The West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society said there are concerns the dead fish found on the banks of a creek were caused by urban runoff, specifically a compound found in tires. Tires can leave behind 6PPD-quinone on pavement, which becomes toxic when exposed to sunlight. Stream watchers in Metro Vancouver say …
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How heat pumps fare on the Prairies
With no sign of further exemptions to the federal carbon tax, heat pumps have made their way into the energy conversation. But are they a viable heating source for cold Prairie winters? Experts say pumps can work through frigid conditions, but may not cut greenhouse gas emissions. Catherine Gibson hopes …
Read More »Does biology trump free will? A behavioural scientist argues we have little choice
In his new book, Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, Sapolsky makes the case for transforming our criminal justice system and system of meritocracy. Robert Sapolsky contends that our intent and actions are determined by things over which we have no control. It’s natural for people to feel …
Read More »Rare egg-laying mammal rediscovered in Indonesia
Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, named after British naturalist David Attenborough, was …
Read More »Though winter is coming, fire crews are on the lookout for zombie fires that can spring back to life
Though wildfire season in Alberta is officially over, the battle is far from done. Fire crews continue to keep watch for fire that is burning underground and could flare up again in the spring. Fires burning in organic matter called peat can sometimes persist for months on end. Though wildfire …
Read More »Astronaut Frank Borman, commander of the first Apollo mission to orbit the moon, dead at 95
Astronaut Frank Borman, who commanded Apollo 8’s historic Christmas 1968 flight that circled the moon 10 times and paved the way for the lunar landing the next year, has died. He was 95. Apollo 8 mission provided the iconic ‘Earthrise’ photo. Astronaut Frank Borman, who commanded Apollo 8’s historic Christmas …
Read More »New telescope searching for unseen matter in our universe reveals stunning new images
Dark matter and dark energy make up roughly 95 per cent of our universe but can’t be seen. In order to reveal their influence, over its six-year mission, this new space telescope will observe the shapes, distances and motions of billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years and create …
Read More »Traces of cannabis in human bones suggest 17th-century Italians were recreational pot users
Team of forensic scientists in Milan, Italy, discovered traces of cannabis in the remains of two skeletons from the 17th century. Scientists examined 9 femoral bone samples from people who lived in 1600s Milan. People have been consuming weed for a very long time. Ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote about …
Read More »‘Am I actually seeing this?’: Muskox spotted in Fort Chipewyan, Alta.
Darlene Cardinal slammed her brakes in order to stop herself from crashing into a wild muskox last month. It was a rare event for someone who lives in Fort Chipewyan, Alta. ‘Everybody wanted to see the muskox. It’s an exciting thing.’ Darlene Cardinal slammed her brakes in order to stop …
Read More »This is the oldest black hole ever found — and it’s huge
Scientists have discovered the oldest black hole yet, a cosmic beast formed a mere 470 million years after the Big Bang. Black hole is 13.2 billion years old and 10 times the size of Milky Way’s black hole. Scientists have discovered the oldest black hole yet, a cosmic beast formed …
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