items shown with a background that has a colour palette ranging from burgundy red to creamy white, passing through silver grey. Some of the pictures include black and white stiletto shoes, a black hat, a silver fish, some beige gloves, a red camera, a black hand bag, and a woman in a black attire and a beige coat. The text underneath reads “Misinformer tactics mood board.”

What if different misinformation tactics came with different moods and styles?

What would cherry picking look like? What about an appeal to nature? Check out this post to see them all!

👉 scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...

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A dark blue background with an angry red emoji swearing in the centre. Some text above and below the emoji reads: “The Oxford word of 2025 is rage bait. Read why this misinformer tactic is so popular in the caption.” #ScienceUpFirst

Did you know that misinformation on the internet and social media often plays on your emotions to go viral?

Rage bait can hinder our critical thinking. Read more on that and how to protect yourself here 👇 www.scienceupfirst.com/project/misi...

#ScienceUpFirst

Ever find yourself watching something on social media and wondering if you’ve been transported to another universe?

In honour of the Stranger Things season 5 premiere we made a video of the Upside Down…except it’s a wellness influencer.

#ScienceUpFirst

A layered, rainbow-coloured pyramid, with each layer tied to a different part of the hierarchy of evidence. Text in graphic: "The Hierarchy of Evidence: Risk of Bias, Systematic Review/Meta Analysis, Randomised Controlled Trials, Cohort Studies, Case Control Studies, Case Series/Reports, Editorials/Expert Opinion. Not all evidence is the same. #ScienceUpFirst

Did you know that not all scientific evidence has the same weight?

The more the study relies on an expert's opinion, rather than many data points and peer-review, the higher the risk of bias.

🔺https://www.scienceupfirst.com/project/hierarchy-of-evidence/

#ScienceUpFirst

It’s shaping up to be a rough flu season — time to layer up that protection. 💪

Need some inspo? Check out what others are doing to stay healthy this season
👉 tinyurl.com/SUFScienceChampions

#ScienceUpFirst #LaSciencedAbord #TogetherAgainstMisinformation

On a colourful background of purple and orange, a cannabis leaf is shown as getting bigger. The text says: “Today's cannabis is much stronger than what your parents smoked in the 70s.” In the lower corner, it says “In collaboration with CAMH.” #ScienceUpFirst

Cannabis is NOT what it used to be.
With much higher levels of THC today, the effects can hit harder and carry greater risks for substance addiction or psychosis.

scienceupfirst.com/lifestyle-be...

This post was made in collaboration between @camhnews.bsky.social and @scienceupfirst.bsky.social

A woman in the centre sits thinking about her choices with question marks by her head. Text in graphic: "Thinking about tracking your cycle instead of using birth control? Learn how it works and what to keep in mind" #ScienceUpFirst

Everyone deserves accurate info to make the choices that work for them.

Check this out to learn what research says about tracking your cycle. 👇

scienceupfirst.com/sexual-healt...

This post was made in collaboration between @pwhrcanada.bsky.social and @scienceupfirst.bsky.social

An informational poster in the style of "don't feed the sealions". There's a warning sign at the top, in the centre it says "Please do not feed sealioners" with a ban sign and a human face looking towards a barking sealion. At the bottom there is a sealion with a man's head that says "I'll never stop" Text in graphic: " Did you know sealioners; Are trolls who ask endless questions to drain your energy? Aim to make you seem unreasonable for getting frustrated or not answering all their questions? Are best dealt with by calling out their bad-faith tactic?" #ScienceUpFirst

They say they’re “just asking questions.”
You answer.
They ask again, ignoring your answer.
And again.
And again.
That’s not curiosity, that’s sealioning. A polite-looking way to troll and waste your time.
Don’t take the bait. Call it out. 🦭

👉 scienceupfirst.com/misinformati...

#ScienceUpFirst