Why scientists are hoping landscaping gravel can help restore Nova Scotia’s kelp

Why scientists are hoping landscaping gravel can help restore Nova Scotia’s kelp

In a converted shipping container perched oceanside in Ketch Harbour, N.S., a group of people gather to peer into tanks filled with fuzzy pieces of gravel.  The rocks are covered with tiny blades of sugar kelp. Soon, the squares of steel mesh they’re fixed to will be suspended in the water at a kelp farming demonstration … Read more

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

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

Donald Trump enters 2024 on cusp of unusual position: Election front-runner

Donald Trump enters 2024 on cusp of unusual position: Election front-runner

Donald Trump is on the verge of entering 2024 arguably holding a status that is unprecedented for him: Election front-runner. It’s an unfamiliar position for a candidate now suddenly leading most 2024 general-election polls in a way he never did in races past. This is despite his supporters attacking the U.S. Capitol, and despite the … Read more

Renters tighten purse strings as prices in Alberta grow at fastest pace in 40 years

Renters tighten purse strings as prices in Alberta grow at fastest pace in 40 years

Nikkie Miranda feels stuck and frustrated, weighing what she’ll have to sacrifice when her rent increases again this winter. Three years ago, when she moved into a two-storey, three-bedroom semi-detached home in southwest Edmonton, Miranda paid $1,650 per month in rent. Her rent later increased to $1,800 and will go up again to $1,950 when … Read more

Honda recalling about 4.5M vehicles worldwide over fuel pump issue

Honda recalling about 4.5M vehicles worldwide over fuel pump issue

Honda Motor’s American unit is recalling about 4.5 million vehicles worldwide over risks of fuel pump failure, the Japanese automaker said. The recall includes 2.54 million vehicles in the United States and comes after the automaker previously recalled 628,000 U.S. vehicles in 2021 and 136,000 in 2020 for the same issue. Honda Canada pointed CBC … Read more

Bob picks 10 significant science stories for 2023

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

Bear euthanized after Imperial Oil unintentionally bulldozes den

Bear euthanized after Imperial Oil unintentionally bulldozes den

A black bear has been euthanized after its den was “unintentionally bulldozed” by Imperial Oil, the province’s energy regulator told CBC News. The incident occurred on Dec. 6 near the Kearl oilsands project in northern Alberta, according to the company. Imperial Oil spokesperson Lisa Schmidt said in a statement that a contractor was building a drill pad in a previously cleared area … Read more

Helium startups on the Prairies hope to keep domestic supplies afloat

Helium startups on the Prairies hope to keep domestic supplies afloat

To the untrained eye, the collection of pipes and structures rising out of the prairie 200 kilometres east of Calgary looks like any other natural gas processing plant in southern Alberta.  But the Steveville plant isn’t focused on extracting hydrocarbons. Instead, the prize it’s seeking deep underground is helium.  The element is most commonly associated with … Read more

Time’s up for some short-term rentals in B.C. as new housing rules look set to transform scene

Time’s up for some short-term rentals in B.C. as new housing rules look set to transform scene

Nancy Paine’s short-term rental business is dead in the water. As co-founder and CEO of Victoria-based Superhost, Paine said she had been at the forefront of the Airbnb revolution for seven years, acting as a “liaison” for homeowners needing help with the logistics of running a listing on the accommodation site. At the peak of … Read more

‘It scared the hell out of me,’ says lead plaintiff in proposed class-action suit over data breach at 23andMe

‘It scared the hell out of me,’ says lead plaintiff in proposed class-action suit over data breach at 23andMe

A proposed class-action lawsuit against 23andMe could include more people in Canada than originally anticipated, experts say, after the genetic testing company said a data breach affected millions more customers than initially believed. A statement from the company on Tuesday said hackers have gained access to roughly 6.9 million profiles on the site — nearly half its … Read more