Department of Physics & Astronomy Archives | Research & Innovation

Hello, Universe, it's 91��ɫ calling

fmaquito — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:00:00 +0000

They give voice to the stars, but not the Hollywood kind.

Instead, every Monday night at 9pm, 91��ɫ faculty member Paul Delaney (right) and astronomy students from the Faculty of Science & Engineering welcome the world into the 91��ɫ Observatory for an evening of star gazing and conversation on their online radio show “The 91��ɫ Universe”.

The show, which is streamed live on the Internet radio station , airs at the same time as the observatory’s online .��

On Monday, March 26, Delaney and his students will host the 100th radio broadcast of "The 91��ɫ Universe". Since its initial broadcast in 2009, which was titled “Live from 91��ɫU”, the number of listeners who tune in regularly to the show has grown “astronomically”, says Delaney, who is a senior lecturer in the faculty’s Department of Physics & Astronomy and director of the observatory on the Keele campus.

“The popularity of the show has spread around the world,” he says.�� "It started during 91��ɫ’s 50th anniversary year and went live on Feb. 2, 2009, which also happened to be the International Year of Astronomy. Since then, it has been an incredible ride. We talk about anything to do with astronomy and space science.”

Between the live broadcast and repeats over the ensuing 24 hours, the show reaches some 16,000 listeners in more than 100 countries, according to statistics kept by astronomy.fm.�� Delaney says it is one of the station's biggest audiences.

An image of Jupiter, captured by the observatory

To celebrate the 100th show, Delaney is planning a webcam tour of the 91��ɫ Observatory to introduce listeners to the students and faculty working with the telescopes. The show will also feature a recap of what Delaney says has been a very busy week in astronomy.

As part of their show and online viewing, Delaney and the students answer questions from the public and field requests from astronomy buffs to have the telescope moved to view a particular planet or star cluster.

Over the years, the observatory has provided its audience with images of meteors and satellites and views of the Orion Nebula and Earth’s moon. The images are derived from the observatory’s 40-cm Schmidt-cassegrain and 60-cm classical cassegrain reflecting telescopes and are augmented by images from a wide-field, short focal length 90-mm diameter refractor and an all-sky meteor camera.

The show is part of 91��ɫ’s long-standing dedication to public education and the enthusiasm of undergraduate and graduate students in the observatory, says Delaney, who notes that students gain valuable experience in public speaking.

The graduate and undergraduate students working in the obsevatory will often speak to visitors about what they are seeing in the night sky

To listen to the 100th broadcast of "The 91��ɫ Universe", tune into on March 26 at 9pm.

Visit the website and follow the links to a selection of archived podcasts of previous shows. A link to the online viewing portal is also available on the website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post Hello, Universe, it's 91��ɫ calling appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Professor Scott Menary among international researchers to successfully trap antimatter for over 16 minutes

fmaquito — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +0000

A 91��ɫ professor is among an international group of scientists to successfully trap antimatter atoms for more than 16 minutes – 5,000 times longer than previous efforts – according to a study published yesterday in the journal Nature Physics.

“We’re a long way off from being able to actually bottle antimatter, like in the movie Angels and Demons, but it was important to show that we could trap it for a longer period of time,” said (right), professor in 91��ɫ’s Department of Physics & Astronomy. Menary works on the Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus experiment, dubbed ALPHA, at the (CERN). In November 2010, ALPHA scientists successfully trapped antihydrogen atoms for the first time – but only for a fraction of a second.

“The first time, we trapped [the antihydrogen atoms] for a tenth of a second, which is actually long enough to study them,” Menary said. “But naturally we had people asking, ‘why can you only hold on to them for a tenth of second?’ This experiment demonstrates that we can hold on to them for much longer – in theory, for as long as we want,” he said.

See an online gallery of the .

ALPHA physicists, including a core team of scientists from Canadian universities, have been working to trap and study antihydrogen – the antimatter twin of hydrogen – which may help explain the “lost half of the universe.” During the Big Bang, matter and antimatter should have been created in equal amounts; scientists are left with the question, where did all the antimatter go? Researchers are tackling that riddle by taking one of the best-known systems in physics, the hydrogen atom, and investigating whether its antimatter counterpart behaves in exactly the same manner.

Makoto Fujiwara, the study’s lead author, said: “We know we have confined antihydrogen atoms for at least 1,000 seconds. That’s almost as long as one period in hockey! This is potentially a game changer in antimatter research.” Fujiwara is a research scientist at , Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics, and an adjunct professor at the University of Calgary.

