Turning Shit Into ‘Gold’
Today I did my small part for a sustainable environment—a small step, and it wasn’t even smelly: I left my poop in a compost toilet…
Turning Shit Into ‘Gold’ Read More »
Inquisitive Yukoners with a love of science and technology.
Today I did my small part for a sustainable environment—a small step, and it wasn’t even smelly: I left my poop in a compost toilet…
Turning Shit Into ‘Gold’ Read More »
On June 1, 2022, a tension crack was discovered in the Takhini Sanitary Trunk Main, similar to others noted along the escarpment…
‘Without A Paddle’ (Almost) Read More »
To say the Yukon Allsparks have been on a roll is an understatement. After coming away from the BC provincial FIRST Lego League Challenge…
Hey Now, You’re An Allspark! Read More »
Gardening in the Yukon can sometimes feel like a perennial struggle when in other parts of the country it might appear almost effortless.
The Path To Bettering Your Soil Read More »
Let’s be honest, for most of us, poop is normally seen as something to be quickly flushed down the toilet. We call it “waste…”
More Than Just Waste Read More »
Endless forests stand as the majestic backdrop to much of the Yukon, but by looking down, you can see a much more…
Parks Canada got the call late last August—a cache of items left behind in 1937 (by legendary photographer Bradford Washburn…
Unfrozen After 85 Years Read More »
Pollination is the creation of other flowers through “sex.” However, unlike humans, sex between flowers is quite complex and very scientific.
The pollination process for flowers can sometimes be a deadly affair Read More »
Spring, past projects emerge from the snow and “evidence” of dog. Don’t lament this brown period. Rejoice. Within the rot is magic.
Spring in the Muck Read More »
An isolated stretch of road. 5 beer cans in a pile. “Paleobeerologist” takes over. Yes, there was a party here, probably parked over there.
Placer Mining and ‘Paleobeerology’ in Porter Creek Read More »
The Yukon is indeed a nature lover’s dream. There is a downside. Floods and forest fires that put Yukoners at risk every year.
Safety Against Forest Fires and Floods Read More »
The Haeckel Hill wind turbines, a Yukon landmark for 29 years, led the way in renewable energy when wind power was in its infancy.
Community Ecologies: The Winds of Change Read More »
It’s a new year. Many of us are gleefully planning must-read books for this year, even if every year our ambition leads to a stack
Environmental reading isn’t all doom and gloom Read More »
If you count Fred Flintstone (who was employed by Slater Rock and Gravel Company), people have used quarries since prehistoric times.
Your backyard geology, part 21: Quarries: Gravel, sand and opposition Read More »
Foggite, mordenite and plumboferrite: 3 categories of mineral naming: people, place, or physical characteristic.
Your Backyard Geology: People and places ending in ‘ite’ Read More »
This model of green investment cooperative is not only a means of developing renewable energy, but also as a safe, reliable investment.
Sunshine on my shoulders: Yukon’s first renewable-energy cooperative Read More »
Search and identify species in Dawson City and its surrounding in the traditional territory of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in BioBlitz Read More »
Beaver castoreum found on an ancient throwing dart has led to new discoveries on traditional hunting technology in the North
bringing experts and aspiring citizen scientists to one location for a day of counting and identifying as many species as possible.
Bioblitz is back & going to Dawson City Read More »
The only rule that water seems to obey is that of gravity. Parks Canada collects water samples of The Dezadeash twice per season.
What I’m writing about in this column are the benefits and blessings of technology that I’ve discovered in the last year.
Pollyanna-ing the pandemic Read More »
The Yukon is well-known for its gold, but less known are the gemstones. What determines whether a mineral can be called a gemstone is open to interpretation.
All that glitters is not gold Read More »
My interest in ancient archaeology happened when I turned 62. True, it was a little late in life to go back to life studies, but I was digging in my garden back in north central Ontario when I came upon some old bone structure.
Looking back (way back) Read More »
I thought that as I aged, and if my eyesight couldn’t be fixed by cataract surgery, it would be good to be able to do more things by voice and by ear.
