How a churro-inspired device could change bypass surgery
How a churro-inspired device could change bypass surgery
A researcher from University of Ottawa Heart Institute took inspiration from a food truck when he was thinking of ways to make bypass surgery safer.
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CBC
12 minutes ago
- CBC
Is watercress helping or hurting P.E.I. streams? A UPEI student aims to find out
If you're near a freshwater stream or river in Prince Edward Island this summer, you might spot UPEI biology student Julie Goodwin at work. Goodwin is spending the summer tracking watercress, an aquatic perennial herb that grows in slow-moving bodies of water and is also edible. Her goal is to learn where watercress is growing and how it's affecting Island streams. She said not much is known about the plant's history on the Island, so her work is helping create a snapshot for future research. It could also support better decisions about whether the plant should be controlled. "We have baseline data from when it was introduced, but that was quite a while ago," she told CBC's Island Morning. "Since then, there has been no distribution tracking. We don't know now if it has gotten more abundant, if it has moved downstream, if it's moved to other streams. And just because it's not reported somewhere, that doesn't mean it's not there." So far, she said, a lot of what's known about watercress distribution on P.E.I. has come from citizen science through platforms like iNaturalist. The app allows users to share photos and locations of plants and animals, helping researchers gather data for scientific and conservation purposes. "In the world… plant collection and plant identification is a serious issue. There is a lack thereof," she said. Benefits and drawbacks Goodwin said that after speaking with different watershed groups, she learned the impact of watercress varies depending on the environment. "Some watershed groups have mentioned that it grows so abundantly that it over-widens their streams and causes flooding, which damages aquatic habitats, and it out-competes native plants," she said. "However, other groups have just noticed it kind of sitting along the banks, catching sediment, even being nursery habitat... I myself have seen frog eggs laid on watercress early in the season." That variation highlights why more data is needed to better understand the plant's role in Island ecosystems, Goodwin said. "There's lots of relationships in the ecosystems in which the watercress resides, and understanding those relationships is really what this project is about," she said. "We want to understand why it's here, what's interacting with it, what kind of changes it might be having in the ecosystems. And from there, we can then go on to collect more data and more data over the years and be able to track it. And, really, that will move toward proper management and conservation." How Islanders can help Goodwin is hoping Islanders can help her gather data this summer. She's asking people to snap photos of any watercress they come across and upload them to iNaturalist. She said those who want to contribute directly can also send photos to her email along with the GPS co-ordinates, which are easily accessible from most smartphones. That information will be added to her personal monitoring system and help identify at-risk areas that might be more likely to accumulate watercress. "Eventually, once we have enough data, and once we do a bit of a pilot study this summer, hopefully we can develop a practical monitoring system that watershed groups can use to track it every year. And it's not just a summer project," she said.
National Post
37 minutes ago
- National Post
Echo and Northern Fitness Announce Strategic Distribution Partnership
Article content SALT LAKE CITY & TORONTO — Echo, the category leader in hydrogen-based health solutions, has entered into an exclusive distribution partnership with Northern Fitness, one of Canada's premier fitness retailers. This new collaboration will expand Echo's reach into the Canadian market, offering consumers access to its innovative hydrogen-based wellness products designed to promote health and vitality. Article content Northern Fitness will begin distributing Echo's flagship products, including the Echo Flask, the Echo Pure Whole Home Water Filter, and the Echo Hydrogen Prebiotic Mix Drink, among others. Echo's products are renowned for their ability to improve hydration, enhance cellular health, and support overall well-being. Article content 'At Northern Fitness, we're focused on offering products that deliver measurable value to our customers' health and performance,' said Oleg Gleizerman, CEO of Northern Fitness. 'Echo stood out for its proven hydrogen technology and commitment to scientific integrity. This partnership allows us to expand our offerings with cutting-edge tools that support recovery, hydration, and long-term wellness—all priorities for our community.' Article content The agreement is expected to significantly increase availability of Echo's products in fitness, wellness, and health-related spaces across the country. Northern Fitness will leverage its strong presence in the fitness community to help Echo's products reach new customers who are seeking high-quality, sustainable solutions to enhance their physical health and performance. Article content 'Partnering with Northern Fitness is a key step in bringing our hydrogen wellness technology to a broader audience,' said Josh Carr, CEO of Echo. 