Science & Technology

Winnipeg elementary school shoots for moon with stuffie design

Maggie Macintosh 5 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025

A stuffed animal designed by elementary schoolers in Winnipeg could be launched into outer space on NASA’s Artemis II mission.

Royal School’s space club learned this summer its proposed “moon mascot” — Luna the Space Polar Bear — had been shortlisted in an international contest.

This year, for the first time, NASA invited members of the public to submit ideas for a zero-gravity indicator.

Liesl Gerullis, a nine-year-old space enthusiast from Winnipeg, said the crew that travels to the moon next year will “want a stuffie so they can feel they are at home.”

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Green chemist and musician on fighting climate change

Janine LeGal 7 minute read Preview

Green chemist and musician on fighting climate change

Janine LeGal 7 minute read Saturday, Jul. 19, 2025

There’s no shortage of doom and gloom associated with the words “climate change” these days. As a result, many people are stressed out and feeling helpless.

Particularly concerning is that, more than ever, younger people are experiencing considerable distress with environmental anxiety, also known as eco-anxiety or climate anxiety. The Journal of Mental Health and Climate Change, an open-access publication that features interdisciplinary scientific research on mental health and climate change, continues to write extensively on this subject.

While prominent environmental activists, including well-known science broadcaster David Suzuki, paint a bleak picture of the future, many other professionals in various fields are working tirelessly to educate, inspire and fight the good fight for the next generations.

Born and raised in Lynn Lake, Man., Devin Latimer is one of those professionals. The faculty member in chemistry at the University of Winnipeg is also a long-time musician, bass player with local band Leaf Rapids and the Juno award-winning Nathan Music Co.

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Saturday, Jul. 19, 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

University of Winnipeg chemistry professor Devin Latimer, is passionate about climate justice and hopeful about the future.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
                                University of Winnipeg chemistry professor Devin Latimer, is passionate about climate justice and hopeful about the future.

AtkinsRéalis sells stake in 407 highway, rounding off turn to pure-play engineering

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

AtkinsRéalis sells stake in 407 highway, rounding off turn to pure-play engineering

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

MONTREAL - AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. announced the sale of its remaining stake in Ontario’s 407 toll highway operator in a $2.79-billion deal that caps off the company's push to become a pure-play engineering firm.

The Montreal-based company said Thursday it had signed agreements with subsidiaries of Spanish multinational Ferrovial SE and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to sell off its current 6.76 per cent share of 407 International Inc.

The transaction follows one completed in 2019 that saw the company, then known as SNC-Lavalin, sell 10 per cent of its stake in the highway north of Toronto to a company controlled by CPPIB for a base price of $3 billion, plus an additional $250 million to be paid over 10 years, conditional on hitting certain financial targets.

The newly announced deal is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

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Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. reported its fourth-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as it announced the sale of its remaining stake in the company that owns the Highway 407 ETR toll highway north of Toronto. Company signage is shown in Montreal, Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. reported its fourth-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as it announced the sale of its remaining stake in the company that owns the Highway 407 ETR toll highway north of Toronto. Company signage is shown in Montreal, Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Ducks were once a conservation bright spot. Now they’re declining in the US, new report shows

Christina Larson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Ducks were once a conservation bright spot. Now they’re declining in the US, new report shows

Christina Larson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — At least 112 North American bird species have lost more than half their populations in the past 50 years, according to a new report published Thursday.

Among the birds showing the steepest declines are Allen’s hummingbirds, Florida scrub jays, golden-cheeked warblers, tricolored blackbirds and yellow-billed magpies.

“These are the very real consequences if we are unable to conserve and protect the crucial habitats that birds need,” said study co-author Mike Brasher, a senior scientist at the nonprofit Ducks Unlimited.

For several decades, waterfowl stood out as a conservation bright spot with duck populations growing nationwide even as many other groups of birds declined in the U.S. But that trend has reversed, the new data shows.

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Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

FILE - A mallard duck rests on the edge of a path around the Tidal Basin as the sun rises in Washington, Sunday, March 5, 2023, with the Washington Monument in the background. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - A mallard duck rests on the edge of a path around the Tidal Basin as the sun rises in Washington, Sunday, March 5, 2023, with the Washington Monument in the background. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

One Tech Tip: Wasting too much time on social media apps? Tips and tricks to curb smartphone use

Kelvin Chan, The Associated Press 8 minute read Preview

One Tech Tip: Wasting too much time on social media apps? Tips and tricks to curb smartphone use

Kelvin Chan, The Associated Press 8 minute read Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

LONDON (AP) — If you've got a smartphone, you probably spend too much time on it — checking Instagram, watching silly TikTok videos, messaging on WhatsApp or doomscrolling on X.

