The news last night and this morning brought us some startling and tragic images from Oklahoma. A tornado rated an EF4 ripped through populated parts of the state demolishing buildings, schools, homes and throwing cars in the air like missiles. CNN is currently reporting up to 91 dead from this tornado that damaged over 80 square kilometres and at one point was estimated to be over 3 km wide.With winds reaching up to 320 km/h, this tornado was given the designation of an EF4 of the Enhanced Fujita Scale. We've all seen the movie Twister where we were exposed to the Fujita scale with rankings of F0- F5, but what is this new 'enhanced system' we are hearing about?Both scales relate to the amount of damage that was done by the tornado with a scale of wind speeds given as an approximation. There have never been concrete studies done to determine the actual wind speeds within each rating of tornado and the old Fujita scales was highly subjective to interpretation.The new enhanced scale remains a damage scale and only an approximate for actual wind speeds. While the wind speeds associated with the damage listed have not undergone concrete measured analysis, the wind speeds were obtained through various engineering studies as well as from field experience of meteorologists and engineers. In addition to damage to structures and vegetation, radar data, mathematical photo analysis , and ground swirl patterns may be utilized to determine the intensity of the tornado.While the old scale was simply a description of relative damages, the new scale takes into account 28 different construction and vegetation elements with eight degrees of damage for each. Each of those 28 elements are then put together to determine the EF rating. As we saw in Oklahoma, an EF4 tornado would expect to bring significant damage to a single-story elementary school including the collapse of the roof, interior and load-bearing walls.The new Enhanced Fujita Scale was first used in 2007 in the United States and was adopted in Canada on April 1, 2013. For greater detail into this scale, visit the NOAA website.While tornadoes are not as common in Northern Ontario, Sudbury certainly has had its experience with the 1970 tornado, which killed six people and flattened homes. Our thoughts from Science North and from Sudbury are with the people of Oklahoma today.

Spring in Northern Ontario is synonymous with rising water levels, the appearance of buds on trees, the return of songbirds and… black flies. These insects are part of the landscape in Ontario, which means we have to deal with them! The arrival of these creatures can be a source of great nuisance and anxiety to us as we go outdoors to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, but keep in mind that they play a significant ecological role.Black flies start their lives as larvae in the water, usually in streams and rivers. The larvae do not have legs but instead have an attachment disk at the end of their bodies (abdomen). This disk allows the black fly to remain attached to rocky surfaces and prevents them from being swept away by the current. On their head, they have two fan-like structures that help them to collect food. These head fans act like little sieves, collecting small particles of algae, bacteria, and other organic material in the water . Once a food particle gets caught on these fans, the insect quickly retracts them and directs the food into its mouth.Black fly larvae spend a few weeks or months in the water eating and getting bigger. In early spring, they transform into a cocoon-like stage, called a pupae, and from there transform into adult insects. The adults then emerge, rise to the surface, and fly away from their aquatic home. Adults feed on plant nectar and generally live for only a few weeks. During this time, they mate and lay eggs in streams and rivers, thereby completing their lifecycle.Black flies play an important role in the food web of aquatic ecosystems. They are food sources for large insects such a mayflies, stoneflies and small fish. These in turn become food for larger fish like trout. That is why I tell fisherman to look out for black fly larvae on rocks in streams. If they find these insects, there is a good chance that trout will also be found nearby.We only find black fly larvae in flowing, clean and well-oxygenated water. They cannot tolerate any forms of pollution such as silt, fertilizers or pesticides. Since they are sensitive to pollution, biologists have been using them for many years as indicators to determine the health of aquatic ecosystems. For example, if a stream previously had black fly larvae and suddenly none are found, this could indicate that something has disturbed the ecosystem. In order to create eggs, female black flies require blood protein from other animals. Only female black flies bite. They find a potential target by detecting the carbon dioxide and scents released by animals. Once they land on an animal, they use their serrated mouthparts to cut the skin and collect blood. The poor unsuspecting “prey” ends up with an itchy red bite!In some parts of the world, black flies are quite dangerous since they transmit a disease known as “river blindness”, causing infected individuals to lose sight. In Northern Ontario, black flies do not transmit disease but some people will have an allergic reaction to the bites. There are ways you can protect yourself from black flies:Black flies are only active during the day. Peak biting times are usually in early morning and early evening. Restrict your outdoor activities to midday or later in the evenings.Repellents are somewhat effective. DEET is the most effective repellent. Keep in mind that repellents are not as effective to black flies as they are to mosquitoes. In areas of where there are lots of black flies, repellents many not work in protecting you .Wear light-coloured clothing (e.g. khakis, whites, beige). A bug suit consisting of a jacket with hood and screened face shield is effective in preventing bites. Ensure that you tuck in your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants; black flies are known to crawl under clothes to gain access to skin.  Black flies are part of spring life in Northern Ontario. As annoying as they can be, they do play an important ecological role in food webs and pollinating plants. It's so surprising how such a small creature can have can have an impact on our lives. If you have any questions about black flies, you can post a comment below or contact me on Twitter: @BruceRDoran.

The Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi) is a large snake (usually around 170 cm or five feet long) native to southern Ontario. They are a yellow to brownish tan coloured snake with large dark blotches running down their back and sides. This is a unique color in our Ontario snakes but the pattern is often mistaken for other Ontario species such as the Eastern Massasauga or the Eastern Milksnake. While adult Eastern Foxsnakes have a yellow background body colour, as youngsters they have a grey background colour making it easy for people to mistake them for milksnakes. Eastern Massasaugas have a grey background color with dark bow tie shaped blotches on their back. Eastern Foxsnakes are sometimes found living near people because they have a preference for water and rodents. They can be communal hibernators, and in large enough hibernacula there may be over 200 individuals hibernating together. They have also been noted hibernating with different snake species. Their population is separated into two ranges; one running the length of the eastern shore of Georgian Bay and the other forming a ‘V’ shape pattern in the southern tip of Ontario (with the tips of the ‘V’ reaching Kincardine and Port Dover). The Eastern Foxsnake is not an aggressive snake, preferring to scent rather than biting. The scent is a musky liquid produced from their vent that smells similar to a fox, hence their name. They also have a habit of vibrating their tails when spooked. Because of this they are at times mistaken for the venomous Eastern Massasauga and people (fearing that they are dangerous) sometimes kill them. Eastern Foxsnakes are excellent swimmers, sometimes seen swimming between the islands of the Georgian Bay. Increased boat traffic in Georgian Bay has increased their mortality rate. Sadly, the Eastern Foxsnake is now an endangered species due to the fact that they are mistaken for rattlesnakes, coupled with habitat loss (from encroachment and fragmentation) and mortality on both roads and waterways. If something is not done, this species could become extirpated from Ontario or even become extinct. What we can do to helpEastern Foxsnakes are rodent eaters; therefore they help keep the populations of pest species under control. They are constrictors and are NOT venomous. So sharing a habitat with them is not an inconvenience for us. They are found within the first 150 m from the shoreline, so leaving shorelines untouched or at least leaving a buffer zone will help this species. Other ways to protect this species can includenot persecuting (killing) them,being wary of them crossing roads,being mindful of them while boating, andinforming the MNR of any sightings of these snakes.Even something as easy as not mowing lawns all the way to the shoreline will help give this species a chance for survival.Here are some interesting facts about the Eastern Foxsnake:Lifespan: 10 to 15 years. Age of maturity: females around 3 years, males around 5 years. Clutch size: 7 to 29 eggs. Incubation time: about 2 months, depending on the temperature of the nest.

Sudbury's ambitious regreening effort has touched the lives of many longtime residents. The landscape suffered extensive ecological damage at the hands of industry over a century ago - the very industry that Sudbury was founded upon. Nevertheless, we've made some significant reparations in the last three decades. April's Science Café, and the last of our Spring Series, tackles the lingering questions on the state of the regreening effort. From the visual element of plantlife in our city, all the way to the ecological aspects (including the link between terrestrial and aquatic habitats), the implications of this initiative have been widespread. What's worked so far, and what hasn't? As important as our progress is the outlook on the future. To what extent are Sudburians behind the cause today, and what's being done to carry the mantle? Whose responsibility is it to maintain, or even enhance, Sudbury's flora?Join us on Tuesday, April 23rd at 7:30pm for a discussion that spans our entire community; past, present and future. Panelists will include Dr. Stephen Monet, Manager of Environmental Planning Initiatives with the City of Greater Sudbury; Glen Watson, Environmental Biologist at Vale; Dr. Peter Beckett, Head of the City of Greater Sudbury's Regreening Committee; Lisa Leger, Environmental Biologist at Xstrata Nickel, and will be moderated by Jennifer Beaudry, Dynamic Earth Staff Scientist.You know the drill - admission is free and snacks will be served, with bar service available through the Laughing Buddha. Come out and join the discussion!

