Forever chemicals are everywhere. These burnt wood chips could help change that

Forever chemicals are everywhere. These burnt wood chips could help change that

Forever chemicals are everywhere, from cookware to cosmetics to clothes to carpets. For decades, they’ve been building up in the environment and our water – and in our bodies.  Now Canadian researchers say they have developed a practical way to remove the toxic compounds from our drinking water.  “There’s no natural way for this thing … Read more

China ended its international adoption program. Prospective parents want Canada to intervene

China ended its international adoption program. Prospective parents want Canada to intervene

The Current24:51China suddenly ends international adoptions A Quebec man and his wife are devastated after China suddenly stopped most international adoptions, dashing their hopes of adopting a little boy they’ve spent years getting to know.  “We feel that we have a special connection with him,” said Pierre LeMay from Quebec City.  “We receive pictures, we … Read more

Invasive peach blossom jellyfish spreading through B.C. waterways

Invasive peach blossom jellyfish spreading through B.C. waterways

Some time more than 30 years ago, a single Chinese peach blossom jellyfish made its way into a lake in British Columbia. Exactly how it arrived is not clear, researchers say — perhaps it was in aquarium water — but decades later, thousands of genetic clones of the same organism have been spotted in 34 waterways around the province. … Read more

B.C. waters now home to Canada’s largest marine protected area

B.C. waters now home to Canada’s largest marine protected area

First Nations along British Columbia’s coast and the federal government have announced the designation of the country’s largest marine protected area. A statement from Fisheries and Oceans Canada says the ecologically unique ocean area is located about 150 kilometres off the west coast of Vancouver Island. It says the area spanning more than 133,000 square kilometres covers “extraordinary seafloor features,” … Read more

Scientists think they know why humans live so long: Moms

Scientists think they know why humans live so long: Moms

Why do humans live so long? A new study suggests a mother’s care could be a major part of it. The study, out of Cornell University, says that the reason humans and other primates live so long can be at least partly explained by the mother-child relationship. Maternal care leads to the evolution of “long, slow lives,” … Read more

Culling wolves alters the survivors and that could be ‘bad news’ for caribou, study finds

Culling wolves alters the survivors and that could be ‘bad news’ for caribou, study finds

When wolves are killed by bullets fired from helicopters during Alberta government culls, surviving members of the pack quickly learn to evade the threat, a new study has found.  For nearly two decades, Alberta has killed off hundreds of grey wolves each year in an attempt to bolster dwindling caribou populations, a practice critics have … Read more

Canada, U.K. launch joint privacy probe into 23andMe data breach

Canada, U.K. launch joint privacy probe into 23andMe data breach

Canada’s privacy commissioner is teaming up with his U.K. counterpart to investigate a data breach discovered last year at 23andMe. Philippe Dufresne’s office says the joint investigation with U.K. Information Commissioner John Edwards will aim to determine the scope of the October 2023 breach at the direct-to-consumer genetic testing company. They will also look into … Read more

Killer whales are ramming boats for fun, scientists say. A new report offers ways to protect mariners

Killer whales are ramming boats for fun, scientists say. A new report offers ways to protect mariners

Quirks and Quarks11:40Killer whales are likely ramming boats because they’re bored and having fun When Renaud de Stephanis sees killer whales surround his boat off the coast of Spain, he isn’t afraid — he’s excited because it’s a chance to get some research done. When asked how often his boats have been hit by the … Read more

Wild ‘superpigs’ from Canada could soon invade some U.S. states, study suggests

Wild ‘superpigs’ from Canada could soon invade some U.S. states, study suggests

Quirks and Quarks8:37This little piggy escaped and wreaked havoc on crops and the environment Invasive wild pigs in Canada are on the move and could soon spread southward to several northern United States, according to a new study. Wild pigs are already a widespread issue in the southern U.S., with an estimated six million pigs in at least 35 … Read more

Waters off Scotian Shelf are cooling, but scientists can’t say for how long

Waters off Scotian Shelf are cooling, but scientists can’t say for how long

The latest survey of Atlantic Ocean conditions off Nova Scotia show after a decade of warming, temperatures on the Scotian Shelf are cooling. The slight climate reversal has scientists asking if this is the beginning of a return to previous norms — or a blip. “What remains unknown is whether this is a longer term trend … Read more