unique

New study investigates threat of ‘watermelon snow’ to mountain glaciers

by

The Rocky Mountains conjure up images of grey rugged peaks capped with white. But within the upper reaches of the harsh mountain landscapes, a rosier hue often blooms. Watermelon snow, also known as glacial blood, is caused by algae that turns the snow a startling shade of red. The algae blooms in summer, forming on … Read more

Canada’s highest-paid CEOs make 246x the average worker, says new report

by

It was another record-breaking year for Canada’s richest CEOs.  In one work day, and less than a half hour into the new year — 27 minutes to be exact — Canada’s 100 highest-paid CEOs will have already earned the average worker’s annual salary, according to a new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). It translates to roughly … Read more

Chimps and bonobos remember friendly faces even after decades apart, study finds

by

As It Happens6:18Chimps and bonobos remember friends and families’ faces, even after decades apart When Laura Simone Lewis visited Kendall the chimpanzee for the first time in six months, she wasn’t sure how he would react. The researcher had been working with the chimp at the North Carolina Zoo in 2015 as part of her … Read more

Colonialism contributed to extinction of woolly dogs valued by Indigenous people, study suggests

by

For thousands of years, a breed of white, woolly dog played an important and cultural role for Coast Salish people in Western Canada but when colonists moved in the animal quickly became extinct, a new study says. It started with a dog named Mutton that died in 1859. Its pelt had been in a collection at the … Read more

Ottawa getting $40 million refund from former parent company of Quebec COVID vaccine maker

by

Ottawa will be getting a $40 million refund after it gave Quebec City-based biopharmaceutical company Medicago more than $300 million to develop and manufacture a home-grown COVID-19 vaccine that never made it to market. The news comes after Conservative, Bloc and NDP MPs on the House of Commons health committee grilled staff from Canada’s procurement department this … Read more

Glacier melt opens up new territory for salmon — and mining

by

A new paper published in Science says that as glacier ice melts, new land and rivers are being revealed in the ice-covered transboundary region shared by northern B.C., Alaska, and the Yukon.  The peer-reviewed paper was a collaboration among researchers from Simon Fraser University, the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs’ Office, the University of Montana Flathead Lake … Read more

A snapshot of marine species swimming in the waters off West Mabou in Cape Breton

by

An underwater marine survey completed at West Mabou Beach in Port Hood has yielded some interesting results that shed new light on what species dwell in Nova Scotian harbours. The survey was completed by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and their findings were released at a public meeting in the Cape Breton community of Mabou on Monday evening. … Read more

5 feline facts to help see your cat in a new light

by

Quirks and Quarks54:01Cat facts — the latest science on our feline companions Cats have lived alongside humans for millennia, but there’s still much we don’t know about our companions. How do cats purr? Why do they look so annoyed all the time? And when and where did cats begin sharing homes with humans?  Part of … Read more

Ships could capture energy from waves by imitating whales

by

In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of commercial ships, a group of U.K. researchers has scoured through the research into a unique technology that imitates the action of a whale’s tail to help propel ships and reduce fuel consumption. The findings of the review-study from Cranfield University, published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews … Read more