Scientists at CERN were able to make antihydrogen almost a decade ago, but they couldn’t study it; antimatter annihilates when it comes into contact with matter, converting to energy and other particles. ALPHA scientists succeeded by constructing a sophisticated “magnetic bottle” using a state-of-the-art superconducting magnet to suspend the antiatoms away from the walls of the device and keep them isolated long enough to study them.

Canadian researchers are playing leading roles in the antihydrogen detection and data analysis aspects of the project. The collaboration includes scientists from University of Calgary, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and TRIUMF.

Above: The TRIUMF cyclotron at the University of British Columbia. Photo courtesy of TRIUMF.

The next step for ALPHA is to start performing measurements on trapped antihydrogen; this is due to get underway later this year. The first step is to illuminate the trapped antiatoms with microwaves, to determine if they absorb precisely the same frequencies (or energies) as their matter twins.

ALPHA-Canada and its research is supported by the (NSERC), TRIUMF, (AIF), the and (FQRNT).

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post Professor Scott Menary among international researchers to successfully trap antimatter for over 16 minutes appeared first on Research & Innovation.

NSERC awards 91��ɫ research centres $3.3 million

fmaquito — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Programs in vision research and atmospheric chemistry and physics will provide enhanced research and training for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows

If you’re working in 3D film or aerospace engineering, what impact do the latest developments in brain and vision research have on your industry’s practices? What if you’re drafting government policy on air quality control and need expertise in how the latest atmospheric chemistry and physics findings translate into plans and policy?

Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at 91��ɫ have new options to pursue the research and applied dimensions of these and other questions, thanks to $3.3 million in funding from the (NSERC).

httpv://youtu.be/OtRWua59EPU

The funding, provided through NSERC’s $29.6 million investment over six years in the Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Grants program, will support two new training programs in the Faculty of Science & Engineering, each valued at $1.65 million over the period.

Professor Hugh Wilson

Students and fellows enrolled in each program will gain experience in basic and applied research, along with the practical and professional skills needed to successfully transition to research careers in the academic, industry or government sectors.

Professor Hugh Wilson in the Faculty of Science & Engineering’s Department of Biology will lead the Vision Science and Applications program. Based in the internationally-recognized (CVR), the program focuses on vision-based information technologies that require optimal information displays to ensure accurate human interpretation of data are playing an increasingly important role in many economic sectors.

Key applications include:

3D digital media (e.g., 3D film, geographical databases, autocad systems)
Aerospace (e.g., cockpit technologies, search-and-rescue)
Face and scene analysis technologies (e.g., facial biometrics)
Visual health and assessment technologies (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), perimetry)

The Vision Science and Applications team includes 25 researchers at seven international universities and 10 partner organizations, including , the and . At 91��ɫ, a total of 10 professors affiliated with CVR will lend their expertise to the project. The program will enrol four students in its first year and 16 students in each successive year.

Professor Jochen Rudolph

Professors and in the Faculty of Science & Engineering’s Department of Chemistry will lead the Training Program for Integrating Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics from Earth to Space (IACPES) program. Jointly based in 91��ɫ’s (CAC) and the Centre for Research in Earth & Space Science (CRESS), the program’s interdisciplinary focus will give students an integrated understanding of atmospheric chemistry and physics from earth into space.

Key applications include:

measuring and modelling atmospheric change
examining air quality and health issues
monitoring changes in the arctic atmosphere
detecting sources of greenhouse gases
measuring Earth’s changing atmosphere from space
exploring and understanding other planets’ atmospheres
developing the policy implications of atmospheric science

The IACPES team includes 11 applicants at six universities and 23 collaborators at 10 partner organizations, including , the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the (NOAA) in Boulder, Colo., several industries and two premier research institutes in Germany.��The program will create 21 places for undergraduate students, master’s students, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in its first year, with over 200 places created over the successive five years.

httpv://youtu.be/6YlFv0Xd9no

Professor Robert McLaren

“By securing two of only 18 projects awarded to universities across Canada, 91��ɫ builds on its strong track record in leading large-scale, interdisciplinary collaborative research projects,” said Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation. “The programs will provide our innovative research centres – CVR, CRESS and CAC – with a competitive advantage in attracting excellent graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who wish to pursue careers in the applications of vision science or atmospheric chemistry and physics. NSERC’s CREATE program strengthens the role of universities in training the highly-qualified people needed in today’s scientific knowledge economy.”

