The federal government says Canada could face another destructive wildfire season, after an unusually warm winter, widespread drought conditions and a forecast of above-normal temperatures in the months ahead. Officials say forecast of dry, warm weather increases likelihood of fires in coming months. Canada at risk for another devastating wildfire …
Read More »Tech News
Ladybugs have emerged! Here’s how to tell which ones bite
Click here to view the video They’re reddish, with black spots, and they are flying high this time of year. We’re talking about lady beetles. Globally, there are about 6,000 lady beetle species. About 166 of those have been documented in Canada, and not all of them are native. In …
Read More »Move over, eclipse. A rare, double brood of lustful cicadas are about to take over the skies
Scientist Floyd Shockley has been planning a road trip to witness a rare natural event that will darken skies across much of the United States — a convergence not of celestial bodies, but of two massive broods of flying, screaming, lustful insects. More than a trillion cicadas to emerge from …
Read More »The 4 factors that have led to a ‘golden age’ of discovery for Great Lakes shipwrecks
A combination of technology and environmental change has created ideal conditions for those scouring the Great Lakes for lost shipwrecks. Sunken history has never been easier to find, but it’s also never been more in peril. There’s never been a better time to find, explore and document shipwrecks on the …
Read More »Warming climates have chimps changing behaviours — but it can only go so far
In this week’s issue of our environment newsletter, we look at how climate change is impacting the lives and habits of chimpanzees, share an award-winning image from last summer’s record-breaking wildfires,and find out why Atlantic farmers are being paid to avoid farming all their property. Also: Farmers get paid to …
Read More »These giant batteries store energy, but not as electricity
Wind and solar generate cheap, clean power, but not always when it’s needed most. So storing energy is an important part of a low-carbon grid — and storing it as heat can be cheaper, safer and more convenient than storing it in traditional batteries. Thermal energy storage could boost wind …
Read More »Now that bird flu is spreading among cows, scientists worry where H5N1 will jump next
Bird flu outbreaks among U.S. cattle are a new twist in a growing global crisis. And it could be a harbinger of more species-jumps to come, including the rising possibility of H5N1 appearing in livestock like pigs — which scientists warn could help this virus better adapt to humans, too. …
Read More »Canada’s wildfires blamed for rise in global loss of tree cover
Progress made when it comes to the protection of the world’s forests was thwarted by last year’s historic wildfire season in Canada, according to a new report. Brazil, Columbia see gains but Canada’s wildfires were ‘off the scale.’ Progress made when it comes to the protection of the world’s forests …
Read More »‘CSI on the ocean’: Whale researchers comb B.C. waters for eDNA
Ocean Wise researchers spent more than a week on the ocean collecting water samples to study the environmental DNA (eDNA) of Bigg’s killer whales, North Pacific humpbacks and B.C.’s endangered southern resident killer whales. Data gathered using non-invasive technique could expedite future conservation efforts, say researchers. It was just after …
Read More »No, birds won’t fall out of the sky on April 8
The total solar eclipse on April 8 provides researchers with a unique opportunity to study how animals react. But while the sun plays a big role in how they orient themselves, it’s not their only cue. Eclipse more of a ‘huh?’ moment for nature. As ominous as it may look, …
Read More »