|
|
|
|
|
|
In Case You Missed It
 Are we overdiagnosing autism?
JAMA Psychiatry
Published August 21, 2019
If current trends in diagnostic practices continue, the definition of autism may get too vague to be meaningful. Read more>
Canadian co-author: Laurent Mottron, Université de Montréal - laurent.mottron@umontreal.ca
We're drinking microplastics, and we don't know if they're making us sick
WHO
Published August 22, 2019
This latest analysis of current research reveals we're all drinking microplastics. We may be absorbing smaller particles into our organs and exposing ourselves to disease-causing and antibiotic-resistant bacteria linked to the plastics. The report recommends drinking-water suppliers and regulators prioritize removing disease-causing bacteria and harmful chemicals from the water supply, which would also remove plastics.
Canadian co-lead author: Julie Bourdon-Lacombe, Health Canada - julie.bourdon-lacombe@canada.ca
Climate warming and fire drive northern deciduous forest spread
Nature Plants
Published August 26, 2019
Competition for nutrients after fire in early succession and for light in late succession in a warmer climate will favour deciduous broadleaf trees over evergreen conifers and herbaceous plants in Alaska’s boreal forests. The predicted spread of deciduous broadleaf forests will affect the carbon cycle, surface energy fluxes and ecosystem function, with feedback effects on the climate system.
Canadian co-author: Robert Grant, University of Alberta - rgrant@ualberta.ca
Extreme wildfires threaten carbon reservoir in boreal soils
Nature
Published August 21, 2019
As wildfires ravage northern regions around the globe, they’re releasing carbon reservoirs contained in the forests’ soils. Read more>
Canadian co-authors: Jennifer Baltzer, Wilfrid Laurier University - jbaltzer@wlu.ca; Steven Cumming, Université Laval - steve.cumming@sbf.ulaval.ca; Jill Johnstone, University of Saskatchewan - jill.johnstone@usask.ca; and more…
Wildfires are frying forest mushroom communities
Global Change Biology
Published April 5, 2019
When researchers surveyed the boreal forest in Northwest Territories after a large fire swept the area in 2014, they found mushrooms and other fungal communities in burned areas were less diverse than in unaffected areas. Loss of fungal diversity could hamper plant growth and forest regeneration. Read more>
Lead author: Nicola Day, University of Waterloo - njday.ac@gmail.com
Glacier-fed rivers consume atmospheric carbon dioxide
PNAS
Published August 19, 2019
Researchers found concentrations of carbon dioxide in glacier-fed rivers in Northern Canada were much lower than in the atmosphere, meaning that rivers are actively consuming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Read more>
Lead author: Kyra St. Pierre, University of Alberta - kyra2@ualberta.ca
Silent strokes common after non-cardiac surgery
The Lancet
Published August 15, 2019
Covert – or ‘silent’ – strokes are common in seniors after they have elective, non-cardiac surgery and are linked to cognitive decline. Read more>
Canadian co-author: P.J. Devereaux, McMaster University - philipj@mcmaster.ca
Century-old fish scales reveal salmon genetics in decline
Conservation Letters
Published August 20, 2019
Genetic extraction from a collection of 100‐year‐old salmon scales reveals 56–99 per cent declines in wild sockeye populations across Canada's second-largest salmon watershed, the Skeena River. The century‐long declines are much greater than those identified from modern data, suggesting only 7 of 13 populations declined over the last five decades. Read more>
Lead author: Michael Price, Simon Fraser University - mhprice@sfu.ca
Space rocks related to dwarf planet confirm Kuiper Belt calmness
Nature Astronomy
Published August 26, 2019
Researchers used the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS) Ensemble to detect three large space rocks related to the Kuiper Belt dwarf planet Haumea. The bodies’ limited size distribution suggests they formed in a graze-and-merge scenario, not a catastrophic collision, providing more evidence of the Kuiper Belt’s calm, low-speed environment.
Canadian co-authors: Brett Gladman, University of British Columbia - gladman@phas.ubc.ca; J.J. Kavelaars, National Research Council, Victoria - jjk@uvic.ca; and more…
Short-period gas giants home to hot nightside temperatures
Nature Astronomy
Published August 26, 2019
The nightside temperatures of 12 hot Jupiter-like giant gas planets hover around 1,100 Kelvin, and show only slight increases due to stellar radiation. Nightside, greenhouse-like clouds that keep heat in may explain the phenomenon.
