Science Tynan

'So damn undemocratic': Edmonton mayor reacts to legislation granting province power to fire councillors or veto local bylaws

A bill that would empower the Alberta government to remove elected municipal officials or strike down local bylaws is an "attack on local de

Edmonton

A bill that would empower the Alberta government to remove elected municipal officials or strike down local bylaws is an "attack on local democracy," says the capital city's mayor.

Bill 20, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, was announced Thursday and makes dozens of amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act and the Municipal Government Act (MGA).

 "I don't know who has asked for this," Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi told CTV News Edmonton Friday. "I don't know what problem the province is trying to solve when there are so many other priorities that they should be focused on." [...]

"When the province writes laws, it puts it through the legislative system where it can be debated," said Eric Adams, a constitutional law expert at the University of Alberta.

"When a law hands that power to the cabinet, then that legislative scrutiny falls completely away and now it's the cabinet themselves," he continued. "Realistically, the premier and the premier's office exercises the most of that power." [...]

Sperm Whale Clicks Could Hide a Surprisingly Complex 'Alphabet'

A recent analysis of a sperm whale's vocalizations suggests variations in 'clicks' represent a kind of alphabet that forms the basis of a co

ScienceAlert

A recent analysis of a sperm whale's vocalizations suggests variations in 'clicks' represent a kind of alphabet that forms the basis of a complex communication system. Members of the conservation initiative Project CETI discovered series of clicks less than 2 seconds in length act as codas – basic units (phonemes) of cetacean speech. The highly social mammals have previously been heard identifying themselves with unique patterns of clicking, but this is the first time a combinatorial and context-dependent structure has been demonstrated.

Huge 'blobs' inside Earth are from another planet, study suggests

Scientists proposed a novel idea on Wednesday that could solve two of the world's mysteries at once—one that passes over our heads every nig

phys.org

Scientists proposed a novel idea on Wednesday that could solve two of the world's mysteries at once—one that passes over our heads every night, and one that sits far below our feet. The first mystery has puzzled everyone from scientists to inquisitive children for millennia: where did the moon come from? The leading theory is that the moon was created 4.5 billion years ago when a would-be planet the size of Mars smashed into the still-forming Earth. This epic collision between early Earth and the proto-planet called Theia shot an enormous amount of debris into orbit, which formed what would become the moon. Or so the theory goes. Despite decades of effort, scientists have not been able to find any evidence of Theia's existence. New US-led research, published in the journal Nature, suggests they might have been looking in the wrong direction. Around 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) below Earth's surface, two massive "blobs" have baffled geologists since seismic waves revealed their existence in the 1980s.

BC Says a Damning Federal Climate Progress Report Is Wrong | The Tyee

Government says the numbers don’t reflect the greenhouse gas reductions made in the province.

The Tyee

BC United accused the NDP government of having the worst greenhouse gas emissions record in Canada Tuesday, but Climate Minister George Heyman said the claim is based on inaccurate data from the federal government.

[...]

BC United climate change critic Renee Merrifield led the charge in question period Tuesday, citing numbers in a 2024 federal government report released last week. The “National Inventory Report 1990-2022” is Canada’s submission under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

[...]

“The emissions inventory changes because the federal government doesn’t have accurate data on methane emissions to establish a baseline many years back,” [Climate Minister George] Heyman said in the legislature. “They admit this in their report, which I wish the member had read fully.”

Long snouts protect foxes when they dive headfirst into snow, study finds

When hunting for mice in winter, red and Arctic fox are known to plunge headfirst at speeds of 2–4 meters per second, but their sharp noses

phys.org

When hunting for mice in winter, red and Arctic fox are known to plunge headfirst at speeds of 2–4 meters per second, but their sharp noses reduce the impact force in snow and protect them from injury, according to a new Cornell University study. The fundamental research sheds light on the biomechanics of the unique hunting behavior (known as mousing), advances our understanding of animal adaptations and offers insights into snow injuries people experience during snowboarding or skiing. The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Manitoba First Nations seek billions in damages over Winnipeg sewage spill | CBC News

Eight Manitoba First Nations have filed a lawsuit against the City of Winnipeg, provincial and federal governments, seeking billions of doll

CBC

Eight Manitoba First Nations have filed a lawsuit against the City of Winnipeg, as well as the provincial and federal governments, seeking billions of dollars in compensation for a massive sewage spill earlier this year.

A pipe in south Winnipeg burst on Feb. 7, spilling more than 200 million litres of untreated sewage into the Red River before the leak was stopped weeks later. It was the second-largest spill in Winnipeg's history. 

The eight First Nations — Brokenhead, Black River, Poplar River, Kinonjeoshtegon, Berens River, Hollow Water, Misipawistik and Sagkeeng — filed a statement of claim in Manitoba Court of King's Bench Tuesday, accusing the city of dumping raw sewage into the waterways for decades.

They're seeking $500 million each for breaches of their Charter rights, as well as $100 million each in punitive damages, for a total $4.8 billion.

The lawsuit accuses the city, province and feds of failing to maintain the wastewater management system, "implement or enforce adequate regulatory mechanisms," warn the First Nations about the spill, or remedy the discharges. [...]

B.C. wildlife centre that cares for injured, orphaned animals in dire need of donations - BC | Globalnews.ca

"We can have 50 in here easily. Baby robins, baby this, baby that," Elizabeth Melnick, the owner of Elizabeth's Wildlife Center told Global

Global News

At Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center in Abbotsford, B.C., the number of small mammals and birds in need of care is already overwhelming. “We can have 50 in here easily. Baby robins, baby this, baby that,” Elizabeth Melnick, the owner of Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center told Global News. Melnick and other staff never turn animals away and care for injured, orphaned wild birds and small mammals and have done so since 1986. “I don’t even know how many animals we have in here right now and it’s just going to get busier, and busier and busier,” Kristie Johnson, a staff member said. But the ability to pay for added staff and supplies has reached the breaking point.

US police break up Gaza protest encampment at George Washington University

Police say arrests made as US-wide crackdown continues on student-led demonstrations in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

Al Jazeera

Police in the United States capital have broken up a student protest encampment at George Washington University, one of dozens of tent camps set up on campuses across the country in support of Palestinians in Gaza. The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, said in a statement that it “moved to disperse” demonstrators on Wednesday morning after “a gradual escalation in the volatility of the protest”. It did not elaborate on what exactly that means. “During the course of the operation, arrests were made for Assault on a Police Officer and Unlawful Entry,” the department said. Police Chief Pamela Smith said during a news conference later on Wednesday that 33 arrests were made.

Ukraine moves to send convicts to the front line — minus the rapists and killers

Those convicted of particularly serious crimes, and some categories of corrupt officials, will not be allowed to choose the front over a jai

POLITICO

In an attempt to bolster troop ranks, the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday passed a bill on the voluntary mobilization of convicts for the country's war with Russia. However, those who committed serious crimes including murder, rape, terrorism, dealing drugs and treason, will be ineligible to trade their jail terms for the defense of their country. So, what's in it for the convicts? If they decide to mobilize, local courts may grant them conditional early release in exchange for their military service, on the basis of a contract.