From Our Own Borealis Blog

The Beaver Diaries: how AI unveils Nature’s master builders

Science Borealis 1 Comment Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society, Technology & Engineering

By Qiaochu Liang, Biology & Life Sciences co-editor The beaver is a familiar sight to Canadians. Castor canadensis is an […]

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This is Why … The Colour Blue is as Rare as a Blue Moon

jomeara Communication, Education and Outreach, General Science, Physics and Astronomy
Now emerging from a long, grey winter in southern Ontario, our daily walks around the neighbourhood are becoming a technicolour experience, with flowers popping up and trees leafing out everywhere. (C)Ian Lee Daffodils dripping in their canary-colored finery, tulips blazing in fiery displays, pink canopies dancing overhead and every shade of green gleaming underfoot; spring...

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Travel Stories: Attending the British Ecological Society meeting in Edinburgh

Le Beagle - CSBQ Biology and Life Sciences, Communication, Education and Outreach, Environmental and Earth Sciences
By Alexandra Langwieder and Don-Jean Leandri-Breton, PhD student and former PhD student at McGill University In December 2022, we traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, to present our PhD research at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, thanks to funding provided by the Quebec Center for Biodiversity Science Excellence Awards. This is one of the World’s largest...

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A graphene joke (of sorts): What did the electron ‘say’ to the phonon in the graphene sandwich?

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Unfortunately, there isn’t a punch line but I appreciate the effort to inject a little lightness into the description of a fairly technical achievement, from a February 12, 2024 news item on Nanowerk, Note: A link has been removed, Electrons carry electrical energy, while vibrational energy is carried by phonons. Understanding how they interact with...

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Profile: Melanie Woodin, Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto

Various bloggers Biology and Life Sciences, Health, Medicine and Veterinary Science
CCRM, the publisher of Signals, has enhanced its long-standing relationship with the University of Toronto’s Medicine by Design through a new strategic alliance. This profile is one in a series of profiles that feature “people” of Medicine by Design. Some minor edits may have been made to the original published version. Melanie Woodin, Dean, Faculty...

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Dungeons and Dragons and Dinosaurs: How Do Prehistoric Creatures Fit Into Tabletop Roleplaying Games?

21mediair Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences, General Science
By Lindsay Kastroll, Master’s student in Biological Sciences, University of Alberta When you think about the hit table-top roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons, you typically think about elves, wizards, magical quests, and of course, dragons. Dinosaurs don’t really factor into that equation. However, you may be surprised to learn that prehistoric creatures have had a...

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Colossal Biosciences (a de-extinction company), creates induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from elephant skin cells for Woolly Mammoth Project

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
De-extinction (also known as resurrection biology) has been mentioned here before (my January 18, 2019 posting). It’s essentially a ‘Jurassic Park’ fantasy that some people want to turn into reality and it seems they are now one step closer where woolly mammoths are concerned. The breakthrough has to do with Asian elephant stem cells, Caption:...

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