Researchers from the Faculty of Science & Engineering will be part of a team of Canadian scientists responsible for a device that will measure and diagnose components of Mars鈥� atmosphere.

The instrument, dubbed MATMOS (Mars Atmospheric Trace Molecule Occultation Spectrometer) is a partnership between the , the (CSA) and .

According to the University, the instrument, which has yet to be built, will ride aboard the ExoMars Trace Orbiter, a joint mission by NASA and the European Space Agency, slated to launch in 2016.

91亚色 scientists will engage in atmospheric modelling and analysis, constructing a weather and chemical forecast of Mars that will help analyze the MATMOS composition data to assess the sources of various component gases. Methane was discovered on Mars in 2003 in greater abundance than expected; because the gas is readily produced by biological activity, it is considered a key biomarker for signs of life.

鈥淵ou can say in some respect [that] Mars can host life, but can it host life now?鈥� asked , professor of atmospheric science at 91亚色. 鈥淢ars has a bit of an ozone layer but it鈥檚 thin. Mars could have looked differently millions of years ago.鈥�

McConnell, along with colleagues Professor and researcher Jacek Kaminski, will also lend expertise on the SOIR-NOMAD (Solar Occultation in the InfraRed 鈥� Nadir and Occultation for Mars Discovery), another instrument set to board the ExoMars Trace Orbiter.

As for the fascination surrounding the red planet, McConnell said it鈥檚 Earth鈥檚 nearest neighbour likely to have any evidence of life. 鈥淰enus isn鈥檛 likely, Mercury doesn鈥檛 have an atmosphere and Jupiter has no surface to speak of,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ars is the thing nearest to us that can most likely harbour life. That鈥檚 what intrigues people.鈥�

The .

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He understands their fears. Participating in sports can lower the blood sugar levels of people with Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. But Riddell said exercise is important for people with Type 1 diabetes. Studies indicate keeping active can add as much as 10 years to their lives and reduce the chance of complications of diabetes.

鈥淲e know exercise is critical. We just have to make sure they can do it safely,鈥� said Riddell, a world renowned diabetes and exercise physiologist and professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Health.

Riddell, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 14 and regularly engages in competitive sports, runs an elite summer sports camp at the university. About a third to half of the campers have Type 1 diabetes and the camp teaches them how exercise can be used to better manage their disease.

On the eve of this year鈥檚 camp, which began Monday, July 19, Riddell鈥檚 team of researchers in the International Journal of Pediatrics looking at the interaction of sports and blood sugar levels.

For the study, which Riddell said is the first in the world to examine these interactions in a real-life setting, last year鈥檚 campers were outfitted with round-the-clock glucose monitors both while they played tennis, basketball and soccer at camp, and during their time at home, including while they slept.

The study is also important for high-performance athletes without diabetes who can see their blood sugar levels plummet during extreme sports, he added.

The complete article is available on . Riddell's research is funded by the (NSERC), Medtronic Canada and Can-Am Care.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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The annual prize, one of the top accolades for the advancement of space technology in Canada, was awarded Tuesday to the CanX-2 microsatellite team, headed by the University of Toronto. 91亚色鈥檚 instrument, a microspectrometer dubbed Argus, is currently riding aboard the microsatellite, which launched in April 2008. Argus can accurately detect sources of industrial pollution on Earth, to a resolution of one kilometre.

"We鈥檙e very excited to be part of the team receiving this award," said Argus principal investigator Brendan Quine, a professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering. "Argus was a Canadian first and we鈥檙e delighted we could make it happen at 91亚色."

Right: Brendan Quine with the Alouette Award

The device, which is small enough to fit in the palm of an adult鈥檚 hand, transmits data via infrared radiation emitted to space. It enables scientists to determine local levels of carbon dioxide and other climate change gases by recording infrared spectra, which contain information about atmospheric composition.

Developed in partnership with Thoth Technology Inc., it is the first space instrument to be built and tested in 91亚色鈥檚 space engineering laboratory, part of the University鈥檚 Centre for Research in Earth & Space Science (CRESS). Argus鈥� current mandate includes monitoring levels of ash from recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland.

CASI introduced the Alouette Award in 1995 to recognize an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Canadian space technology, science or engineering. It may be awarded to an individual, a group, an organization or group of organizations, as appropriate to the nature of the contribution. Preference is given to contributions that lead to new benefits for mankind.

The team's win was also covered in the North 91亚色 Mirror May 12:

91亚色 researchers who designed and built a miniature space-borne pollution monitor are part of a team of Canadians who were honoured with a 2010 Alouette Award from the Canadian Aeronautics & Space Institute (CASI).

The annual prize, one of the top accolades for the advancement of space technology in Canada, was awarded May 4 to the CanX-2 microsatellite team, headed by the University of Toronto.

91亚色鈥檚 instrument, a microspectrometer dubbed Argus, is currently riding aboard the microsatellite, which launched in April 2008. Argus can accurately detect sources of industrial pollution on Earth, to a resolution of one kilometre.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to be a part of the team receiving this award,鈥� Brendan Quine, Argus Principal investigator and professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, said in a release. 鈥淎rgus is a Canadian first and we鈥檙e delighted we could make it happen at 91亚色.鈥�

For more information, visit the Web site.

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