“NSERC’s CREATE Program helps graduating students become highly sought-after professional researchers in the natural sciences and engineering, both in Canada and abroad,” said Suzanne Fortier, president of NSERC. “The program not only helps improve the skill set of Canada’s next-generation of research talent, but it also helps to support their retention in the workforce.”

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

The post NSERC awards 91��ɫ research centres $3.3 million appeared first on Research & Innovation.

91��ɫ in the World: Researchers begin nine-day mission to India

fmaquito — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A delegation of researchers from 91��ɫ's will begin a nine-day mission to India today to establish partnerships and collaborations with the country's researchers.

The group will visit seven top-tier universities and research institutes during their trip. Along the way they will stop at the India Institute of Technology's facilities in Mumbai (Bombay) and Madras, the University of Calcutta, the Indian Space Research Organization, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research together with visits to other institutes and universities during the nation-wide trip

“Our faculty considers international partnerships as the key cornerstone supporting our strategic priorities. Partnerships like those with India stimulate the spirit of innovation with clear focus on research outcomes that have an international impact,” says Janusz Kozinski (right), dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering at 91��ɫ and a member of the delegation to India.

The key mandate for the trip is to enable researchers from 91��ɫ and across India to establish joint bilateral research and development projects. Halfway through their trip, the 91��ɫ delegation will pause to participate in a two-day workshop co-sponsored by the International Science & Technology Partnerships Canada, Global Innovation & Technology Alliance, the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research and India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

The workshop will bring together more than 100 participants from research institutes and universities from Canada and England, and will include researchers and university vice-chancellors from across India.��Rajagopala Chidambaram, the principal scientific adviser to the government of India, and Vijay Kumar Saraswat, director-general of DRDO, the secretary of defence research and development and scientific adviser to Indian Defence Minister Raksha Mantri, are among the diginitaries participating in the workshop.

This workshop will give participants the opportunity to discuss advances and innovations in their respective areas of research, exchange information and ideas and create further opportunities to establish research collaborations. The gathering will be held at the DRDO building in New Dehli.

Travelling in the 91��ɫ Science & Engineering delegation are:

, professor, Department of Chemistry;
, professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy and associate dean of academic affairs in the Faculty of Graduate Studies;
, professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
, professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
, professor, Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
, professor, Department of Chemistry;
, professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics;
Paulina Karwowska-Desaulniers, research officer, Faculty of Science & Engineering;
, dean, Faculty of Science & Engineering and professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
, professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
Brian Solheim, adjunct professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
, professor, Department of Biology.

For more information about the trip and the 91��ɫ Science & Engineering delegation, visit the website.

91��ɫ computer science Professor Andrew Eckford is also .

Republished courtesy of YFile – 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post 91��ɫ in the World: Researchers begin nine-day mission to India appeared first on Research & Innovation.

91��ɫ researchers shed some light on dark matter

fmaquito — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A 91��ɫ researcher and her graduate student are working to shed some light on one of the big questions in physics – what is dark matter and why can’t we see it?

Professor , a particle physicist in the Faculty of Science & Engineering, who joined the faculty this past summer, and graduate student Hiro Sato are co-authors with Andrea De Simone, PhD candidate at the Center for Theoretical Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Mass. of a paper published in the American Physical Society’s Physical Review Letters, one of the world's foremost scientific journals.

Above: Veronica Sanz, professor of particle physics in 91��ɫ's Faculty of Science & Engineering, with graduate student Hiro Sato

The article, “Pseudo-Dirac Dark Matter Leaves a Trace”, suggests a method for detecting traces of a dark matter particle that are produced in a collider. Normally, dark matter can only be detected by inference – by “not seeing” it in experiments designed to observe the missing energy that was carried away by the dark matter particle. The method described in the paper would allow experimentalists to see evidence of dark matter, thought to make up 23 per cent of the observable universe, for the first time.

“Everybody wants to get this piece of the cake, they want to explain this 23-per-cent part of the universe,” says Sanz, who began her studies of dark matter during graduate studies at Harvard University and MIT, and continued them in her post-doctoral research at Boston University.

Dark matter was first postulated by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky in 1934 to help explain anomalies in the orbital velocities of galaxies in clusters.

What led Sanz to the idea that she and her co-authors have described was a growing lack of confidence in WIMPS.

No, not weaklings on the beach – these WIMPS are the hypothetical “weakly interacting massive particles” that represent one theory about dark matter. In a technique used by the cryogenic dark matter search (CDMS) detector at Minnesota’s Soudan Underground Laboratory, scientists thought they would be able to detect dark matter, but found nothing.