The Brewery Creek Mine is located 60 kilometres east of Dawson City, but this story starts east of there, in 1979. That’s when Rio Canex Exploration Ltd. staked the “IDA” claims in response to the results of a Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) stream sediment sampling program.
The making of a mine takes science, luck and beer Read More »
The sky’s the limit for Lukas Kobler, a forward-thinking entrepreneur who sees endless possibilities in what 3D printers can do. Kobler, a full-time engineering student
Anything you can imagine Read More »
One project was to traverse and map the Mackenzie Mountains near the Yukon-NWT border by Joseph Keele who spent an entire year in 1907-08.
Early geological mapping Pt2 Read More »
If you are looking for your own viewing stone, the best rocks tend to be those that erode into interesting shapes.
Viewing Stones – Part 2 Read More »
Gongshi, suiseki, and suseok are the art of stone appreciation. It originated in China during the Han Dynasty
Viewing Stones – Part 1 Read More »
When it comes to energy, northern communities require sustainable, reliable solutions. There are many challenges to planning a power project in the North, including severe
Powering the North Read More »
People bring back all kinds of artisan objects to remind them of a special place they have visited, but I tend to collect rocks.
Collecting memories: Fill your suitcase with rocks Read More »
I know computers and have taught school students the miracles of manipulating music and noise with software. I could turn my stories into podcasts!
Podcasting for fun and fortune Read More »
Throughout history, asbestos had been known as the miracle mineral due to its unique properties. Asbestos can be woven, it does not rot and it is waterproof.
Asbestos, the miracle mineral with a dark side Read More »
I just finished a long-distance chat with my nephew. Really long-distance; he lives in Hong Kong. The line was clear, and the conversation lasted nearly an hour. The cost to each of us? Not a single penny.
Reaching out for that long-distance feeling Read More »
Living where we do in the cordillera region of western North America, we are able to see the power of plate tectonics up close. How do all these rocks get all bent out of shape?
Bent rocks – Part 1 Read More »
A rare combination of crystal clear ice, a shallow, and variably coloured lake bottom, and a bright sunlight reflection set the stage for this unique environment of surreal dimensional ice phenomena.
The Russian Space Agency gave it to me for helping them out,” he said. He went on to tell me how he had attracted the interest of the Russians
Save a Space Station for a picture Read More »
Just about every country in the world has caves. Every province and territory in Canada, including the Yukon, has some. Caves have provided shelter to
In the old days–good or otherwise–interpersonal connections were via letter or phone or face-to-face. Now there are any number of interactions that can take place
Online connections Read More »
SOS. Many of us know (or think we know) what these familiar letters stand for. We may have even sent out an SOS, a time
Three letters that could save your life… Read More »
Columnar joints, that is. There is a geological feature that has caught human imagination for tens of thousands of years. It has been given names,
Straight talk on joints Read More »
The returning darkness to our evening sky of late summer is dominated by one very bright star. Vega, high overhead in the tiny constellation Lyra,
Brilliant Vega _ Our tempestuous neighbour Read More »
We can’t ignore the human factors that lead to extreme weather events I attended David Phillips’ (Senior Climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada) March
We live in one of the most geothermal active locations in North America. The entire west coast is influenced by plate tectonics. As continental-sized pieces
Spring into summer Read More »
You’d be forgiven for thinking Triniti Technology only sells cell phone cases. Sylvio Lin, general manager for the Whitehorse-based company, knows that’s what it looks
Tech company grows byte by byte Read More »
Yukon Innovation Prize finalist Michael Gerasimoff wants to help transition heating in the Yukon from fossil fuels to biomass (wood) while maintaining the excellent air
Kiss your ash goodbye Read More »
Like another project, Yukon Innovation Prize finalists Cody Reaume and Thomas Jacquin are focused on improving the energy efficiency of Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs.) The
Venting for need, intelligent indeed Read More »
Noctilucent clouds near Kakwa, Alberta Unless you’re dedicated enough to get up in the middle of the night with very good binoculars or a small
Noctilucent Clouds – a rare meteorological phenomena for northern observers Read More »
Although fish have ears, they do not have eardrums like humans and other wildlife A number of years ago, while writing outdoor columns for some
Fish actually have ears Read More »
I attended David Phillip’s lecture on weather and climate change in early March and was inspired to write a series of articles with the goal
What is the jet stream? Read More »
Your Backyard Geology – Part 9 Concretions are not shaped by running water or fabricated by humans, nor are they dinosaur eggs. They are fascinating
Concretions – shapely time capsules Read More »
Andromeda is the big daddy of galaxies amongst our Local Group of about 50 galaxies. At over 200,000 ly in diameter, Andromeda is more than twice the diameter of our Milky Way.