With the warmer weather coming, you'll probably be going outside more. If you look around melt spots like trees, building edges and lawns you may see many black spots that look like dirt. Look closer and you will see that these spots are moving and jumping. Cool, eh?These are most commonly known as snow fleas. These critters are not fleas but are really another type of insect called springtails. Snow fleas can jump extremely well like fleas, 100 times their body size, hence the nickname.Fleas have large jumping legs whereas springtails have a tail-like appendage that folds under their body. When released, this appendage can launch the insect high into the air.These critters are wingless insects belonging to the Collembola group. They have six legs but differ from other insects because of their eye set-up, a tube structure called a collophore that acts like a glue peg, and of course their spring-like tail.Springtails are very small ranging from 1-3mm in length. They can range in colour anywhere from dark blue, cream or green. They are found everywhere from the Arctic to the Himalayas and have even been collected in amber from 45 millions years ago.Snow fleas feed on decaying matter and play a large part in the decomposition cycle. A square metre of dirt can conceal tens of thousands of springtails. We see them on warm days when the weather has enticed them to come up to the surface to browse for pieces of vegetation.They are of no harm to humans, animals or live plants. For us scientists, they are a treat to see as few adult insects are seen in the winter.

Every spring I get a few inquiries from people who have woodlots. They tell me that they are hearing ducks quacking in the woods. Yet when they investigate, they find nothing. What they’re hearing is not a duck but Wood frogs! Wood frogs are easily recognized by their small brownish bodies (about 5-8 cm long) and the mask-like streaks on each side of their head. Wood frogs start calling at the beginning of spring thaw in late March or early April, often when snow is still on the ground. These land-based frogs thaw out once the ground gets warm and they gather around pools of snowmelt. Males make a “clucking” call to attract females. When several males call together, it almost sounds like quacking ducks! Once a female approaches a male, he will clasp to her back. She will then lay her eggs in a pool and he will immediately fertilize them. Since the eggs are in pools that will dry up by early June, the eggs and tadpoles develop incredibly quickly. The eggs hatch and tadpoles become little froglets in as little time as 4-6 weeks! These temporary pools also offer advantages to the Wood frogs. The pools are small and can warm up quickly helping to speed up the frogs development. These pools also do not have any fish or other aquatic predators that might eat the frogs. The tadpoles can live in relative safety as long as they complete their development before the pool dries up. Once the froglets emerge from the pool, they hide under leaf litter in the forest. The froglets continue their growth during summer, getting bigger by eating insects and worms. So next time you take a walk outside in the woods in early spring and hear ducks quacking, it most likely is the male Wood frogs singing to attract potential mates. Listen to the call of a Wood frog.If you have any questions about Wood frogs, you can post a comment below or contact me on Twitter: @BruceRDoran.

As the weather starts to warm up (yes, it will), we can expect to receive a few calls about finding a butterfly outside on the snow.How does this happen? Well, not all of our butterflies go south for the winter. Many of them can stay and overwinter here as eggs, pupae, caterpillars and adults. This means an adult butterfly whose life normally consist of weeks can live for up to ten months.One of the butterflies that stays here as an adult and toughs out the winter like us Northerners do is the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), a large butterfly recognized by its brown wings with yellow edges and blue dots. The Mourning Cloak is a very successful species with a worldwide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere from the subtropics to the Arctic Circle.How do they survive? Hibernating adults can survive through the winter by the use of “antifreeze” chemicals (glycerols) in their blood. They squeeze into spaces like tree cavities, beneath loose bark, in unheated buildings, and anywhere else they can fit into, to protect themselves from winter winds, birds and squirrels. Spots like these are called hibernaculums.On warm spring-like days when the snow is still on the ground and the temperature rises, the butterfly wakes up from its slumber. Thinking it's spring, it rushes outside to find a mate and wham, the cold temperature renders it incapable of moving. So, like I suggest to the people who call about this, if you find a butterfly in the snow, please pick him up and find him and nice isolated spot to finish his winter.