“This is very worrisome,” says Sanz, “because our WIMP idea of dark matter doesn’t explain why CDMS didn’t see anything. So, we sat down and tried to think of another way of leading to dark matter.”

Experimentalists will now test the 91��ɫ team’s theory in a collider by smashing protons and watching for the observable remnants. “We are asking them to look at particles displaced from the collision point. This is not what they were going to do, they were going to look for [evidence of ] nothing.”

These questions are the subject of a larger debate about the fundamental concept of gravity and the make-up of the universe, says Sato, a master’s student who came to 91��ɫ from the University of Toronto so he could work on dark matter with Sanz.

“People thought maybe something’s wrong with gravity theory – that there’s some fundamental problem with how Einstein or Newton thought about what gravity was. The other way of thinking about it is, no, there is matter, it’s just invisible. There’s nothing wrong with our gravity theory, it’s actually some kind of matter.”

“Pseudo-Dirac Dark Matter Leaves a Trace” was published in the Sept. 16 edition of the Letters and is available as a at the website for those with access, which is included on many 91��ɫ computers via 91��ɫ Libraries.

By David Fuller, YFile contributing writer

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin

The post 91��ɫ researchers shed some light on dark matter appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Faculty of Science & Engineering's research awards honour three professors

fmaquito — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:00:00 +0000

The work of three researchers from the (FSE) was honoured during the FSE Honours & Awards night on Nov. 18.

The evening saw the presentation of the faculty's inaugural internal research awards to chemistry Professor Dasantila Golemi-Kotra, recipient of the ; biology Professor Chun Peng, recipient of the 2010 Established Researcher Award; and physics Professor (Kumar), the recipient of the 2010 Graduate Mentoring Award.

Above: From left, Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering; physics Professor Anatharaman Kumarakrishnan, biology Professor Chun Peng; and chemistry Professor Dasantila Golemi-Kotra

“These awards were created in 2010 to honour and celebrate the outstanding dedication of our faculty to research and graduate student mentoring. This year's recipients are examples of the excellent talent we have at FSE and we are proud to support our researchers in their fundamental, groundbreaking and innovative research endeavours,” said Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering.

Since 2004, Golemi-Kotra has studied the mechanisms of bacterial resistance. Over the course of her research, she has secured significant funding to create a reputable team of researchers. She has established herself as a rising star in the field of biological chemistry. Her research focuses on an emerging and persistent problem of bacterial resistance.

Right: Dasantila Golemi-Kotra

Specifically, Golemi-Kotra's research focuses on the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, a leading cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections. Extensive use of antibiotics has invariably been followed by the development and spread of resistance in this organism.

Her research aims to elucidate genes involved with the bacteria’s response to antibiotics that specifically target cell wall biosynthesis. Essential to the survival of the bacterium, the cell wall is the organism’s first line of defense against antimicrobial agents. As a result, the cell wall remains an important target in drug development. Golemi-Kotra’s research seeks to identify new factors involved in antibiotic resistance, which will ultimately lead to the design of new antimicrobial agents.

A world expert in the area of ovarian cancer and the molecular basis of complications in pregnancy, biology Professor Chun Peng is the recipient of the 2010 Established Researcher Award. With an impressive track record of awards and publications, a strong research program and team, Peng has made a significant contribution to the understanding of reproductive biology and the role of hormones in human health.

Right: Chun Peng

She discovered new proteins and their role in the molecular mechanism of receptor signaling that have led to the discoveries of mis-regulation during placental pathologies. These studies are critical in understanding placental development and are important landmarks in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hormonal control in reproduction.

Significantly, her research team has identified a novel mechanism by which chemo-resistance, a major problem in cancer therapy, is developed. Currently, as a result of those discoveries, novel serum markers may be used to predict preeclampsia, a major disorder of human pregnancy and a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Peng's studies focus on ovarian cancer as well as diseases that result from complications of pregnancy. Her research has the potential to not only advance current knowledge but may also lead to potential diagnostic tools and treatment for complications arising from pregnancy.

Kumarakrishnan (Kumar), a professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, is this year's recipient of the Excellence in Graduate Mentorship award. A large number of both graduate students have successfully completed their research under his mentorship and moved onto becoming valuable members of the scientific community.

