Latest news with #MatthewMiddleton
BBC News
a day ago
- Science
- BBC News
CrowdScience How long does light last?
When listener Rob from Devon, UK, heard of a newly detected planet light years away, he was struck by the sheer scale the light must travel to reach us here on Earth. It got him wondering: How long does light last? What's the oldest light we've ever observed? And does light ever die? To find out, presenter Anand Jagatia calls on some of the brightest minds in astronomy and physics. Astronomer Matthew Middleton from the University of Southampton describes himself as 'a kid in a sweet shop' when it comes to physics, and that enthusiasm comes in handy, because scientists still struggle to define exactly what light is. What we do know is that light comes in many forms, and choosing the right kind can peel back the cosmic curtain, revealing the universe's deepest and darkest secrets. That knowledge will prove vital in Anand's search for the oldest light ever observed. At the European Southern Observatory in Chile, staff astronomer Pascale Hibon gives Anand a behind-the-scenes look at the Very Large Telescope, one of the most advanced optical instruments on Earth, perfectly placed under some of the clearest skies on the planet. Light from the objects Pascale studies has often travelled for billions of years, making her images snapshots of the distant past. In a sense, she's pretty much a time traveller. If light has crossed the vastness of the universe to reach us, it must be unimaginably ancient. But what will become of it in the far future? Could we trap it and preserve it forever? 'If we knew what light is, that might be an easier question to answer,' says Miles Padgett at the University of Glasgow, who has spent his career trying to pin it down. As Anand discovers, physics can be more philosophical than you might expect. From redshifted galaxies at the edge of the observable universe to exotic materials that can slow light to walking pace, CrowdScience explores whether we can catch light, how it changes over time, and why truly understanding it remains one of physics' most stubborn challenges. Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Harrison Lewis Editor: Ilan Goodman (Image: An area of deep space with thousands of galaxies in various shapes and sizes on a black background. Most are circles or ovals, with a few spirals. More distant galaxies are smaller, down to being mere dots, while closer galaxies are larger and some appear to be glowing. Red and orange galaxies contain more dust or more stellar activity Credit:ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, G. Östlin, P. G. Perez-Gonzalez, J. Melinder, the JADES Collaboration, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb))
CBC
14-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. vape and tobacco shops can now be fined up to $25,000 for breaking rules
Social Sharing Shops on Prince Edward Island that sell tobacco and electronic smoking devices, including vaporizers, can now be fined up to $25,000 for violating the province's rules. In an effort to crack down on youth vaping, P.E.I. raised the minimum age to purchase nicotine vaping products to 21 back in 2020, and banned the sale of flavoured products entirely in 2021. Changes to the P.E.I. Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Device Sales and Access Act came into effect on Feb. 1 after amendments passed during the fall sitting of the legislature. Among the changes is a major increase to the maximum fine for corporations that repeatedly violate the act — up to $25,000 for repeat offenders. Provincial court judges can also now also issue orders to stop businesses from being able to sell those for up to 90 days as punishment. "Despite high compliance with most retailers, the fines were increased as a deterrent to retailers who are in continuous non-compliance," officials from the Chief Public Health Office said in an email to CBC News. Under the wire On Thursday, Matthew Middleton appeared in provincial court on behalf of the Charlottetown-based shop Vape Head. The business was charged with two counts of selling flavoured tobacco products and one count of selling to an underage person. But as Vape Head was told in court, it was lucky. The fines were increased as a deterrent to retailers who are in continuous non-compliance. — P.E.I. Chief Public Health Office The business had been caught selling flavoured products for a fourth time on Jan. 18 — two weeks before the new penalties came into force. Because they had been caught three times or more, the penalty could have been $25,000 had the charge been laid after Feb. 1. The business pleaded guilty to the underage sale charge and one of the flavoured sale charges and was fined $1,000 for each. The Crown stayed the second charge related to the sale of flavoured tobacco. Vape Head also pleaded guilty to a flavoured sale charge in November and was fined $1,000 then. On Thursday, Judge Lantz warned Middleton that the penalty could be $25,000 next time. Middleton told the court Vape Head would not find itself in this position again. The business has until April 30 to pay a total of $2,100.
