Many animals seek new habitat if they are too crowded or if there are too many predators, but new research suggests that the effect of these two factors can’t easily be separated. Researchers filled artificial pools with backswimmers, insects that normally swim but that can fly to a new pool if stressed. Introducing a predator […]
Tag: Ontario
‘Electron-rich’ nanoparticles advance solar technology
Researchers have created a new breed of nanoparticle that could lead to cheaper and more efficient solar cells. Quantum dot solar cells are built using semiconducting nanoparticles that could be mixed into ink and printed in ordinary printers, greatly reducing the cost. Like traditional solar cells, they rely on two types of semiconductor materials: one […]
Milkweed needed to save monarchs
A new study bolsters the notion that a lack of milkweed in summer breeding grounds is contributing to the decline of the monarch butterfly. Previous research indicated that the decline of monarchs may be due to catastrophic die-offs in overwintering grounds in Mexico, caused by loss of forest habitat or extreme weather events linked to […]
Most precise measurement of antimatter’s charge
New results from the ALPHA experiment at CERN have provided the most precise measurements yet of the electric charge of antihydrogen. Researchers from the international collaboration – which includes many Canadians – examined whether or not antihydrogen atoms would react to electric fields. They did not and the data indicates that as predicted, antihydrogen is […]
How memories become knowledge
An experiment with mice sheds light on how the brain turns individual memories into knowledge over the course of time. Mice were trained to swim in a pool of water and look for a hidden platform that could be in one of several locations, with some locations more likely than others.Mice that were tested one […]
A new tool to track multiple sclerosis
A new tool provides a means to track multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and could lead to early diagnosis, a new study shows. The method – called Quantitative Susceptibility Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – allows researchers to track small changes in the magnetic field of the brain caused by iron distribution and white matter lesions that […]
For smokers, a picture is worth 1000 words
Computerized tomography (CT) scans of smoker’s lungs could be a powerful tool to help them quit, according to a new study. Epidemiology results from 14,621 smokers who received CT scans as part of the U.S. National Lung Screening trial and were followed up years later showed that the more serious the screening result, the greater […]
Do Roads Reduce Painted Turtle Populations?
A new study shows that high traffic roads in Eastern Ontario have no significant effect on the relative abundance of painted turtles. Researchers compared turtle populations from around 20 ponds, half of which were close to a freeway and the other half of which were as far as possible from any major roads. They found that […]
Launch of a “thermometer for the mind”
A free online brain health test developed by the memory experts at Baycrest Health Sciences can help those aged 50 to 79 assess changes in their memory and determine whether they need to see a doctor. The developers caution that the 20-minute test does not provide a clinical diagnosis, but say it can be a […]
Plants – what’s eating them?
A new analysis of over 1000 plant species shows that on average, only about 5.3 percent of their leaves are eaten by insects and vertebrate grazers – less than a third of previous estimates. This means that most of the energy captured by photosynthesis doesn’t go ‘up’ the food chain, but instead is passed on […]
Does spite pay off?
New research suggests our desire for fairness come not from altruism, but from a need to prevent local competitors from gaining an advantage. Researchers used a variation of the classic ultimatum game, in which one player decides how to split a pot of money, and the other decides whether to accept it; a rejection means […]
Blood test predicts premature birth
Researchers have created a new blood test that helps predict whether a pregnant woman is likely to go into labour prematurely. Currently, many of the women admitted to hospital with signs of premature labour do not end up giving birth within ten days. The new test examines blood for signs of the expression of certain genes, […]
Groundwater depletion in California may move mountains
Removal of groundwater in California’s San Joaquin valley may be causing small seismic events, according to a new paper. Researchers used GPS measurements to show that land surrounding the valley is rising by between 1 and 3 mm per year, in response to draining of the underlying aquifer. The pattern is correlated with wet and […]
⚑ Glowing mice track nanoparticle exposure
Researchers have come up with a quick, non-invasive way to measure nanoparticle exposure: examine the skin. Previous work with gold nanoparticles and quantum dots made of various metals has shown that these nanoparticles accumulate primarily in the liver or the spleen, but they show up in the skin too; in high enough doses, they can […]
Pregnancy increases risk of serious traffic crashes
A new study of 507 262 women who gave birth in Ontario between 2006 and 2011 indicates that pregnant women are at greater risk of being involved in a car accident. During the 3 years before pregnancy, the group averaged 177 crashes per month, but during the second trimester of pregnancy, this rose to 252 […]
New DNA barcoding method speeds up species identification
A new DNA barcoding method will save money and time for researchers who wants to assess biodiversity in an ecosystem. The new method allowed researchers to correctly identify 92% of the 1,066 insects and spiders in a single analysis. They also were able to detect microbes associated with the insects and spiders. Previous […]
