Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Even at thousands of metres high, germs are inescapable, according to new research at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Near the world's tallest peak above sea level at Mount Everest, researchers detected human-associated microbes from coughing and sneezing that could potentially have been leaving trails of human bacteria for centuries.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research journal, analyzed samples from the South Col, at 7,925 metres high, where nature explorers set up their final camp before climbing up to the mountain's peak. Researchers were able to find microbial DNA related to humans like staphylococcus, which can cause staph infections and food poisoning. They also found streptococcus bacteria, which is often associated with strep throat.
“There is a human signature frozen in the microbiome of Everest," said one of the researchers and professor of of ecology and evolutionary biology, Steve Schmidt, in a news release.
By using gene-sequencing technology to conclusively verify the DNA samples on both dead and living microbes, the researchers were surprised to find bacteria that normally live in warm and wet environments like the human nose and mouth able to withstand the frigid, harsh conditions on the mountain.
Additionally they were able to find organisms previously found in the Andes and Antarctica, including a genus of fungi called Naganishia, which can endure freezing temperatures and UV radiation. While most microbes don't survive the cold terrain and high UV light on the mountain, researchers believe Naganishia may still be able to grow with water and sunlight to have just enough heat to survive.
This isn't the first time trails left by humans have made a mark on the famous mountain trail. The increasing amount of tourism has also increased the amount of trash left behind by climbers as some struggling to complete the climb often leave behind their tents when it's too cold or difficult to dig out, or let their human waste fall into crevasses on the mountain.
There is also concern for climate change's effect on the mountain as melting glaciers have caused the popular starting point of the trek at the south base camp to move further down after 2,000-year-old ice began to melt.
The researchers hope their findings will not only help us understand how humans can further impact the planet's environment but potentially how humans can affect the environment on other planets and moons.
“We might find life on other planets and cold moons,” Schmidt said. “We’ll have to be careful to make sure we’re not contaminating them with our own.”
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.
Ontario will need 33,200 more nurses and 50,853 more personal support workers by 2032, the government projects — figures it tried to keep secret but were obtained by The Canadian Press.
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
Thousands have been forced to flee a wildfire burning near Fort Nelson. Meanwhile, some experienced volunteers are staying behind to fight the fire.
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
Kansas could soon offer up to US$5 million in grants for schools to outfit surveillance cameras with artificial intelligence systems that can spot people carrying guns. But the governor needs to approve the expenditures and the schools must meet some very specific criteria.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'