A distillery known for vodka distilled from milk byproduct has partnered with a U.S. dairy producer who will use the eastern Ontario company’s process to produce eight million litres of ethanol fuel that is better for the environment. Ethanol made from milk seen as a way to offset carbon. A …
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New research shows Arctic could see ice-free summers by 2030
A paper published Tuesday in the journal Nature has concluded that northern waters could be open for months at a time as early as 2030, even if humanity manages to drastically scale back its greenhouse gas emissions. Past estimates suggested summer ice wouldn’t disappear until the 2040s, or might even …
Read More »How do you track biodiversity loss? Check air filters, say scientists
A new study shows air filtering systems across the world have been collecting DNA from wildlife for decades, which could be used to help researchers identify and quantify biodiversity. Networks that measure air pollution could be used to gather vital wildlife genetic data say researchers. It’s no surprise that along …
Read More »Scared of heights? How virtual reality can help people overcome their phobias
Virtual reality-based (VR) therapy combines other forms of therapy, including talk, with technology, allowing patients to immerse themselves in their fears in a groundbreaking way. It’s been used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and other mental health diagnoses. Fay Nugent challenged her phobias in a series of virtual scenarios. …
Read More »Self-driving cars know the rules of the road — but not rules of humanity
When it comes to reading cues from human drivers, autonomous vehicles have a ways to go. Driving a vehicle involves more than following the rules of the road. It is a social activity involving subtle interactions with other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians where everyone tries to avoid each other — …
Read More »What has climate finance paid for? Gelato shops, a coal plant and more
Industrialized nations have pledged $100 billion US per year to help poorer nations cut emissions and adapt to climate change. But what does that ‘climate finance’ pay for? Among other things, a coal plant, gelato shops, and hotel and airport expansions, Reuters and Big Local News have found. No rules …
Read More »Industry knew about risks of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ for decades before push to restrict them, study says
Makers of PFAS, a class of chemicals used in everything from cookware to food containers and makeup, knew the substances were toxic as early as the 1970s and obscured the danger, according to a new study based on industry archives held at the University of California. Researchers in California examined …
Read More »If a forest has a variety of tree species, is it better at fighting climate change? A U of A study says yes
Tree diversity is declining in forests around the world, but advocates are urging better management practices in the wake of new research that shows diverse species can increase a forest’s carbon storage ability. Study is first to demonstrate tree diversity can increase soil carbon in natural forests. The Prairies Climate …
Read More »Artificial intelligence poses ‘risk of extinction,’ tech execs and experts warn
More than 350 top executives and researchers in artificial intelligence have signed a statement urging policymakers to see the serious risks posed by unregulated AI, warning the future of humanity may be at stake. More than 350 industry leaders sign letter equating potential AI risks with pandemics, nuclear war. More …
Read More »Canadian researchers use AI to find a possible treatment for bacteria superbug
A group involving McMaster University scientists have used artificial intelligence to find a treatment for Acinetobacter baumannii, a deadly superbug that, until now, was resistant to previously known antibiotics. ‘If it helps us get to discoveries even 10 per cent faster, that’s a huge win for society,’ says scientist. Read …
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