Did you know that there is a connection between math and creating time-lapse videos? In January, I shared a time-lapse video on our Facebook page during our annual maintenance period. The video showed the deconstruction of the ring above the old Techlab on the 4th floor.Time-lapse video is taking video of an event that happened over a long period of time and compressing it to make the event look like it happened much more quickly. Using math to understand time-lapse will help you best create the effect you want. The video below took nearly 8.5 hours to record, yet the final video is only 1 minute and 41 seconds long. That’s because I set the computer to capture only one frame every ten seconds, then played those frames back at 30 frames per second (or fps), giving the illusion that the action happened much faster than it actually did. How did I decide to capture one frame every ten seconds? That’s where math comes in.I knew that the work was being done over the course of a whole day, so 8.5 hours was a good number to start with. But since we’re talking about frames per second, let’s convert 8.5 hours to seconds by multiplying it by the number of seconds in an hour, 3600.8.5hr x 3600sec/hr = 30580 secI wanted my final video to be around 1 minute and 40 seconds long, or 100 seconds, and play at 30 frames per second, which means I needed around 3000 frames total.100sec x 30 fps = 3000 framesIf I have 30580 seconds of action but only need 3000 frames, I have to divide to figure out how often to record a frame:3000 frames / 30580 sec = 0.098 fps or about 1 frame every 10 secondsTrying to figure out how many frames you should record to create the perfect time-lapse depends on many factors, but ultimately for me it comes down to the overall quality and time I have to work with. How many images are recorded will determine the overall length of the video as well as the smoothness and quality of the time-lapse recording when it is played back at normal speed. Changing those variables to create a time-lapse can be fun. In the equation below, I am solving for x.x = Interval in Seconds between recorded frames. H = Total Hours taken for time lapse in real time. FR = Frame Rate in which the images will be displayed (24, 25, 30, 60 etc.). Dtrt = Desired Total Running Time of your final video in seconds.So if you understand this, I have a challenge for you: if you wanted to record the movement of clouds in the sky over a six and a half hour period during the day and you wanted your final time-lapse video to be 27 seconds long playing back at 24fps, use the equation above to solve for x, where x is the interval in seconds between recorded frames.Post your answer as a comment to this post below or on our Facebook page.Watch the time-lapse video below:

There is no doubt that foreign aid is a boon to the less fortunate in developing countries. Many communities are simply unequipped to provide sanitation and sustenance for their members. In these cases, the intervention of well-meaning volunteers can be a saving grace.Despite the best intentions of foreign aid organizations providing support in developing countries, however, a recurring concern from contributors is that of sustainability. With charitable donations, a freshwater well can be constructed in an impoverished country. The community's awareness of proper maintenance and sustained sanitation procedures, however, cannot be so readily installed. These community-level solutions may fall to the wayside due to the focus on immediate needs such as food, water and medicine. As necessary as that initial aid may be, which can be anything from food, to implementing basic infrastructure, there is growing concern whether there is a lasting effect. Does the fleeting assistance communities receive translate into long-term growth and development for communities? Should we be taking a renewed look at our priorities abroad?The concern is that, as the volunteers leave, so does the progress. It is increasingly clear that the education and training of communities in unified, community-led and driven efforts is essential to sustained improvement. The real question therefore remains: How can we ensure that our aid is equipping impoverished communities for the future?Responsible aid, the informed application of charitable dollars and time, begins with a discussion. If you are interested in the state of foreign aid on a local and national level, check out Science North's March Science Cafe, entitled Foreign Aid Projects: Are Their Impacts Sustainable and Effective? Join us on March 19 at the Laughing Buddha beginning at 7:30 p.m. to hear the stories of local representatives of foreign aid initiatives, and join the discussion to find out what can be done to effect lasting change.Panelists will include Carissa MacLennan, director of education and youth engagement at the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada; David Wiwchar, teacher and vice-principal, Lively Secondary School; Lori Adams, co-ordinator, Sudbury Minga for Masaii; Jason Vaillancourt and Meaghan Donnelly-Perras, students and active members of the Health Promotion project at Laurentian University, and will be moderated by Ashley Larose, Science North Staff Scientist. As always, admission is free and snacks will be served, with a cash bar available. See you there!

Even though it's March, it still seems like we're in the middle of our wonderful winter season, so it's important to think about how to stay warm outside while using our phones or surfing the web. We have seen some extreme fluctuations in temperatures this season in northern Ontario, which got me thinking: how do I surf the web and stay warm when I have to take off my mitts every time I answer my iPhone? Maybe you have a new iPhone yourself or even an iPad mini or iPod touch; have you tried using it outside with gloves on? It won’t work!This Cool Science post uncovers this mystery and will help you to better understand why the touchscreen on theses types of devices won’t work when you have your mittens on. Or will they? Your body’s natural conductivity allows electricity to flow between your skin and the capacitive touchscreen.  However, when you have mittens or gloves on, they create a barrier. In other words, your gloves become an insulator preventing the capacitive touchscreen from working properly. This is frustrating at best and can actually be dangerous at worst, especially in extremely low temperatures, when you have to take your gloves off to answer the phone, check your Facebook page or surf the web. So, how do you use your device and keep your hands warm?Check out this video to learn more about capacitive touchscreen technology and how a small piece of thread can solve all your problems, keeping your hands safe and warm while you enjoy our beautiful winter season.