It can be hard to curb excessive use of smartphones and social media, which are addictive by design. Reducing your screen time is often more than just a matter of willpower, especially for younger people whose brains and impulse control are still developing.

If you're a phone addict who wants to cut down on the hours a day spent looking at your device, here are some techniques you can try to free up more IRL time:

Delete apps

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Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

Women look at a phone while sitting on the pedestal of statue on International Women's Day in downtown Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Women look at a phone while sitting on the pedestal of statue on International Women's Day in downtown Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Don’t click on those road toll texts. FBI issues fresh warning about the smishing scam

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Don’t click on those road toll texts. FBI issues fresh warning about the smishing scam

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is warning Americans not to respond to scam road toll collection texts after receiving more than 2,000 complaints this month.

The texts impersonating state road toll collection agencies attempt to get phone users to reveal financial information, such as credit or debit cards or bank accounts.

They're so-called smishing scams — a form of phishing that relies on SMS texts to trick people into sending money or share sensitive information.

The FBI says the texts are moving from state to state and use nearly identical language falsely claiming that recipients have an unpaid or outstanding toll that could result in fines or suspended driving privileges.

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Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

FILE - A man uses a cell phone in New Orleans on Aug. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

FILE - A man uses a cell phone in New Orleans on Aug. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Living longer can mean more dementia but there are ways to reduce the risk

Lauran Neergaard, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — About a million Americans a year are expected to develop dementia by 2060, roughly double today’s toll, researchers reported Monday.

That estimate is based on a new study that found a higher lifetime risk than previously thought: After age 55, people have up to a 4 in 10 chance of eventually developing dementia -- if they live long enough.

It’s a sobering number but there are steps people can take to reduce that risk, such as controlling high blood pressure and other bad-for-the-brain health problems. And it’s not too late to try even in middle age.

“All of our research suggests what you do in midlife really matters,” said Dr. Josef Coresh of NYU Langone Health, who coauthored the study in the journal Nature Medicine.

Living longer can mean more dementia but there are ways to reduce the risk

Lauran Neergaard, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — About a million Americans a year are expected to develop dementia by 2060, roughly double today’s toll, researchers reported Monday.

That estimate is based on a new study that found a higher lifetime risk than previously thought: After age 55, people have up to a 4 in 10 chance of eventually developing dementia -- if they live long enough.

It’s a sobering number but there are steps people can take to reduce that risk, such as controlling high blood pressure and other bad-for-the-brain health problems. And it’s not too late to try even in middle age.

“All of our research suggests what you do in midlife really matters,” said Dr. Josef Coresh of NYU Langone Health, who coauthored the study in the journal Nature Medicine.

LONDON (AP) — The British government pledged on Monday to rip up the red tape hindering construction of data centers that underpin artificial intelligence while promoting its “pro-innovation” approach to regulating the technology.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the potential of AI as he outlined wide-ranging plans to harness the technology, indicating that it will be a key part of his government’s efforts to “turn around the economy” and jump-start lackluster growth.

Starmer said he wanted to Britain to become “one of the great AI superpowers” that can keep up with other countries like the United States and China that have led advances in the technology.

Under the 50-point plan, which provided few details on investment amounts, the government plans to massively expand public computing power, including by building a new national supercomputer and setting up AI “growth zones” with “streamlined” building approval process.

LONDON (AP) — The British government pledged on Monday to rip up the red tape hindering construction of data centers that underpin artificial intelligence while promoting its “pro-innovation” approach to regulating the technology.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the potential of AI as he outlined wide-ranging plans to harness the technology, indicating that it will be a key part of his government’s efforts to “turn around the economy” and jump-start lackluster growth.

Starmer said he wanted to Britain to become “one of the great AI superpowers” that can keep up with other countries like the United States and China that have led advances in the technology.

Under the 50-point plan, which provided few details on investment amounts, the government plans to massively expand public computing power, including by building a new national supercomputer and setting up AI “growth zones” with “streamlined” building approval process.

LONDON (AP) — The British government pledged on Monday to rip up the red tape hindering construction of data centers that underpin artificial intelligence while promoting its “pro-innovation” approach to regulating the technology.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the potential of AI as he outlined wide-ranging plans to harness the technology, indicating that it will be a key part of his government’s efforts to “turn around the economy” and jump-start lackluster growth.

