There’s Nothing ‘Micro’ About a Microburst
In spite of the name, microbursts can cause extensive tornado-like damage.
Category: Earth Science
Finding Evidence of Early Life
When did life first emerge on Earth? This is a question asked time and time again. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact date; however, scientists are finding new evidence of ancient life forms...
What does Earth Day mean to you?
On April 22
nd, we celebrate the 42
nd annual Earth Day. Since its origin in the United States, Earth Day has increased the awarenes
Discovering Gemstones - January Edition
Garnet, the birthstone of January, is mined all over the world. But did you know that the term garnet does not only refer to the popular red variety? It encompasses a group of minerals...
Discovering Gemstones - December Edition
Turquoise, the traditional birthstone for the month of December, is a treasured gemstone dating back thousands of years. Very few minerals have a colour that is so well known that the name of the...
Discovering Gemstones - November Edition
There was a time when any yellow gemstone would be called topaz. Today, the word topaz refers to a silicate mineral that contains aluminum and fluorine, Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. With a hardness of 8 topaz is...
Discovering Gemstones - October Edition
October’s gemstone, opal, is a very colourful, iridescent and eye-catching stone that can range in colour from fiery reds and deep blues to crystal clear wonders. Geologists have classified opals into five main categories:...
Discovering Gemstones - September Edition
Sapphire, the gemstone of September, brings to mind a beautiful dark blue stone. But in fact, sapphires come in a variety of colours! Corundum, the mineral that sapphire is composed of, can have impurities...
Discovering Gemstones – August Edition
August’s birthstone, peridot, comes from the mineral olivine, which is found in meteorites! The peridot colouring ranges depending on the proportions of iron and magnesium in its mineral structure. Iron-rich peridot appears more brown,...
When Olympic rowing goes wrong, blame the weather.
You’re never far from weather, even at the Olympic Games.