Right: Anatharaman Kumarakrishnan (second from the left) with his team of graduate student researchers

Kumar's research utilizes the wave nature of cold atoms and the coherent transient response of a collection of laser-cooled atoms to carry out tabletop studies of light matter interactions and precision measurements in atomic physics.��The goals of these efforts are to achieve a better understanding of the theoretical foundations of atomic physics as well as to develop cutting-edge techniques and instruments for industrial applications in photonics and optics.

For more information, visit the website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin

The post Faculty of Science & Engineering's research awards honour three professors appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Search committee seeks input on criteria for new VP research & innovation

fmaquito — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:00:00 +0000

The search committee to appoint a vice-president, research & innovation will soon commence a comprehensive international search for a successor to Professor Stan Shapson.

The search committee will be drafting an advertisement to announce the start of the search, which will appear shortly in various publications and websites. In addition, the committee is working on a position profile to describe the priorities over the next five years, and what they are seeking in candidates in terms of experience, background and qualifications. The committee is soliciting input on the following questions in order to help shape the position profile:

What are your aspirations for the VPRI portfolio over the next five to 10 years? What do you see as the issues and challenges facing the University during this period?
What do you think the search committee should be seeking in a leader in terms of professional background and experience, personal attributes, qualifications and credentials?

91��ɫ community members can send their confidential suggestions to the search committee by e-mail (see below) or directly to the search firm, no later than Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Search committee members:

91��ɫ President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, committee chair, at mshoukri@yorku.ca,
Patrick Monahan, vice-president academic & provost, at provost@yorku.ca,
Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Allan Hutchinson, at hutch@yorku.ca,
Barbara Crow, professor of communication studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), at bacrow@yorku.ca,
History Professor Jonathan Edmondson, LA&PS, at jedmond@yorku.ca.
Wendy Taylor, professor of physics and astronomy, Faculty of Science & Engineering, at taylorw@yorku.ca,
Roger Keil, directory of the City Institute and professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, at rkeil@yorku.ca,
Psychology professor Fran Wilkinson, Faculty of Health, at franw@yorku.ca,
Janusz Kozinski, dean, Faculty of Science & Engineering, at Janusz.Kozinski@yorku.ca,
Ijade Maxwell Rodrigues, chief of staff and secretary to the committee, at ijade@yorku.ca.

Or directly to the search firm, e-mail yorkvpri@jwasearch.com.

The post Search committee seeks input on criteria for new VP research & innovation appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Lab technologist brings little pieces of Mars to 91��ɫ, promotes space research

fmaquito — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Nick Balaskas is on a mission. He wants to set a world record for the number of people who have walked on Mars.

Although technically he would need only one person to achieve his goal, Balaskas has set his sights on 500 – a round number he developed based on the total number of individuals who have flown in space since the start of manned space flights 50 years ago, plus a few more for good measure.

Right: Janusz Kozinski, dean of 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Science & Engineering, takes a ‘walk’ on a piece of the red planet

A laboratory technologist in the Faculty of Science & Engineering’s and a 91��ɫ physics grad who studies meteorites, Balaskas (BSc ’79) hit upon the idea when he became interested in a meteorite known as (photo, left © Royal Ontario Museum). This orthopyroxene-bearing nakhlite from Mars was found in the Sahara Desert and purchased by meteorite dealers in 2002. The dealers, Adam and Greg Hupe, have shared fragments of the meteorite for research while the main portion is now part of the Royal Ontario Museum’s collection.

Balaskas purchased a couple of tiny fragments from the Hupes and invited 91��ɫ students and friends of 91��ɫ, including a who’s who of distinguished Canadians, to become the first to “walk on Mars” for his world record attempt. Each person who joins Balaskas’ select group treads a careful step (barefoot or socks, their option), receives a certificate of achievement and will be listed among those who helped establish the record, which Balaskas eventually plans to submit to the publisher of the Guinness Book of World Records for official recognition.

91��ɫ President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri became the latest person to walk on Mars when Balaskas visited his office in the 91��ɫ Research Tower. Janusz Kozinski, dean of 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Science & Engineering, joined Shoukri in his Mars trek and said the record attempt was a good way of drawing attention to 91��ɫ’s space programs. Balaskas said his goal in starting the project was to raise awareness of 91��ɫ’s ever-increasing reputation as one of the leading space science universities in Canada where 91��ɫ students and members of the 91��ɫ community play a big part.

