How artificial intelligence can help beavers fight floods, droughts and wildfires

A few years ago, a couple of Google employees reached out to a Minnesota scientist with an unusual proposal: What if they could teach computers to spot beaver habitats from space?  “They wanted to know if I thought it was possible to find beaver wetlands from aerial imagery myself, and then if that could be … Read more

Moon missions, meteors, a solar eclipse and more: Reasons to keep your eyes on the skies in 2024 

This year, outer space is going to be a busy place. We’ve got the launch of the Europa Clipper, which will orbit one of Jupiter’s enigmatic moons and investigate whether it could harbour conditions suitable for life; we could cheer on the first Canadian to orbit the moon; and we’re getting a total solar eclipse that … Read more

The environmental costs of EV batteries that politicians don’t tend to talk about

Along with the massive recent manufacturing investments in electric vehicle (EV) technology and talks of a greener, decarbonized future, there are some not-so-green problems.  In its latest New Energy Finance report, Bloomberg News predicts there will be some 730 million EVs on the road by 2040. The year before, Bloomberg predicted half of all U.S. vehicle sales would be battery electric by 2030.  … Read more

Why flights between Newfoundland and Europe have Labrador Inuit shaking their heads

Two Inuit leaders in Labrador are calling on the Newfoundland and Labrador government to chip in for flights to their fly-in communities as the province becomes the latest to support leisure travel to and from international destinations. Johannes Lampe, president of the Inuit Nunatsiavut government, and Barry Andersen, the AngajukKak — or mayor — of Makkovik, N.L., … Read more

Ukraine digs in as the West stumbles to keep up with Russian war production

“War,” said British philosopher, mathematician and pacifist Bertrand Russell, “does not determine who is right — only who is left.” Those words might be the perfect lens through which to view what probably lies ahead for Ukraine in the coming year as its troops dig in — and dig deep — along a front roughly 960 kilometres wide. … Read more

2023 was a banner year for video games — and video game industry layoffs

The past calendar year has been a banner one for best-selling, critically acclaimed video games. Blockbuster titles like Alan Wake 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder headlined a year full of critically acclaimed games that sold tens of millions of copies. But behind the screens, the games industry has been in a dramatic … Read more

Quickcheck: is it true that Boxing Day is a day for people to return their Christmas gift?

PETALING JAYA: Christmas is here, and many are excited to receive presents from their loved ones and friends. Some are delighted with the gifts received, while others may not like the presents they received – either they are not to their liking, or they do not fit them. So, is Boxing Day a day for … Read more

Bob picks 10 significant science stories for 2023

2023 was a busy year in science. Here are 10 stories worth revisiting as we wind up the year. 1. Canadian Jeremy Hansen chosen to fly to the moon A Canadian astronaut was selected as part of the crew for NASA’s Artemis II mission to the moon. Jeremy Hansen and three crew mates will fly … Read more