By Nada Salem, Physics & Astronomy editor Few events mark the beginning of a new age in astronomy the way that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) did last summer. In July 2022, the first full-colour images from the honeycomb-shaped JWST stunned the world. They captured moments from the infancy of the universe beamed from […]
astronomy
Untangling Cosmic Strings
By Eloise Chakour, guest contributor Theoretical physics is often criticized for its lack of observable predictions. However, Canada is at the forefront of research on fascinating objects that exist in the borderlands between theoretical and observational physics: cosmic strings. These theorized objects may provide answers to some of the biggest questions in physics today. The […]
Did anyone see STEVE last night?
By Nada Salem, Physics & Astronomy editor On dark Alberta nights, far away from the man-made glare of street lights and fluorescent-lit office buildings, you may come across a photographer camped out in an open field, waiting patiently with a camera on a tripod. And if you’re lucky — if the skies are clear and […]
What the next supernova can teach us, and why astronomers hope it will come from Betelgeuse
Chenoa van den Boogaard, Physics & Astronomy editor In October 2019, astronomers noticed that Betelgeuse, the red supergiant star that forms the left shoulder of the constellation Orion, was beginning to dim. While variable stars such as Betelgeuse regularly experience dim and bright phases throughout their lives, this recent dimming phase was unusual because the […]
The space adventures of David Saint-Jacques
Ryan Marciniak, Physics & Astronomy Editor David Saint-Jacquesis Canada’s first astronaut to fly a mission on board the International Space Station (ISS) since Chris Hadfield commanded the vessel in 2013. Since his arrival on December 3rd, 2018, David has participated in a broad variety of tasks, including equipment repairs, science data gathering, spacewalks, and outreach […]