The Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) was launched in 2006 as a joint initiative of Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The plan was designed to assess and manage chemical substances with the help of existing federal chemical programs. SMCC’s backgrounder on Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan describes the key programs for research and monitoring […]
SMCC Webinar: New Strategies for Tracking Climate Change in Canada’s North
There has never been a more urgent time to study climate change. Average Arctic temperatures have increased at nearly twice the global average in the past 100 years. The extent of Sea ice is also at its lowest levels since records were kept. As temperatures rise and sea ice retreats, Canada’s north is already experiencing […]
Hawks and humans could be using similar visual cues during search
While humans may not have the hawk’s amazing eyesight, a new study suggests that both hawks and humans use similar visual techniques for search. To better understand the scanning techniques of a hawk, researchers mounted a camera on the head of a Northern Goshawk. Combined with footage of hunting raptors, gathered from the ground, authors […]
What made Pluto roll over? Sputnik Planitia may hold the answer
A heart-shaped region on the surface of Pluto, called Sputnik Planitia, is at the centre of two theories about the dwarf planet’s reorientation. New studies suggest than as Sputnik Planitia filled with ice, it changed Pluto’s position. There are two theories as to why that happened. One posits that the ice accumulation has changed tidal […]
New monitoring technique uses eDNA to learn about deepwater fish populations
Monitoring populations of polar and deepwater fish can be challenging due to their remote and often inaccessible habitats. A new study used a non-invasive analysis of environmental DNA in seawater samples to learn about several species of fish off the coast of Southwest Greenland. The researchers then compared eDNA analysis results to catch data by […]
The effect of European settlement on the immune system genes of Canadian First Nations population 
Changes in immune system genes of First Nations people in coastal British Columbia may be linked to epidemics associated with the arrival of Europeans in early 19th century. A new study analyzes DNA samples from individuals in modern-day Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, as well as DNA from individuals who inhabited the region as […]
As sea-ice melts, beluga whale migration patterns change
Every year in the summer, belugas swim to a predetermined spot to moult, feed and mate. But the melting and subsequent shifts in sea-ice could get in the way of the whales’ vital trek. A new study analyzes data from a 20-year span to study how shifting ice patterns influence beluga migration. Researchers found that […]
Exploring the math behind the perfect cup of coffee
What makes the perfect brew? Some may say it’s the coffee beans; others will argue it’s the roast or the grind of those beans; others yet will point to the brewing methods. Now, a group of researchers investigated the mathematics of the drip filter brewing system, looking at the numbers behind such brewing elements as […]
Bird droppings responsible for a small but much-needed dip in Arctic temperature
Droppings from migratory seabirds are linked to cloud formation in the Arctic, offering a small cooling effect in the region. Clouds have offered a respite from rapid rise in Arctic temperatures, but previously there wasn’t much information available about the source of cloud growth. Using a combination of observations and computer modelling, a team of […]
New device puts paralyzed monkeys back on their feet
A new device can get a paralyzed monkey back on its feet and walking, less than a week after a spinal cord injury. The device acts as an interface between the brain and the spine. It helps deliver signals from the motor cortex to electrodes implanted in the lower part of the spinal cord. But […]
For better sleep, limit your smartphone use
Going device-free an hour before bedtime or turning on the ‘night shift’ on your smartphone may not be enough to improve sleep. A new study found an association between smartphone screen time throughout the day and the user’s quality of sleep. Longer average screen time throughout the day was linked to poorer sleep quality and […]
Babysitters lend a helping hand for wild chimpanzee moms
Baby chimps that spend more time with someone other than their mothers can be weaned from breastfeeding faster than those cared for solely by their mom. A team of researchers observed 42 mother-infant pairs to see how much care time by others—defined as “alloparenting”—affects the feeding time for the infant. They observed that infants who […]
PTSD in young children can go unnoticed for years
A traumatic event, such as a car accident or a natural disaster, can leave a lasting effect on a young child’s mind without being noticed by their parents. Authors of a new study found that children can experience nightmares, develop fears and feel unsafe as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Kids with […]
Alpha male chimps make better wingmen
Hanging out with alpha males can help male chimps of lower order get the attention of their preferred mate. Normally, the alpha male’s aim is to sire offspring with many females, fighting off advances from subordinate males. But a new study shows that there’s more cooperation between male chimps than previously thought. By analyzing the […]
In choice of partners, fairness trumps wealth
When it comes to picking partners, a fair beggar is better than an unjust prince. A new study demonstrated that fairness is rated as an important trait of a desired social partner, compared to their wealth. Researchers used a modified version of a Dictator Game, where individuals— the “dictators”—are asked to split a sum of […]
What caused the Santorini tsunami?
Calamitous waves that led to the downfall of the Minoan culture in ancient Greece may have been caused by volcanic materials in the ocean. A new study suggests that a tsunami was triggered by the displacement of large volumes of ash and lava into the sea after the Santorini volcano erupted. Large masses of volcanic […]
