Chenoa van den Boogaard, Physics & Astronomy editor Astronomers have discovered the smallest white dwarf yet, and it is helping them to understand the lifecycle of these celestial objects. White dwarfs are what remain when low-mass stars reach the end of their life. After around 10 billion years of turning hydrogen into helium through nuclear […]
Physics and Astronomy
The themes of nature: Exploring repeating patterns in the natural world
Chenoa van den Boogaard, Physics & Astronomy editor The world is a bustling place, naturally chaotic and unpredictable, yet a balance is found in the regularity of nature’s cycles and patterns. The rise and fall of the sun and moon, the passing of the seasons, and the arrival of each hour in the day keep […]
Who owns the heavens? Improved satellite communications come at a price
Chenoa van den Boogaard, Physics & Astronomy editor When our ancestors looked up at the night sky, they used the patterns of twinkling light they saw as inspiration for stories that connected their communities. The newest constellation in our sky, created by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, promises a similar story of connectivity. However, it may […]
Life on the extreme edge: Microbes in astrobiology
Nada Salem, Chemistry editor Our most resilient organisms, emerging from the coldest reaches of the Earth, are essential avenues of research in astrobiology. They model what life might look like in the harshest corners of the solar system and allow us to test the survival limits of terrestrial life. How do these fascinating organisms help […]
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 […]