Left: From left, President Shoukri with Balaskas and Dean Kozinski

91��ɫ researchers achieved world recognition in 2008 when, as part of the Phoenix Mars Mission team led by Professor Jim Whiteway, they helped determine that, like the Earth, it even snows on Mars (see YFile, Oct. 1, 2008).�� A new team of researchers from 91��ɫ’s Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering led by Professor Jack McConnell will take part in the , a partnership between the , the (CSA) and .

Whiteway is the director of the ; McConnell is also a member, as are many faculty involved in space research at 91��ɫ.

91��ɫ grad Steve MacLean (BSc ’73, PhD ’83, Hon. DSc ’93), a former Canadian astronaut who was appointed president of the Canadian Space Agency in 2008, is a member of a smaller and exclusive group of 91��ɫ space scientists who have walked on a different world and have certificates to prove it. Balaskas said he told Canadian astronaut Julie Payette, an honorary degree recipient at this year’s 91��ɫ Spring convocation, that her colleague McLean had done something she hadn’t done – walked on the moon! McLean was presented with a certificate and a fragment of NWA 482, a meteorite that originated from the Lunar Highlands that is geologically identical to the Genesis Rock brought back from the Moon by the Apollo 15 astronauts.

Left: A fragment of NWA 998, a meteor from Mars

But his project is more than just a promotional gimmick, says Balaskas, who during the day oversees the Faculty’s undergraduate physics labs. He and Sal Boccia, an engineering technologist in the metallurgy lab at the University of Toronto, have examined samples of NWA 998 under an electron microscope and found things they feel are worth further study, which they plan to pursue.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post Lab technologist brings little pieces of Mars to 91��ɫ, promotes space research appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Paul Delaney on Canadian aerospace industry's future growth in age of privatized space travel

fmaquito — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0000

A controversial decision by Barack Obama to privatize the exploration of space could be a blessing for Canada’s aerospace industry, say experts in the field, who argue that this country’s space agency and its associated industries are in a prime position to hitch their wagon to the US president’s initiative on a ride toward the stars, Mars and potential riches, :

“Obama’s vision for the future of NASA…is putting a lot of stock in the private sector,” says Paul Delaney, a professor of physics & astronomy in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Science & Engineering. “There have been a lot of groups that have been trying to position themselves to take advantage of what they see as a commercial opportunity in the coming decade. And I think they are right.”

Delaney says Obama’s vision is clear on what the next generation of space exploration vehicle should do: study near-Earth asteroids – and their potential wealth of resources – and get ready to go to Mars.

If industry can deliver on the “low-Earth orbit” side of space exploration, he says, such as the “taxi” activity of restocking the International Space Station, NASA will be free to pursue larger goals “of getting away from Earth entirely.”

But Canada ultimately stands to profit, Delaney says, pointing to our track record in robotics and space technology, which will be needed as the groundwork is laid for future travel. “There’s a good history here as far as developing space hardware, instrumentation,” he says. “I think you’re going to see stepped-up activity from Canadian industry to contribute in a more significant way.”

91��ɫ has considerable space research capacity through the (CRESS) and the . Recently, one of , funded by and the (CSA).

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, with files courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

The post Paul Delaney on Canadian aerospace industry's future growth in age of privatized space travel appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Video: Paul Delaney speaks to CTV about odds of planet-killing asteroids and northern lights display

fmaquito — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0000

, senior lecturer and director of the Division of Natural Science in the , spoke to CTV News July 31 about a potentially planet-killing asteroid that may collide with Earth in 2182 -- 172 years from now. Delaney says that while the impact would be equivalent to the asteroid believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs, there's no need to put on standby. Scientists are keeping an eye on the asteroid and mapping its potential course. His interview is available on .

Delaney also spoke to CTV News Aug 2 about the 50-50 odds Canadians have for seeing the northern lights this week, provided the skies cooperate by staying clear:

The sun has entered a solar maximum, a stormy period in the sun's activity cycle that recently resulted in a coronal mass ejection -- a release of a large amount of charged particles that are hurtling towards the Earth at high speeds.

91��ɫ astronomer Paul Delaney said the result is that the incoming charged particles "are going to interact with the Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere."

"We've got a 50-50 chance that as those particles rain down into our atmosphere, they will trigger extensive aurora borealis -- the northern lights -- all across the northern hemisphere from about Toronto's latitude and further north," Delaney told CTV News Channel during an interview in Toronto on Tuesday morning.

Delaney's interview is also available on .

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

The post Video: Paul Delaney speaks to CTV about odds of planet-killing asteroids and northern lights display appeared first on Research & Innovation.