Cats make great pets. In fact, I have two of my own who are exclusively indoor animals.There are many reasons to keep cats indoors, both for their own good as well as for the good of our wild creatures. Outdoor cats face many dangers, including cars, other animals, potentially harmful chemicals, and diseases. The Humane Society estimates that outdoor cats have a 5-year lifespan while indoor cats have a 15 to 18 year lifespan.The biggest problem with outdoor cats is their impact on wildlife. Cats kill a staggering number of animals every year. A recent study in the U.S. put the number of birds killed at 3.7 billion and other small animals at nearly 20 billion.Some people may feel that keeping cats indoors at all times is unfair to the cat. I would suggest that an outdoor enclosure be set up to provide an enrichment area for the cats and to protect nature at the same time. If you are worried about stimulating your indoor cat, you can spend time with the cat by playing games or, if possible provide a second feline companion. You can also plant certain grasses indoors, such as oats or wheat, which aids in their digestion, and provide them with fresh catnip.Here are a few suggestions to help minimize or eliminate a cat’s impact on wildlife:The best thing to do is keep your cat indoors; this is better for wildlife and better for the cat.Make sure that you have your cat spayed or neutered as millions of unwanted cats are born every year.If your cat does go outside, place a bell on their collar. Studies have shown that this reduces their hunting success rate by at least half.Cats are excellent pets that provide affection and entertainment to many people. So while wild cats like bobcat and lynx belong outdoors, their domestic counterparts, our feline companions, should be kept inside to help protect them and our wildlife.

At Science North we regularly receive requests to take pets from people that no longer want them or can no longer keep them. In many cases, these pets are what I would call exotic animals, which include birds, reptiles, amphibians and even fish that people have purchased without thinking through the decision. Some of these animals are illegal to keep, such as the situation of the macaque in Toronto. Therefore, we need to be aware of the regulations and effort it takes to care and keep these exotic pets.Pets that we have at home are in fact exotic in nature. The word “exotic” describes any animal that is not native to Canada. This includes most domesticated animals such as cats, dogs and cattle. Most people have an idea of the amount of care it takes to keep a cat or dog but we are not always aware of how to care for other exotic pets such snakes, turtles, birds and fish. Once people realize the amount of effort (and costs) it takes to care for the newly acquired pet, often they no longer wish to keep it. Unfortunately, many pet shops are not very forthcoming on the actual cost in money and time it takes keep some of these pets. The following is a brief description of the care required for some of the most popular exotic pets:TurtlesTurtles require an aquarium, filters and specialized lamps (ultraviolet and/or heat lamps). These can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the size of the aquarium and filters purchased. Turtle food can be purchased at pet stores but it is recommended that we vary their diet and include foods such as minnows, earthworms and vegetables. The amount of care is highly dependent on the size of the aquarium and filters purchased. Since most people will buy some of the smaller equipment, the water in which the turtle is kept will foul more quickly. In this case, owners will have to clean the entire aquarium once or twice a week. If it is not cleaned regularly, the aquarium and filter will start to smell quite bad. Also, dirty equipment can affect the health of the turtle and could result in its death. Turtles are also carriers of bacteria called salmonella and if ingested by people (i.e. after touching the turtle and not washing their hands), this can cause gastroenteritis that can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Many owners purchase these turtles as babies without realizing that these will grow much larger and therefore require more space. Owners are then on the hook to buy larger aquaria and filters to accommodate their growing pet. Perhaps the main reason why turtles do not make good pets is their lifespan. Most store-bought turtles can live up to 50 years … imagine having to take care of an animal for that long!SnakesSnakes require an aquarium, heat lamp or heat mat. Depending on the size of the snake, a medium size aquarium is acceptable. Keep in mind, snakes come in all sizes. Some snakes such as boas and anacondas can grow up to 2.5 metres (over 8 feet) long. Therefore, one would require an aquarium or enclosure the size of a closet to hold these snakes! Large snakes are usually fed small mammals (e.g. mice, rats, rabbits) that