Catalyst Home | About Us | Archives | Contact Us
 

Catalyst | Spring 2004

 

 

Sex change artists of the Bay of Fundy
A tiny shrimp holds together one of the most important ecosystems in Canada. Could a sex-changing parasite be threatening that stability?
By Travis Webb
   
Identity theft: investigating fraud in nature
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but in nature, it may be the smartest way to survive. Tom Sherratt researches the evolution of insect identity thieves.
By Michelle Catton
   
Tuna: toxic or misunderstood?
We've all heard something or other about the fact that tuna contains mercury. So does that mean we'll go "mad as a hatter" by eating too much of it? Or is the risk of eating tuna just misunderstood?
By Danielle Nerman
   
Life as a popsicle
Some people think the secret to immortality lies in freezing your body immediately after death. Carleton's Dr. Kenneth Storey is a little more skeptical.
By Kevin Miller
   
Science serving music
A new project at the University of Ottawa will take piano pedagogy out of the classroom and into the laboratory. Tickle the ivories of the intelligent piano.
By Abigail Martinez
   
Tracking a tiny but deadly menace
They say size doesn't matter, but when searching for a ruthless killer in a forest, it does. That's why scientists are using DNA to track down the Asian Longhorn beetle.
By David Baeta
   
Stuff the Earth
We've all heard of stuffed toys and stuffed turkeys. Now, scientists are trying to warm us up to the concept of stuffing the Earth with carbon dioxide.
By Stela Susic
   
More than music
There's more to whale song than tranquil nature-shop soundtracks. In fact, there's a whole world of sound that we can't even hear... until now.
By Michael Bhardwaj
   
A pulse on the pulse of Canada
Dr. Gail Atkinson is in tune with the Earth's vibrations. She is part of the Polaris that aims to unearth the structure and dynamics of earthquake ground motion.
By Lauren Plews
   
Are prions on your plate?
Despite "Mad Cow," Canadians are eating more, not less beef. The media may highlight Canadian's concerns about the safety of our food, but scientists have determined that there is little to really worry about.
By Louise Brown
   
The quest for a viral victory
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a muscle-wasting disease that strips the body of dystrophin protein,which controls muscle contraction. Dr. Robin Parks hopes to reverse the crippling and deadly disease's progress using gene therapy.
By Lindsay Chung
   
Catalyst A publication by the science reporting students at the School of Journalism and Communication