From Our Own Borealis Blog


Blog Feeds

Creating time crystals with a quantum computer

This November 30, 2021 news item on phys.org about time crystals caught my attention, There is a huge global effort to engineer a computer capable of harnessing the power of quantum physics to carry out computations of unprecedented complexity. While formidable technological obstacles still stand in the way of creating such a quantum computer, today’s early prototypes are still capable of remarkable feats.For example, the creation of a new phase of matter called a “time…

Continue reading


Dazzling Dolphins in Decline: Conflicts between Conservation and Fisheries

 Guest post by recent UTSC MEnvSc graduate, Samantha LalondeHow do some people seem to know which career they are going to pursue seemingly before they can even walk? Do they just wake up one morning and decide that they want to be a dentist? In my case, I had no idea what I wanted to do all throughout primary school and most of high school. Then, I was presented with a life-changing opportunity.  In high…

Continue reading


From “blue collar scientist” to pandemic PI: Getting to Know Dr. Spencer Freeman

written by Raphaella So header image courtesy Spencer Freeman Dr. Spencer Freeman joined the Biochemistry faculty in 2020. His lab studies two aspects of immune surveillance: resolution of ingested fluids in macrophages, and inhibitory signals suppressing phagocytosis. Born and raised in Toronto, Spencer first began …

Continue reading


New Paper: Caprellid amphipods vulnerable to both physiological and habitat-mediated effects of OA (Cross Posted from Canada’s OA CoP)

I am the Coordinator for Canada’s Ocean Acidification Community of Practice and recently created some blog series where you can learn more about recent ocean acidification research happening across the country and the people conducting that research. Here’s a recent piece I wrote where I interviewed Em Lim, M.Sc. student at SFU, on a new paper examining direct and indirect effects of OA on caprellid amphipods (skeleton shrimp): New Paper: Caprellid amphipods vulnerable to both…

Continue reading


CREATORS – Marian Jazmik

Name: Marian Jazmik Which came first in your life, the science or the art? The art. I have always loved to stitch. It was at high school that my interest in textiles developed. Following university, I went on to teach art and design textiles at the local high school for well over 30 years. Waste Not (2021) by Marian Jazmik, 8 cm – 30 cm diameter, cacti inspired sculptures Winter Trees (2019) by Marian Jazmik,…

Continue reading


What are the features of good land use planning on Indigenous territories?

Land is a fundamental resource for economic development. However, Indigenous peoples see land as much more than just an economic asset: Land provides sustenance for current and future generations, it is linked to spiritual beliefs, traditional knowledge, teachings and culture. Indigenous peoples’ principles, values, and ways of knowing and being, have protected and preserved the land since time immemorial. How do we ensure to balance economic development, environmental protection and Indigenous rights, culture and well-being…

Continue reading


Companion Animal Psychology News March 2021

Family portraits with pets, tips for caring for kittens, wool dogs in BC, and more... This month's Companion Animal Psychology News.By Zazie Todd, PhDMy favourites this monthThis page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you â€œWe're in an age where a plethora of knowledge is available at our fingertips and immediate gratification abounds for everything, and we often want firm answers for our questions.” Dog…

Continue reading