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Arctic’s last refuge for ice-dependent species disappearing as region warms
Ice cover in a marine protected area in the Far North – potentially the last refuge for Arctic animals that depend on sea ice for their survival – is disappearing twice as fast as ice in the rest of the Arctic Ocean.
The finding is part of a study recently published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters that also reveals the area is comprised of two dynamic sub-regions.
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U of T researchers examine the effect of microfibres in Toronto’s wastewater: CityNews
University of Toronto researchers are looking into the effects of the billions of environmentally harmful microfibres that end up in Toronto’s wastewater system, CityNews reports.
The tiny synthetic particles end up in the wastewater after being shed from fabrics laundered in washing machines. Lisa Erdle, a PhD candidate in the lab of Assistant Professor Chelsea Rochman in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology, told CityNews microfibers “can have physical or chemical impacts on wildlife when they enter the food web.”
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U of T students who developed AI-powered trash sorting device featured on CBC
A team of five University of Toronto students have developed an artificial intelligence application that can automatically determine whether your trash belongs in the garbage, recycling or organics bin.
Ganesh Vedula, Aakash Iyer, Nikunj Viramgama, Vaibhav Gupta and Maharshi Trivedi are behind a startup called Paramount AI and were recently featured on CBC News. Their product, RoboBin, can scan an item and cross-reference it with a library of over 35,000 images of waste in order to determine which bin it belongs in.
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National air pollution report highlights rush-hour traffic, diesel truck emissions as major areas of concern
Almost one-third of Canadians live near a major roadway – and this means they go about their everyday lives exposed to a complex mixture of vehicle air pollutants.
A new national study led by researchers at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering reveals that emissions from nearby traffic can greatly increase concentrations of key air pollutants, with trucks making a major contribution. Canada’s cold winters can also increase emissions while particle emissions from brakes and tires are on the rise.
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Time to act on climate change is now, Suzuki tells U of T sustainability conference
Listen to science and take action.
That’s the message from David Suzuki, the renowned environmental activist, who addressed a University of Toronto audience via video link last week at a global sustainability conference. “Who the hell do we think we are?” he said. “We think we can do things without unintended consequences.”
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U of T study reveals building blocks of coralline algae off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador
A study by University of Toronto researchers reveals new insights about a molecular mineralization process that creates coralline algae, which grow in rock-like clusters on the ocean floor, and the marine plant’s response to climate change.
The growth patterns of coralline algae, which often form the structural base for coral reefs, can provide important information about past climate events and how aquatic organisms are reacting to new conditions caused by global warming.
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