Starmer said he wanted to Britain to become “one of the great AI superpowers” that can keep up with other countries like the United States and China that have led advances in the technology.

Under the 50-point plan, which provided few details on investment amounts, the government plans to massively expand public computing power, including by building a new national supercomputer and setting up AI “growth zones” with “streamlined” building approval process.

LONDON (AP) — The British government pledged on Monday to rip up the red tape hindering construction of data centers that underpin artificial intelligence while promoting its “pro-innovation” approach to regulating the technology.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the potential of AI as he outlined wide-ranging plans to harness the technology, indicating that it will be a key part of his government’s efforts to “turn around the economy” and jump-start lackluster growth.

Starmer said he wanted to Britain to become “one of the great AI superpowers” that can keep up with other countries like the United States and China that have led advances in the technology.

Under the 50-point plan, which provided few details on investment amounts, the government plans to massively expand public computing power, including by building a new national supercomputer and setting up AI “growth zones” with “streamlined” building approval process.

Biden’s administration proposes new rules on exporting AI chips, provoking an industry pushback

Josh Boak And Matt O'brien, The Associated Press 6 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is proposing a new framework for the exporting of the advanced computer chips used to develop artificial intelligence, an attempt to balance national security concerns about the technology with the economic interests of producers and other countries.

But the framework proposed Monday also raised concerns of chip industry executives who say the rules would limit access to existing chips used for video games and restrict in 120 countries the chips used for data centers and AI products. Mexico, Portugal, Israel and Switzerland are among the nations that could have limited access.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters previewing the framework that it's “critical” to preserve America's leadership in AI and the development of AI-related computer chips. The fast-evolving AI technology enables computers to produce novels, make scientific research breakthroughs, automate driving and foster a range of other transformations that could reshape economies and warfare.

“As AI becomes more powerful, the risks to our national security become even more intense,” Raimondo said. The framework “is designed to safeguard the most advanced AI technology and ensure that it stays out of the hands of our foreign adversaries but also enabling the broad diffusion and sharing of the benefits with partner countries.”

Jeff Bezos’ space company calls off debut launch of massive new rocket in final minutes of countdown

Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Blue Origin called off the debut launch of its massive new rocket early Monday because of technical trouble.

The 320-foot (98-meter) New Glenn rocket was supposed to blast off before dawn with a prototype satellite from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. But launch controllers had to deal with an unspecified rocket issue in the final minutes of the countdown and ran out of time. Once the countdown clock was halted, they immediately began draining all the fuel from the rocket.

Blue Origin did not immediately set a new launch date, saying the team needed more time to resolve the problem.

The test flight already had been delayed by rough seas that posed a risk to the company’s plan to land the first-stage booster on a floating platform in the Atlantic.

Jeff Bezos’ space company calls off debut launch of massive new rocket in final minutes of countdown

Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Blue Origin called off the debut launch of its massive new rocket early Monday because of technical trouble.

The 320-foot (98-meter) New Glenn rocket was supposed to blast off before dawn with a prototype satellite from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. But launch controllers had to deal with an unspecified rocket issue in the final minutes of the countdown and ran out of time. Once the countdown clock was halted, they immediately began draining all the fuel from the rocket.

Blue Origin did not immediately set a new launch date, saying the team needed more time to resolve the problem.

The test flight already had been delayed by rough seas that posed a risk to the company’s plan to land the first-stage booster on a floating platform in the Atlantic.

Taiwan iPhone maker Foxconn sets its sights on the ever more crowded EV market

Elaine Kurtenbach, The Associated Press 6 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

BANGKOK (AP) — Auto industry newcomers like Taiwan-based iPhone maker Foxconn and China's Huawei Technologies are maneuvering to gain an edge in the electric vehicle sector, prompting automakers like Japan's Nissan and Honda to announce plans to join forces against a flood of ambitious competitors.

Also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, Foxconn has been snapping up links in the automotive supply chain, one of a growing number of technology companies that are leveraging their knowhow in electronics and communications.

Foxconn's auto venture with Taiwan automaker and importer Yulon Motor Co., Foxtron, showcased its Model B, a sleek EV hatchback, as well as its automotive electronics, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week.

Honda and Nissan announced in December that they plan to seek a merger, a move that reports said may have partly been driven by Foxconn's interest in Nissan.

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