M31, The Andromeda Galaxy—a hungry “island universe” with its sights on us Read More »
Part 8 of Your Backyard Geology Within Whitehorse city limits, you can see Grey Mountain from almost anywhere. It is one of the first landmarks
Limestone reefs in southern Yukon Read More »
As the story goes, the early gold rush stampeders found all the creeks staked when they arrived. The Sourdoughs already there jokingly told the newcomers to go to the top of the hills to find gold.
The white channel gravels Read More »
If there is anybody out there who recognizes what is in these pictures, please step forward. Recently, I found myself looking more intensively at
Lichen what I see – But not always sure what to call it Read More »
Messier 13 (M13), the best and brightest globular cluster gracing our northern sky, resides in the Hercules constellation and is a most-intriguing class of star cluster, so very different from all the open star clusters of our Milky Way galaxy.
In the realm of the globulars – Ancient companions of the Milky Way Read More »
On Monday May 1, 2017, at around 5:30 a.m., a magnitude 6.2 earthquake landed near the B.C.-Yukon border, followed by another slightly stronger one at around 7:30 a.m. The rare event got a lot more people talking about seismic activity in the region, and a few murmured their fears of an eventual “big one.”
A whole lotta quakin’ goin’ on Read More »
There was a not-so-urban myth out there that you could see the Tintina Trench from the moon. That is not true, unless the person on the moon had a good telescope.
The Tintina Trench Read More »
Quartz is everywhere; it is the second most common mineral making up the Earth’s crust, just behind feldspar. Quartz is composed of the two elements silicon and oxygen. It has many different forms.
The Yukon Chamber of Mines has prioritized outreach and community engagement as part of their programming. Heading into its 10th year, the annual Mining and
Celebrating the role of mining in the Yukon Read More »
Student Sharon Bubsy examines one of the seismometer stations in remote areas of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. PHOTO: courtesy of the Yukon College
-40 all month? Are you sure?
Do you remember when January was always cold? Read More »
To end plastic pollution, we need to shift our attitudes and behaviours. Plastic pollution affects our health and the health of the animals and plants we share our planet with.
Let’s end plastic pollution Read More »
Diesel power generators are like cars: the more efficient they are, the less fuel they need. And that increased efficiency translates into less cost, both for drivers at the pump and for the communities that rely on diesel fuel for heat and electricity.
Powering up the North Read More »
Rock, not the genre of music, that guy on the radio or your friend from Newfoundland referring to “The Rock” as home, but rocks and
The awe of quartzite beneath you Read More »
Spring. Daylight. Forward. Change. These words all individually invoke positivity and renewal.
I Hate Springing Forward Read More »
Yukon College archaeologist Norm Easton has been unearthing the secrets of the area around the Yukon-Alaska border for more than 25 years. This year, for the first time, he is leaving the field to focus on doing research in the laboratory.
