Marc Garneau, first Canadian in space and former federal minister, dies at 76
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OTTAWA — Former astronaut and minister Marc Garneau has died at 76 years old.
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CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Canadian technology could be used to mine the deep seas, but there's growing alarm over the risks
Social Sharing In dark waters near Collingwood, Ont., a giant yellow machine with metallic claws precisely snatches tiny rock balls from the lakebed, kicking up sediment with each grab. While it looks like a claw game at an arcade, for Impossible Metals, it's a demonstration of the technology the company plans to use more than 10,000 kilometres away, to mine mineral-rich nodules from the Pacific Ocean seabed. But for some scientists, it is a concerning signal of the push for more deep-sea mining, which they warn could have devastating consequences for the world's oceans. Writing in the journal Nature on Wednesday, a group of environmental scientists from across the world including Canada are calling for a total ban on deep-sea mining, saying the underwater ecosystems are "too important to the habitability of Earth to gamble with for the narrow and uncertain rewards." They say such mining would disturb seabeds, releasing the carbon stored there (more than in shallower areas) and thus contributing to climate change. The letter also notes how little is known about deep-sea life. It says the risk of tapping into these resources is too high. "There is a very strong case for a moratorium on all forms of exploiting the high seas," Johan Rockström, one of the letter's authors, told CBC News. That means anything outside of national jurisdictions, which extend 200 nautical miles from shore. Rockström says the oceans hold 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped on Earth because of greenhouse gases. WATCH | Pushing for, and against, deep-sea mining: Scientists want a ban on deep-sea mining. Trump wants to fast-track it 1 day ago Duration 1:59 A group of leading ocean and climate scientists, including Canadians, is calling for a ban on deep-sea mining just as U.S. President Donald Trump moves to fast-track undersea mining approvals. "The ocean, ultimately, [is] the system that buffers and will determine the stability of the whole planet," he said from Germany, where he is the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research. But Impossible Metals, which is based in San Jose, Calif., and has a technology division in Ontario, claims it will be able to strike a balance between protecting the environment and obtaining the nodules, which are rich in critical minerals, on the ocean floor. Its autonomous underwater robot, the Eureka 2, will be careful, says CEO Oliver Gunasekara. "We use AI to identify life," he said, while demonstrating the unit in Collingwood. "If we see life, we put a quarantine, virtual circle around it, and the vehicle flies over the top and doesn't impact that life." Gunasekara says using robotic arms means less sediment disruption compared to scraping or digging into the seabed. He says a future that is more electrified is "going to need massive quantities of all of these metals, and the ocean has the biggest source" — and that his company can get them faster, for the lowest cost and with the least environmental impact. It is waiting for approval to mine off of American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean. Though there are currently no commercial deep-sea mining operations, a recent executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to make it easier to mine within U.S. waters — directing agencies to streamline permissions and invest in such technology. The administration hopes to open a new source of critical minerals to reduce foreign dependence. The nodules contain cobalt, nickel and manganese — useful in batteries and other electronics. But the order is also using an old law to justify mining and exploration beyond U.S. jurisdiction. Along with Impossible Metals, another prominent mining firm, The Metals Company, has turned to the U.S. to start mining in the ocean. Rashid Sumaila, another of the letter's authors and Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Oceans and Fisheries Economics at the University of British Columbia, is concerned that a few companies and countries who are very pro-mining could overrule the concerns of the rest of the world. Many countries have long been negotiating over deep-sea mining at the UN-affiliated International Seabed Authority, of which the U.S. is not a member. Sumaila is critical of approving ocean mining without global agreement. "The majority can say, 'Look, this doesn't make sense,' and yet a few push hard… and at the end of the day, they end up getting what they want to the detriment of the larger global population," he said. Countries will gather next week in France for the United Nations Ocean Conference to talk about sustainable practices.
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
CTV National News: A once-in-a-lifetime gift to transform cardiology care
Watch Andrew Johnson has the story of a $60-million donation that is expected to enable Vancouver's biggest hospital to create the 'Mayo Clinic of the North.'
National Post
6 hours ago
- National Post
Canada's Top Youth Scientists Awarded $1.3 Million at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton
Article content FREDERICTON, New Brunswick — From groundbreaking schizophrenia treatment research to innovative sea turtle robots, Canada's top young scientists showcased world-class research and innovation this week at the 63rd Canada-Wide Science Fair. At an awards ceremony this evening at the University of New Brunswick, 219 finalists were recognized with nearly $1.3 million in scholarships and awards at the country's premier youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event. The fair's Best Project Award in Discovery went to Sara Waqas from Calgary for her project, 'Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach', while the Best Project in Innovation went to Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for his project 'Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI'. Article content 'Tonight's winners are a powerful example of the impact youth can make through STEM,' said Reni Barlow, Executive Director at Youth Science Canada, organizers of the Canada-Wide Science Fair 2025. Article content 'This week, we've witnessed the power of youth curiosity in action,' said Reni Barlow, Executive Director at Youth Science Canada, organizers of the event. 'Every student who undertakes a STEM project deserves to be celebrated for their dedication and creativity. Tonight's winners are a powerful example of the impact youth can make through STEM.' Article content Top winners, selected by over 200 judges, include: Article content Best Project Awards Best Project: Discovery Article content Sara Waqas from Calgary, Alberta, for Article content Neurobiologically Informed Targeted Schizophrenia Treatment: A Multi-Omic, fMRI Approach Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Best Project: Innovation Article content Evan Budz from Burlington, Ontario, for Article content Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Platinum Awards – Discovery Best Junior (Grade 7/8) Article content Claire Sehn from Peterborough, Ontario, for Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep) Article content Hejin Wang from Saint John, New Brunswick, for Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Article content Platinum Awards – Innovation Best Junior (Grade 7/8) Article content Trisha Haldar from Windsor, Ontario, for Article content Visual Drug Interaction Checker Article content . Article content Article content Link to project Article content Best Senior (Grade 11/12/Cégep) Article content Chloe Rae Filion and Sophie Rose Filion from Fenwick, Ontario, for Article content The Home Smog Alarm: How clean is your home's air? Article content Link to project Article content * * * * * Article content The 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair featured 390 student finalists, from Grade 7 through Cégep, showcasing 339 projects. The event drew more than 5,000 visitors and more than 30,000 online viewers. The Canada-Wide Science Fair and STEM Expo continue in person at the University of New Brunswick tomorrow, Friday, June 6, until 2:30 p.m. ADT, with projects remaining online for public viewing afterward. Article content The 64 th edition of the Canada-Wide Science Fair will be held at the Edmonton EXPO Centre and the University of Alberta from May 23 to 30, 2026. Article content Members of the public are invited to meet the best project and platinum award winners on Friday, June 6, at 8:30 a.m. ADT in the Richard J. Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick. The panel discussion will also be broadcast live. Article content Media members are encouraged to participate. Article content Winners will be available for media interviews throughout the week of June 9, 2025, by contacting Mary Moniz at mary@ Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information: Article content Mary Moniz Article content Article content Torchia Communications Article content Article content Article content Article content 647-278-0152 Article content Article content mary@ Article content