Lead author: Dylan Keating, McGill University - dylan.keating@mail.mcgill.ca
How snowshoe hares manage risk
FACETS
Published August 19, 2019
Hares were least vigilant during the new moon where the distance to escape habitat was far, but only in open risky habitat. They were more vigilant during the full moon, but only at stations far from escape habitat. The results suggest that reduced risk allowed hares to allocate less time to vigilance.
Author: Douglas Morris, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay - douglas.morris@lakeheadu.ca
Reptiles take path less travelled
Ecology and Evolution
Published August 13, 2019
When researchers tracked 286 turtles and 49 snakes from 18 sites in eastern North America, they found the reptiles avoided crossing roads but didn’t avoid habitat near roads, and crossed roads less often than expected based on simulations. Read more>
Lead author: James Paterson, Trent University - james.earle.paterson@gmail.com
Neutron-star glitch reveals hidden secrets
Nature Astronomy
Published August 12, 2019
When a neutron star 1,000 light years away suddenly and briefly began spinning faster – a phenomenon called a “glitch” – it provided astronomers a glimpse of the star’s innards and how different components within the star interact to increase the star’s spin velocity, then slow it down. Read more>
Canadian co-author: Vanessa Graber, McGill University - vanessa.graber@mcgill.ca
Unexpected link between farming and immune system evolution
Nature Ecology and Evolution
Published July 29, 2019
Contrary to expectation, agriculture and living in permanent settlements may not have spurred an increase in diseases like smallpox and measles. For the first time, researchers compared the immune systems of people from farming populations with those of hunter gatherers. The researchers found that hunter gatherers showed more signs of positive natural selection through adaptation to diseases – in particular, among genes involved in the response to viruses. Read more>
Lead author: Genelle Harrison, McGill University - genelle.harrison@mail.mcgill.ca
Home births as safe as hospital births
The Lancet's EClinicalMedicine
Published July 25, 2019
Low-risk pregnant women who intend to give birth at home have no increased chance of the baby's perinatal or neonatal death than low-risk women who intend to give birth in a hospital. Read more>
Lead author: Eileen Hutton, McMaster University - huttone@mcmaster.ca
Eight more mysterious repeating fast radio bursts chime in from space
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Preprint published August 13, 2019
Researchers report that the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope has detected eight more repeating ast radio bursts. The variety of bursts detected provide some insight into their causes and origins.
Corresponding author: Emmanuel Fonseca, McGill University - efonseca@physics.mcgill.ca
Loss of soil moisture under climate change expected to intensify droughts
Science Advances
Published August 21, 2019
Warmer soil temperatures under climate change are expected to reduce soil-moisture content in ecosystems around the world, resulting in higher ecosystem productivity for wet regions but reduced productivity in dry regions. Soil-water availability may help researchers predict how climate change will alter carbon balances in ecosystems with different annual rainfalls. Read more here and here>
Canadian co-author: Han Chen, Lakehead University - hchen1@lakeheadu.ca
Lack of sleep, increased screen time increase kids’ impulsive behaviour
Pediatrics
Published August 2019
Analysis of data from 4,524 children suggests that children and youth who do not sleep enough and use screens more than recommended are more likely to act impulsively and make poorer decisions. Read more>
Lead author: Michelle Guerrero, University of Ottawa - mguerrero@cheo.on.ca
Seismic lines helped butterflies survive Fort McMurray wildfire
Ecosystems
Published July 16, 2019
Even as Alberta’s fierce wildfire raged in and around Fort McMurray in 2016, plants and butterflies survived in narrow strips of forest that remained green and undamaged. Read more>
Lead author: Federico Riva, University of Alberta - friva@ualberta.ca
|
|
In the News
Climate deniers get more media play than scientists
Nature Communications
Published August 13, 2019
Climate deniers have garnered far more media attention than prominent climate scientists over the years, fuelling public confusion and slowing the response to global warming. Read more>
53% of journalists surveyed weren’t sure they could spot flawed research
Published July 29, 2019
Read the survey results from the Journalist's Resource>
Global climate change and health in Canadian children
Read the August 14, 2019 report from the Canadian Paediatric Society>
|
|
Of Interest
Framework for thinking critically about claims, evidence, and choices
That’s a Claim
More information>
Job Opening: Reporter, Nature News, Washington
Application deadline: September 13, 2019
More information>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