From the field to the lab Read More »
Did you ever wonder what’s behind those math questions on Facebook? You know, the ones that “most people will get wrong.” Or what about those
Virtual Village: Virtual Village: Facebook is “Like Farming” Read More »
In a memorable scene in the 1983 movie Never Cry Wolf (adapted from Farley Mowat’s 1963 book), a biologist is dropped by floatplane in the
Hard Work, Long Days and Satisfaction in the Arctic Read More »
A travel-loving Chilean couple has begun a journey that will lead them through provinces, countries, continents, and even hemispheres. And what’s more: they will fuel
Around the Americas on Vegetable Oil Read More »
One of these days soon a couple from Chile is going to arrive in Whitehorse, their inter-continental road trip fuelled by vegetable grease from restaurants
The Beauty of Biodiesel Read More »
“How big is the space station and do you have enough room to dance?” a Grade 3 Grey Mountain Primary School student asked Chris Hadfield
Increase Your Chances of Communicating with Outer Space Read More »
A family or personal website was once an oddity. Now, they are a common practice and easy to set up and maintain. A personal website
Virtual Village: Personal Websites Read More »
Some colleges and universities have closed or scaled down their information technology programs. In the Yukon, for example, we went from having a full, stand-alone, two-year diploma to a collaborative program where the teaching is shared through four colleges.
Virtual Village: The Support Crunch Read More »
Let’s consider what to do if you think your identity has been stolen and how to reduce the chance of that happening. The first step
Virtual Village: Identity Theft, Part 2 Read More »
A statistical trend that receives little appreciation is that crime rates in Canada have been declining steadily for more than 20 years. There are exceptions,
Virtual Village: Identity Theft Read More »
When people go on trips they go online and research hotels, tours, airline prices, and things to see and do when abroad. However, from a
Virtual Village: Your Digital Legacy Read More »
Tablets are on the rise. They are touch-screen based devices that are smaller, more portable and more convenient than a desktop computer. The first commercially
Virtual Village: How Secure are Tablets? Read More »
Since the inception of e-commerce about 15 years ago, there have been many myths regarding its safety. Online shopping and banking are extremely useful, particularly
Virtual Village: How Safe is Online Shopping? Read More »
Every time you access the internet, what you’re doing is using a web browser. And even though Internet Explorer is installed on just about every
Virtual Village: Web Browsers Read More »
Every large corporation has probably devoted time and effort in recent years to draft its social media policy. This policy outlines the types of information
Virtual Village: Creating a Family Social Media Policy Read More »
That’s not a typo in the headline. Phishing is the process of attempting to gain information through deception. It uses email and fake web sites
Virtual Village: Going phishing Read More »
One way scammers work through the internet, or in any medium, is to present a plausible reason for you to give them money or the
Virtual Village: Red Flag Moments Read More »
One of the more annoying facets of the Internet is the ability to spread online hoaxes and urban legends. These did die off in popularity
Virtual Village: Online Hoaxes Read More »
‘Gluten-free’ – these words are becoming more and more popular these days, from bread and desserts to snacks and sauces.
Gluten–What’s the Big Deal? Read More »
I’m going to spend the next two columns dealing with some of the specific points you should know about running a wireless network.
Virtual Village: Cables? Who Needs Cables? Read More »
This summer, the word “cloud” has popped up in conversation with some frequency. However, you are probably also seeing the term used beyond descriptions of
Virtual Village: Clouds on the Horizon? Read More »
When you purchase a new computer, you will usually end up purchasing a short-term licence for an antivirus program. This will come from one of
Virtual Village: Antivirus Tips and Scams Read More »
In my last article, I introduced the idea that you should approach keeping your online information safe in the same way you would protect yourself
Virtual Village: Social Media Safety: Part 2 Read More »
Protecting your information does not require you be totally paranoid. However, it does help if you are willing to question a good thing when it
Virtual Village: Facebook Games and Apps Read More »
Social media sites such as Facebook are very handy tools to keep in touch with relatives and old friends spread far across the globe. Yet,
Virtual Village: Networking? Do it Safely Read More »
It was 20 years ago when computer screens flashed green letters, computer paper had sprocket holes along the sides and dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I
Making technology work for you Read More »
Q: Is upgrading to Vista worth it? A: One of my favourite slogans in my business is: “Computers is a people business.” While this may
XP Had Problems, So Give Vista a Chance Read More »
Daylight pours through a large window as Meagan Perry sits tapping away at her keyboard. The subdued lime green walls seem to expand the relatively
Communicating In Comfort Read More »
Anthony Trombetta once wrote about his experience earning two tickets to see the White Stripes, suggesting that one must have lived under a rock if
Open Source is the Future Read More »