A panel of experts has reported that water is becoming a critical issue for Canadian farmers and better water management needs to start now. The comprehensive 284-page report, Water and Agriculture in Canada: Towards Sustainable Management of Water Resources is from the Council of Canadian Academies, an independent, nonprofit organization that prepares science-based studies to inform public policy.
Report shows more science needed to manage water for agriculture
- March 1, 2013 10:21 AM
- By Quirks
| Continue reading this post » |
Canada to search for near-Earth asteroids
- February 22, 2013 12:50 PM
- By Quirks
Next week, Canada's newest satellite, NEOSSAT, will blast into space aboard an Indian rocket to search for small asteroids and space junk that could threaten our planet or a spacecraft. As we were reminded last week by the arrival of two asteroids -- one that exploded over Russia, causing widespread damage, and another, larger one that made a close fly-past of the Earth -- we live in a minefield of hazardous objects in space that could strike any time without warning.
| Continue reading this post » |
Loss of Arctic ice, loss of scientific integrity
- February 15, 2013 2:54 PM
- By Quirks
A European satellite named Cryosat has detected record losses in the volume of ice in the Arctic Ocean. The team of scientists that published the latest results includes researchers from York University in Toronto. Meanwhile, Canadian government scientists measuring the same ice loss from the water's surface are facing new restrictions from the government on their ability to publish, much to the annoyance of international partners.
| Continue reading this post » |
Asteroids and astronauts, not a good mix
- February 8, 2013 2:43 PM
- By Quirks
As Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield continues to keep his connection to the Earth with tweets, press conferences, songs and phone calls from the International Space Station, a connection from deep space will come his way next week, as an asteroid passes closer to the Earth than some satellites. Which raises a question: should we venture out to meet the asteroids before they come to us? Many scientists say no.
| Continue reading this post » |
Hadfield brings science down to Earth for kids
- February 1, 2013 2:49 PM
- By Quirks
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has clearly shown he is interested in staying in touch with the ground, setting new records for tweeting from space. But starting next week, students across Canada will be able to participate in a science experiment with him from their classrooms, which will connect directly to his work in orbit.
| Continue reading this post » |
Two approaches to dealing with climate change
- January 25, 2013 2:19 PM
- By Quirks
Two recent environmental reports, one directed at the Canadian
government and one at the U.S., are worth reading, because they point
out important differences in how our two countries approach research
into climate change.
| Continue reading this post » |
Up close with a space shuttle
- January 18, 2013 2:01 PM
- By Quirks
After traveling millions of kilometers in space and crawling 18 kilometres through the streets of Los Angeles, Space Shuttle Endeavour now sits silent in the California Science Center. With its career in
space over, its new role is to inspire the public, which it does in a
most impressive way.
| Continue reading this post » |
Adapting to life in space
- January 11, 2013 2:20 PM
- By Quirks
The first thing I noticed during Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's press conference from space this week is how different his face looks in orbit, compared to back on
Earth. It's the first part of a whole adaptation the body and mind go
through in space, a condition that may limit future trips to Mars.
| Continue reading this post » |
End of Kyoto and bilge
- January 4, 2013 2:56 PM
- By Quirks
The end of the Kyoto Protocol,
and our inability to do something about rising carbon emissions, is
like arguing over rising water in the bilge of a boat, rather than
fixing the leak.
| Continue reading this post » |
Chris Hadfield: Following the dream
- December 20, 2012 1:35 PM
- By Quirks
If ever anyone has fulfilled his childhood dream, it's Canadian
astronaut Chris Hadfield, who did it for the third time this week, as he blasted off on a Russian Soyuz rocket to command the International Space Station. It's a dream he has never let go of since he was nine years old.
| Continue reading this post » |
Categories
Quirks and Quarks
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Recent Entries
- Report shows more science needed to manage water for agriculture
- A panel of experts has reported that water is becoming a critical issue for Canadian farmers and better water management needs to start now. The comprehensive 284-page report, Water and Agriculture in Canada: Towards Sustainable Management of Water Resources is from the Council of Canadian Academies, an independent, nonprofit organization that prepares science-based studies to inform public policy. Continue reading this post
- Canada to search for near-Earth asteroids
- Next week, Canada's newest satellite, NEOSSAT, will blast into space aboard an Indian rocket to search for small asteroids and space junk that could threaten our planet or a spacecraft. As we were reminded last week by the arrival of two asteroids -- one that exploded over Russia, causing widespread damage, and another, larger one that made a close fly-past of the Earth -- we live in a minefield of hazardous objects in space that could strike any time without warning. Continue reading this post
- Loss of Arctic ice, loss of scientific integrity
- A European satellite named Cryosat has detected record losses in the volume of ice in the Arctic Ocean. The team of scientists that published the latest results include researchers from York University in Toronto. Meanwhile, Canadian government scientists measuring the same ice loss from the water's surface are facing new restrictions from the government on their ability to publish, much to the annoyance of international partners. Continue reading this post
All News blogs
Most Commented
Most Recommended