'Their trusted presence in the Canadian market and alignment with our values makes them the ideal partner. Together, we're making it easier for people to access natural, science-driven tools that enhance vitality and cellular health.' Article content Backed by over 1,500 peer-reviewed studies, Echo's products have garnered attention for their proven effectiveness in promoting health through innovative hydrogen solutions. This partnership marks a key milestone in the company's continued global expansion. Article content For more information about Echo's products, please visit About Northern Fitness Northern Fitness is a leading Canadian retailer specializing in premium fitness equipment and wellness products. Committed to helping individuals lead healthy, active lifestyles, Northern Fitness offers a wide range of products designed to enhance performance, recovery, and overall wellness. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Northern Fitness is a trusted name in the Canadian fitness industry. For more information, visit Article content About Echo Article content Echo is a pioneer in hydrogen health, dedicated to helping people unlock and sustain peak performance by transforming water into a clean source of cellular support. From advanced home water systems to portable wellness solutions, Echo works with the body to promote internal balance, resilience, and consistent energy. Backed by peer-reviewed science, trusted by health experts, and engineered for everyday living, Echo makes hydrogen health accessible, effective, and transformative. For more information, visit Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
In the face of a trade war, Saskatchewan's helium industry looks to lift off
In a farmer's field near Swift Current, Sask., Clayten Wenass is checking the flow of a helium well. The system of shiny metal pipes runs nearly two kilometres under the Prairie soil and sends the gas to a nearby plant. It's one of many popping up more frequently in a landscape already dotted with oil pumpjacks. "There's still this buzz around helium," said Wenass, who works as a field engineer for Calgary-based North American Helium. "We're just scratching the surface on our exploration and production at this point." The company has invested half a billion dollars into wells and processing plants in Saskatchewan's southwest since 2013. It's the largest firm in an emerging field of about a dozen Canadian helium businesses. The demand for the gas goes well beyond balloons at party stores. It's used in MRI machines at hospitals, the manufacturing of semiconductors and fibreoptic cables, and the aerospace industry. WATCH | Sask. on track to become among top global producers of helium: Sask. on track to become among top global producers of helium 11 hours ago Duration 2:00 At North American Helium's Antelope Lake facility, helium from the wells is piped into a larger processing plant surrounded by fields. It's an intensely loud and largely automated operation, with a system of valves and vessels that removes nitrogen, water and other substances. "At some of our sites, less than one per cent of the gas coming out of the ground is helium," Wenass said, while walking by a maze of pipes and machinery. "There's a lot of learning that's been done and there's a lot of learning to be had yet going forward." The field team runs the operation out of a gas lab and control centre, which allows them to take samples of helium at different stages of the purification process. With the help of a computer, they analyze the molecules inside a test tube within minutes, and quickly respond to any changes in temperature or pressure. In the final step of the purification process, pure helium is piped into special transport trucks to be sent south of the border to Colorado and Oklahoma to be liquified. Canada does not have a facility capable of liquifying helium, forcing producers to rely on the United States. In the face of a trade war, there's now a growing push to decouple the supply chain. Chris Bakker, co-chair of the Helium Developers Association of Canada, said the industry views a Canadian liquifier as a second step. "To justify a helium liquefaction facility here, we feel that we need more exploration to build more reserves," he said. "For the Canadian domestic use in hospitals here, we have to ship it across the border, become liquefied and bring it back to Canada. A Canadian liquefaction plant would eliminate that problem." The industry is calling on the federal government to add helium to its list of 15 critical minerals eligible for a federal exploration tax credit, which could make it easier to attract investment. A Department of Finance official told CBC News it is always examining ways to improve the tax system, but did not say if helium is being considered for inclusion on the list. Since 2006, helium has gone through a series of global shortages, leaving labs and hospitals scrambling to get enough and paying top dollar for it. Phil Korbluth, a helium industry consultant based in Bridgewater, N.J., said supply has been abundant since the end of 2023. "It's a more challenging environment because after a period where margins were expanding, margins are now shrinking," he said. Kornbluth said a single Canadian liquifier would be worth the investment and allow for exporting out of Canadian ports directly to foreign markets – instead of solely across the U.S. border. "I think it sends a signal that Canada is in the helium business for the long haul, that they are more than a feed gas supplier to U.S. sources," he said. Bakker, who is also CEO of Calgary-based Avanti Helium Corp., said that despite the more abundant supply, the Canadian helium industry's competitive advantage could come down to global politics. The largest producers currently include Qatar, Russia, Algeria and the U.S., and Asian buyers have expressed interest in sourcing helium from Canada. "These are nations that look at things in 100-year horizons and they understand the importance of having a safe, secure supply, which Canada can provide."
