First Interstellar Visitor Probably Came From Binary Star System
Canadian astronomers think that the first confirmed interstellar object to enter our solar system, a rocky, cigar-shaped asteroid called ‘Oumuamua, probably came from a binary star system. To make their findings, the researchers at the University of Toronto’s Center for Planetary Science checked into just how effective twin star systems are at ejecting objects like […]
Scientists Find Traces of Early Earth in Volcanic Rock
According to most scientists, Earth was formed between 4.5 and 4.6 billion years ago after gravity forced gas and dust left over from the creation of the Sun accreted into an object called a planetesimal. Over time, the planetesimal continued to gather more and more material and eventually became a planet. Scientists say heat produced […]
Hand Washing, Zinc Are Best Defense Against Colds
Finding a cure for the common cold has long been seen by many as something akin to the search for the Holy Grail, but Canadian researchers say they have a good idea about what best prevents and treats the malady. Writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), the researchers suggest that simply washing your […]
Arctic Bacterium Offers Clues to Life on Mars
A permafrost microbe has been discovered growing at –15°C, the coldest temperature ever reported for bacterial growth. A team of scientists from Montreal’s McGill University made the discovery on Ellesmere Island, located in the Canadian High Arctic. Researchers said they found the living strain of bacteria growing in the extreme cold of the permafrost, which […]
Report Finds Asians, Africans and South Americans Might Make Better Musicians
If you speak a tonal language like Cantonese or Vietnamese, you might have a better ear for learning musical notes, even if you’re not a musician. Tonal languages, found mostly in Asia, Africa and South America, are those that use a number of high and low pitch sounds in patterns of speech. In these languages, […]
Lifelong Musicians Hear Better Than the Rest of Us
Lifelong musicians are less likely to experience age-related hearing problems than non-musicians, according to a new Canadian study. The National Institutes of Health says one-third of Americans between 65 and 74 has hearing problems, as do half of those who are 85 and older. Among the hearing problems many older people experience is difficulty understanding […]