Professor Afshin Rezaei-Zare discusses the 1859 geomagnetic storm, and others that have followed.听Geomagnetic storms are often linked to a "mesmerizing display" of the northern lights but听carry the potential to wreak havoc on our modern technological infrastructure.听Rezaei-Zare听leads a program that received a $1.65-million grant to help mitigate their potential impacts in Canada and the world. "Perhaps most concerning is ," Rezaei-Zare tells Toronto.com. "Modern electrical grids, satellite systems, and communication networks are highly vulnerable to the massive GICs such storms produce."

In an op-ed for The Conversation, Professor Jack L. Rozdilsky writes about the challenges facing recovery from the Jasper Complex Wildfire, which burned an estimated 32,722 hectares in July. Visiting the site as a researcher and to observe recovery efforts, he describes the "" of structures littering the charred landscape and how clean-up efforts will be complicated by snowfall. "Despite best efforts being made, if large tracts of disaster debris become frozen in place over winter, such a situation will impede recovery progress in 2025," writes Rozdilsky.

Professor Joe Mihevc, who served on Toronto City Council for nearly 30 years, comments on the city collecting resident feedback on the 2025 city budget through an online survey. Mihevc says Toronto needs to look for new revenue streams to pay for the priorities identified by residents. Mihevc tells CBC that , like continuing to ask the federal government to help cover the cost of shelters used by refugees or lobbying the province to cover the health and housing costs associated with growing homelessness.

Professor Ian Stedman writes about the looming federal election campaign, accountability, transparency and ethics for The Conversation. "Regardless of which party holds power, a striking flaw in Canada's political ethics framework is ," writes Stedman. "Ethics issues must be kept in public view and political parties should be pressured to offer meaningful reform ideas in their campaign and party platforms."

Ahead of Wednesday's Liberal caucus meeting where some MPs were expected to confront Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about his dropping popularity, Professor Dennis Pilon spoke to CityNews . He says that听the Liberals have traditionally been less focused on rules around leadership reviews than other parties.

Professor Valerie Ann Preston talks to Toronto Star about a report by Statistics Canada that found international students and temporary foreign workers are paying more in monthly rent than Canadian-born tenants living in the same metropolitan areas. When differences were adjusted for neighbourhood, type of home and household size, international students paid less for shelter but temporary foreign workers still pay more than Canadian-born tenants. " because the rent premium for temporary farm workers persists even after you control for neighbourhood and you control for welling characteristics," says Preston. She adds that individuals in both groups tend to be newer to Canada with less knowledge about local rental markets, which puts them at a disadvantage. International students and temporary foreign workers are also primarily short-term renters. "Housing where you get international students and temporary foreign workers living is also housing that comes back on the market more often," she says. "The rents rise every time it becomes vacant."

91亚色's Markham Campus is prioritizing experiential education through its innovative biotechnology programs. Two standout offerings are the master of biotechnology management and graduate diploma in biotechnology programs. Dan Palermo, the interim deputy provost says the campus was designed to offer students hands-on learning experiences and aligns with the university's broader goal of . "This is what students are asking for," Palermo tells 91亚色Region.com. "It prepares them more effectively for the workforce."

Do you have a new research study or an academic achievement to share? Contact media@yorku.ca with details. For daily 91亚色 in the News highlights, follow on X.

The post 91亚色 experts on solar storms, forest fires, the city's budget, ethics in politics, and more appeared first on News@91亚色.

TORONTO, May 10, 2024 鈥� At least five coronal mass ejections 鈥� bursts of plasma coming off the sun 鈥� have occurred recently prompting the first severe G4 Geomagnetic Storm Watch issued since January 2005, says 91亚色 astronomy Professor Elaina Hyde. With all this activity, it鈥檚 possible people as far south as the GTA may be able to see the aurora borealis tonight or over the next few nights, especially if they seek out a less light polluted area.

鈥淵esterday, there were several strong flares as well as a sunspot cluster about 16 times greater than the diameter of the Earth, which would have been just barely visible using the same type of safe solar viewing glasses as used during the April 8th eclipse,鈥� says Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at 91亚色. 鈥淥ur current solar cycle has only had three severe geomagnetic storms, one in March 2024, one in October 2003 and the current one.

鈥淭he October 2003 storm resulted in power outages in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa. The rating for solar events goes from minor G1 events to major G5 events, so a G4 is near the top of the scale but not as big as the famous 1989 Quebec event which had a rating of about G5.鈥�

Charged particles from the sun will be impacting Earth鈥檚 geomagnetic field which heightens the opportunity to witness the northern lights in Toronto, as long as the sky is clear.

Check the 鈥渁urora forecast鈥� on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website for best areas to view it from: 听

Is there any danger this sun activity will fry satellites or power lines?

鈥淭his level of activity is not usually associated with major electrical events on Earth like sparking power discharges, the danger to satellites is much higher, but a similar storm did damage some power transformers in South Africa in 2003,鈥� says Hyde, who is available to comment. 鈥淚n particular satellites that require many corrections to avoid collisions could be at risk in particular communications or power blackouts would likely be our biggest risk.鈥�

Best time to possibly view the aurora borealis tonight or over the next couple of nights:

British Columbia 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Alberta 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Saskatchewan 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Manitoba 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Ontario 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Quebec 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Maritimes 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Newfoundland 12:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.

The post Sun bursts, geomagnetic storm could create conditions to see aurora borealis appeared first on News@91亚色.