can be purchased in pet stores. Depending on the species, snakes can live up to 30 years. Another difficulty about keeping snakes is how good they are at escaping, especially if their enclosures have not been closed properly. Once they have escaped, snakes can be quite difficult to find since they can hide in spots like pipes, ventilation systems or between walls. They can also easily leave the house and hide outside. Imagine having to explain to your neighbours that you have lost your pet snake!BirdsThe size of the cage to purchase will depend on whether one obtains a budgie or a larger bird such as a parrot. Many owners tend to allow their birds free access in the house but this can lead to issues with the birds escaping or defecating on couches, curtains or carpets. A bird is relatively easy to feed as it eats grains, nuts, insects or fruits. The main issue with birds is their long lifespan. Parrots can live up to 100 years and in many cases outlive their owners! Arrangements have to be made so that the bird is cared for after the owner passes away. This is not something many people think about when they are looking to purchase a bird.MonkeysMonkeys, such as macaque, may look quite cute but keeping them can be very difficult. They are intelligent animals and require constant supervision and interaction with people. Unlike a cat, one cannot leave a monkey alone since they will develop emotional and mental issues. They must be constantly stimulated with toys or games and owners must spend lots of time with them. There is also the issue of house-training the monkey so that it will defecate in a specific location and not climb on things like curtains, or lamps. Most people do not know how to train such animals, which could result in conflicts between the owner and the pet. Depending on the species, these monkeys can live between 10 and 30 years, which makes them a long-term pet. One of the main issues with monkeys is that many of them are carriers of diseases that can affect humans. For example, many domesticated macaques are infected with herpes B virus which can cause severe neurological diseases in humans. An infected monkey can transmit this dangerous disease by biting a human. That is why it is not a good idea to keep monkeys as pets at home.Keep in mind that zoos and science centres will rarely accept an exotic pet. These centres either do not accept exotic animals or already have a collection of these and therefore cannot keep more animals. Also, releasing these pets into the wild is not a good idea. Many of these animals are not adapted to live in our climate (i.e. cold winters) and will not survive. Releasing these animals can also spread diseases that could affect local wildlife, other pets and even your neighbours! Another issue is that these animals do not belong in our environment and their release can upset our natural ecosystem. For example, Burmese pythons were released in the Florida everglades by owners who no longer wanted to keep them. These pythons are causing major problems in the ecosystem since they eat any small animal and are in fact eating alligators! In an effort to control their population, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission recently launched a challenge allowing ordinary citizens to catch and kill these snakes. The release of exotic pets in our region could have similar impacts in that they could disturb our ecosystem and could lead to the loss of native species.Before buy any exotic pet (or any pet) ask yourself these questions:Do you have the time to take care of this animal?Do you have the money to take care of this animal? Are you willing to spend more money as the animal grows and its needs change?Are you willing to take care of your pet for its entire lifespan? Are you willing to take care of an animal for the next 20, 30 or even 80 years? Will you make arrangements for your pet in the case you pass away?Do you have a local vet that can take care of your pet? If not, are you will to travel long distances to bring it to a suitable vet? Are you willing to pay for the vet bills?Does your municipality allow such pets? Are you planning to move to another municipality that may not allow such pets?Are you planning to stay for a long time in your current dwelling or are you planning to move often? Will your new dwelling (i.e. rental property) allow you to keep your pet?Will your life or family situation change? Are you planning to have children later on in life? Will you be able to take care of both children and your pet? Will your pet be dangerous to children (or vice versa)?These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing an animal. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of having an exotic pet and not make an impulse purchase. An animal might look cute in the pet store but it can become quite annoying or even dangerous if you are not able to care for it properly. Think about this before getting yourself an exotic pet.

