Science & Earth
→ NewsDalhousie prof helps find galaxy cluster with hot gas 1.4 billion years after Big Bang
A team including a Dalhousie University professor studied a young galaxy cluster, SPT2349-56, seen about 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang and found its gas to be roughly five times hotter than current models predict.
Ultramassive black holes diverge from the M–sigma relation.
A study measured masses for eight ultramassive black holes in brightest cluster galaxies and found they lie above the extrapolated M–sigma relation, while the size of a galaxy's central light-deficit correlated more closely with black hole mass.
XRISM provides sharpest X-ray view yet of a rapidly spinning black hole
XRISM, together with XMM-Newton and NuSTAR, produced the sharpest X‑ray spectrum of the Seyfert galaxy MCG‑6‑30‑15 and isolated a broadened iron emission line that indicates material orbiting close to its supermassive black hole.
Top 10 science stories of 2025, according to Bob McDonald
CBC's Bob McDonald lists ten notable science stories from 2025, highlighting the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's first images and published analyses of asteroid samples that found organic molecules.
Toronto's seven new buildings are reshaping its reputation.
In 2025 experts highlighted seven new Toronto projects — from Biidaasige Park to Limberlost Place — for their design, public benefits and use of sustainable and community-focused approaches.
Drift logs are damaging intertidal ecosystems in B.C., study finds.
A University of Victoria study found 20–80% fewer barnacles on rocks exposed to drift logs and reports a roughly 520% increase in drift logs along western B.C. shores since the late 19th century.
Salmon return as Indigenous nations from the Klamath to the Okanagan lead restoration
Indigenous-led efforts helped reconnect the Klamath River and rebuild Okanagan sockeye runs, with dam removals on the Klamath and an Indigenous-run hatchery and restoration work in the Okanagan supporting recent salmon returns.
Snow levels hit record at select West Kootenay stations
The Redfish Creek automated snow station recorded its highest Jan. 1 level since installation about 25 years ago, and the West Kootenay region's seven stations show snowpack at 112% of normal, the B.C. River Forecast Centre reported.
Northern lights visible across much of Canada tonight
The U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center forecasted the aurora for Friday night, with most provinces and territories having a relatively high chance of seeing the northern lights; Saturday is expected to have a much lower likelihood. The agency noted the best viewing window is reported as between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., away from urban light and with an open view of the northern horizon.
Using Webb, Canadian team maps the Milky Way's turbulent youth.
A Canadian team used JWST and Hubble imaging of 877 'Milky Way twin' galaxies to reconstruct the Galaxy's evolution and found a merger-rich, turbulent early phase followed by later inside-out disk growth.
Full Wolf Supermoon lights the night sky tonight
The Full Wolf Supermoon reaches full on Jan. 2, 2026 at 10:03 UTC and will appear over 99% illuminated through Sunday morning, closing a run of four consecutive supermoons; the two largest planets and a winter meteor shower are also reported as visible.
Saskatchewan wildfires in 2025 caused widespread loss and evacuations
More than 500 wildfires burned about 2.9 million hectares in Saskatchewan in 2025.
Magnitude 6.5 earthquake reported near Acapulco
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near San Marcos, close to Acapulco, around 8 a.m., and authorities reported landslides while people in Mexico City and Acapulco went into the streets.
UK records new heat and sunshine highs that may boost solar power
The Met Office said the UK had its driest and sunniest spring in more than a century, and record-warm ocean waters pushed temperatures higher ahead of summer.
The surgeon and the firefighter: I fixed his heart twice and he healed mine
A cardiac surgeon recounts a long relationship with a firefighter patient — two operations, a career-ending spinal injury, and a mutual healing born of presence.
When Stars Fail to Explode — Pa 30's Unusual Filaments
Pa 30 formed when a white dwarf's explosion fizzled: a surviving star launched dense ~15,000 km/s winds and Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities produced its straight filaments.
Space mice come home and one female gives birth
Four mice flew on China's Shenzhou-21 for two weeks and returned in mid‑November; on 10 December one female gave birth. Scientists will monitor the pups for possible multi‑generational effects.
OTO FertilityのAI搭載リプロダクティブ・プラットフォーム
OTO Fertilityが発表したウェアラブル＋AIアプリは多様な生体信号を解析し、OTO Fertility Index™で最適な「Fertility Zone」を予測するとしている。
Satellite images of Earth in 2025 show key environmental events.
NASA’s Earth-observing satellites produced 12 images in 2025 that document events including large wildfires, a glacier collapse in Switzerland, rapid hurricane intensification, and regional dust, haze and ocean phenomena.
London may be in for a rough winter — ways to prepare
Environment Canada says a highly active winter is likely for London. Stock up on salt and scrapers, check outdoor pipes and sump pumps, and have trees inspected.
