Rutherford Mansfield

Incredible full rainbow over downtown #Montreal! I feel so happy to live here right now! #quebec #canada

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Awesome science image by Dorian Pirot, an Université de Montréal researcher. Good graphics are essential part of effective science communications (and the biggest challenge I have in my job). This is entitled « Le soleil magnétique » (The Magnetic Sun). It reveals the immense magnetic fields of the sun, which is in fact composed of highly conductive gases. The image won a competition organized by the Association francophone pour le savoir - Acfas. And of course, because it’s French, they asked a poet to comment on the beauty of the image. :) You can read more about it here (in French).

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Nunavut’s mysterious ancient life could return by 2100

Global climate change means that recently discovered ancient forests in Canada’s extreme north could one day return, according to Alexandre Guertin-Pasquier of the University of Montreal’s Department of Geography, who is presenting his findings at the Canadian Paleontology Conference in Toronto today. “According to the data model, climate conditions on Bylot Island will be able to support the kinds of trees we find in the fossilized forest that currently exist there, such as willow, pine and spruce. I’ve also found evidence of a possible growth of oak and hickory near the study site during this period.,” Guertin-Pasquier said. “Although it would of course take time for a whole forest to regrow, the findings show that our grandchildren should be able to plant a tree and watch it grow.