Latest from Nicole Mortillaro
Discovery of record-breaking black hole collision surprises astronomers
A team of international astronomers has caught the merger of two black holes of unprecedented masses creating yet another massive black hole — one that astronomers believed existed in theory but that had never been detected.
Could life have started on Mars before coming to Earth? Possibly, new study suggests
How life arose on Earth remains a mystery, though many hypotheses have been proposed. Now a new study by Japanese scientists has reinvigorated the discussion around panspermia: The idea that life may have reached Earth from Mars.
Annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this week: How you can catch some 'shooting stars'
Looking for a fun, physical-distancing activity in the coming days? The best meteor shower of the year is upon us.
What is ammonium nitrate, and how did it cause such a devastating explosion in Beirut?
The chemical compound ammonium nitrate is believed to have been the cause of the devastating explosion in Beirut on Tuesday. But how can such a chemical cause such a massive and destructive blast?
U.S. astronauts discuss 'humbling experience' aboard SpaceX craft
U.S. astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who were the first to ride a commercial spacecraft to the International Space Station and the first to make a splashdown landing in 45 years, shared their experiences with the media Tuesday afternoon.
Life on Mars? Canada lends hand to snag pieces of Mars on new mission set to launch Thursday
NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is set to blast off on Thursday, and Canada is playing a vital role in its mission.
Strong efforts to reduce plastic could still leave 710 million tons in the environment by 2040, study suggests
A new paper published in Science on Thursday suggests that, with global efforts, we can drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste found on land and in our oceans, though eliminating it entirely isn't likely.
How old are we? Debate over the age of the universe just got a bit more complicated
It's a question that has plagued astronomers for decades: How old is the universe and how will it end? Now an international team of scientists using a telescope in Chile believe their new findings help refine measurements.
There's a new comet in the sky: Here's how you can see it
If you’re willing to get up early this week, you’re in for a magnificent sight: an early morning comet.
Astronomers bolster case for potential of life on one of Jupiter's moons, Europa
New research by NASA scientists lends further support to the theory that, beneath the thick, icy crust of Europa, the Jovian moon's interior ocean could be habitable.
Astronomers detect another form of mysterious, repeating radio burst — it's probably not aliens
Fast-radio bursts have puzzled astronomers for more than a decade. Now a new type of these powerful-yet-brief bursts of radio waves that traverse the vast expanse of intergalactic space has been discovered. Their source is still unknown.
Canada can hit climate targets without ruining economy, economists and climate experts say
A new study suggests that CO2 emissions could drop by seven per cent in 2020 due to global COVID-19 shutdowns. But going forward, cutting emissions won't require stalling the economy, say economists and climate experts.
Telescope sees 'baby planet' forming around distant star
Astronomers using European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) have captured the birth of a planet around a star 520 light-years away.
Tagish Lake meteorite that fell in northern B.C. contains clues as to how life may have arisen on Earth
A team of Canadian and U.S. researchers has found a meteorite that fell in British Columbia 20 years ago may shed some light on how life could have been brought to Earth.
Mixed messages, frustration with lockdowns fuel some skepticism about pandemic
Skepticism about the coronavirus pandemic is not widespread, but psychologists say there are several reasons some people have doubts - including inconsistent messaging about public health measures and frustration with prolonged shutdowns of the economy.