Recently we acquired a really exciting new exhibit at Science North. It’s called a diffusion cloud chamber, and it allows us to see trails made by high-energy particles in real time!Cosmic rays are highly energetic particles, mainly protons, electrons, and helium nuclei (known as alpha-particles). They come from distant sources such as supernova explosions. Some of the sources of cosmic rays are actually still a mystery to scientists today. These highly energetic particles are always around us, and many actually go right through us. We cannot directly see these particles but they do leave a trace in the right environment. Our cloud chamber is filled with alcohol vapour. When a highly energetic particle (a particle moving at a speed very close to the speed of light) passes through it leaves a trail of ions. The alcohol then condenses on these ions, creating a trail! This is similar to the condensation trails made by airplanes as they fly through the air. So we can see trails forming continuously in real time. It’s really amazing to look at this exhibit and realize how we are always surrounded by these particles from distant places in the universe – we are part of the universe. SNOLAB and Laurentian University have generously donated the cloud chamber to us through a grant from the City of Greater Sudbury. I hope you have a chance to come see the cosmic trails in it for yourself, but also have a look at the video here to see what it looks like!

Headlines have been dominated by recent announcements of the closing and withdrawal of funding of several of Canada’s leading environmental research stations. These stations include the Experimental Lakes Area in Northwestern Ontario and PEARL, a high Arctic research facility.  The Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) located in Northwestern Ontario is a unique Canadian facility for ground breaking freshwater research and the only one of its kind in the world. It consists of an outdoor freshwater laboratory encompassing 58 small lakes and their drainage basins, which have been set aside for research on aquatic ecosystems. Data records of these watersheds began in 1967 with experimental studies beginning in 1969.Located in a sparsely inhabited region of southern Canada, the ELA is relatively unaffected by external human influences and industrial activities. As such, it serves as a natural laboratory for the study of physical, chemical and biological processes and interactions operating on an ecosystem spatial scale and a multi-year time scale.Studies conducted at the ELA have provided sound scientific knowledge for the development of environmental policies in managing algal blooms, acid rain, climate change, mercury pollution, greenhouse gas fluxes from hydroelectric reservoirs, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.The Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Lab (PEARL) is Canada's world-renowned High Arctic outpost for climate and atmospheric research. Located at 80 degrees North at Eureka on Ellesmere Island (Nunavut), the lab is a model of international cooperation and provides important contributions to global environment monitoring. PEARL monitors the ozone layer and ozone depleting substances, climate change processes, polar contaminants, and weather.Research at these stations is conducted because of the unique environment in which they are situated – a secluded, sparsely populated area where the unique environmental conditions allow for research that cannot be easily conducted anywhere else in the world. What is the impact of closing these stations to the scientific community and our ability to understand human impact on ecosystems? What is the impact that these closures will have on the future of environmental science and policy in Canada?Join us to explore these questions on Tuesday, February 5th at 7:30pm at the Laughing Buddha.Our panelists for this event will be Zen Mariani, PhD. Candidate at the University of Toronto conducting research at PEARL, Dr. Heidi Swanson, Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo and co-founding Director of Save the ELA, and Dr. John Gunn, Laurentian University, Canada Research Chair in Stressed Aquatic Ecosystems.Free admission and snacks; cash bar available.For more information, check out sciencenorth.ca/café or contact Amy Henson by email. Hope to see you there!

I love being a Bluecoat in the FedNor Cyberzone because it gives me the opportunity to play with and showcase some of the latest gadgets that take advantage of new and interesting technologies. And best of all, I get to share the fun with our visitors!Take Sphero for example. Sphero is a robotic ball that can be controlled using a Bluetooth-enabled smart device like an iPad or Android phone. Take the Sphero challenge by racing against a Bluecoat or other family member.  Learn about augmented reality with Sharky the Beaver, a character that moves with the Sphero ball.  Watch the video below and see what kind of fun you can have with this neat toy!If that wasn’t enough, try out another neat piece of technology in our lab. It’s called ZorroMacsk and it can take your regular Mac computer and turn it into a touch screen! Check out this video to learn more.Stay tuned next month where I will post a video describing capacitive touch screen technology using my iPad, winter mitts and conductive thread to show you how to surf the web and stay warm while doing it.See you on the Fourth Floor!

The weather outside is frightful… But who’s to say that a temperature like that of today, January 22, 2013, at -27C is actually cold?I for one definitely think that’s cold, but let’s compare that temperature to a few others; the coldest day ever recorded (-89C), or the temperature of dry ice (-88C) or even to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196C). When looking at those temperatures, today would seem more like a nice day to go to the beach than a cold winter day! To see some fun experiments I performed outside today (did I mention it was -27C today?) check out the video below as well as an experiment you can try at home!

The time of year has come to say goodbye to the holidays and those beautiful colourful blooms on your Christmas cactus. How do you get those blooms to return next season?Christmas cactus belongs to a succulent group of plants native to the jungles of Brazil. It is characterized by flat, modified stem segments called cladodes that resemble leaf-like pads that are joined to one another. The flowers are usually held at the tips of the stems or in the ‘leaf’ axils. Although these plants are called cacti, they are truly different from the common desert cactus. These plants, called epiphytes, are found in the same environments as orchids and bromeliads. They are most often found in the forks of tree limbs where they grow in decayed leaves and other natural debris that accumulates there.Christmas cactus grows best in light shade with well-drained soil and will burn if left in full light during the summer months.To help rebloom a Christmas cactus, it will need longer nights at a temperature around 55˚ – 65˚. Start this shortening of daylight hours in September until it reaches 13 hours of darkness. Once flower buds appear, keep the plants away from drafts, keep soil moist but not waterlogged and do not interrupt the darkness.  A basement or a cool front living room window can be used. Humidity is also important, keep it at least 50 – 60% with a tray under the pot itself.The cactus will do better if potbound and only needs to be repotted every three or so years.

We have an exciting new exhibit in Space Place called a diffusion cloud chamber. The clouds that it creates help us see tracks left behind by high-energy particles as they travel through the air.Watch this video to see how to make clouds of your own. Send us pictures and videos of your clouds!How do clouds form? When a liquid like water evaporates, the water vapor mixes with air. Cold air can’t hold as much water vapor as warm air. So if warm air containing lots of water vapor cools off, it can’t hold on to the water vapor anymore. The water vapor condenses into tiny droplets that stick to dust, soot, or any other particles in the air. These clusters of water droplets are clouds!In the experiments below, we will use pressure to change the temperature of air. When a gas is suddenly compressed, its temperature increases. When a gas is quickly expanded, the temperature drops.

In the 1960s, Timely Comics went through major company changes and became the famous comic company we know today: Marvel Comics. At this time, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby worked on comics that would introduce their very first superhero team, The Fantastic Four; a wacky group of characters including Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, the Human Torch, and the Thing. It may not be obvious, and may not be the intent behind any of Marvel’s superheroes or villains, but science is what fuels these characters’ strengths. While on a mission, these astronauts are in the middle of an incredibly high-energy cosmic storm, being exposed to intense cosmic radiation. The radiation from the storm alters each character’s DNA, changing life as they know it!Cosmic radiation (rays) flows into our solar system as high-energy particles. Our galaxy, solar system, and the Earth all have magnetic fields that change the flight patterns of these particles – this makes it difficult to know where they are actually coming from. There is speculation that most cosmic rays are pushed through the galaxy in the waves of supernova remnants. Particles can gain energy as they bounce around the magnetic field of the supernova remnant. Once the rays have built up enough speed, they can escape the hold of the remnant, and fly through the galaxy. Humans can be exposed to cosmic radiation while flying in an aircraft. The Earth’s atmosphere does not provide the same level of protection at regular commercial aircraft altitudes – somewhere between 7000 and 12000 metres. There is no fear needed though! Studies have shown that this does not pose any health risk. Flying will not cause symptoms of extreme body temperature, or green skin. So… could radiation ever mutate us into the Thing or the Hulk?Radiation definitely causes changes in DNA; radiation can cause portions of your DNA to be damaged or deleted. Thankfully, human cells are quite resilient! Humans use radiation regularly. For example, we use radiation to help treat cancer. The types of radiation used for cancer treatment are X radiation and gamma radiation. The radiation damages DNA in the cancer cells and causes them to stop growing and dividing. According to research, exposure to the gamma radiation has not caused any Hulk-like experiences!With this knowledge, we can say that, sadly, it is nearly impossible to be exposed to an extreme dose of radiation that could cause changes seen in the Fantastic Four, or the Hulk.To learn more about the science behind your favourite superheroes, to dress up like them, and to just have fun, join us at Science North for our New Year’s Eve Family Event! Follow Science North’s bluecoats on Twitter @snbluecoats. Ask us your questions, tell us your stories, and share your photos!

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield is scheduled to blast off for a 5-month mission to the International Space Station on December 19th, 2012. He will get there in a Russian Soyuz rocket. In March he will take over as the first Canadian Commander of the space station. Rather than give you lots of details about the mission that you can find out about in many places, including on the Canadian Space Agency website, I thought I would take the opportunity to share some cool space exploration facts with you that you might not know about yet. So here we go: Did you know that Canada was the third nation in space? We accomplished this with the launch of Alouette-1, which studied the ionosphere, in 1962. NASA astronauts came to Sudbury in the 1970s to become familiar with shatter cones, a rock formation that can be found in impact craters. Today, scientists use Canada’s arctic to simulate missions to Mars with astronauts and rovers.Canada has set foot on the Moon (literally), having built the feet of the Apollo Lander. Chris Hadfield’s mission is the 16th time a Canadian astronaut has launched into space.The force of gravity on the international space station is 90% of what it is at the surface of the Earth. Astronauts only feel weightless because they are in orbit – which is in essence a free fall around the Earth. You feel weightless in any free fall, for example when you ride the Drop Tower at Canada’s Wonderland. The space station is about the size of a football field. The pressurized compartments add up to more than the size of a five-bedroom house. At an altitude of 400 km above us, the ISS is in space but there is still enough drag from the Earth’s thin atmosphere that it loses about 100 meters of altitude per day. The ISS therefore has to be “boosted” by a visiting spacecraft from time to time. While on the space station Chris Hadfield will experience a sunrise every 90 minutes! The station orbits around the Earth that fast. Astronauts contribute to osteoporosis research, as in space their bones degrade 10 times faster than in osteoporosis patients. The Canadian experiment eOsteo was designed to study this.Canada built a weather station for the 2008 Phoenix mission to Mars. The Curiosity rover has a Canadian instrument that uses x-rays to study the surface of the red planet.Space exploration related work contributes over 3.5 billion dollars and over 8000 jobs to the Canadian economy annually.