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enAstronomers discover actively forming galaxy that may resemble a young Milky Way
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Astronomers discover actively forming galaxy that may resemble a young Milky Way </span>
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2025-01-09T11:38:22-05:00" title="Thursday, January 9, 2025 - 11:38" class="datetime">Thu, 01/09/2025 - 11:38</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p><em>A massive cluster of galaxies called MACS J1423 includes a young galaxy, nicknamed Firefly Sparkle, that may resemble our own Milky Way in its early life (photo by NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Chris Willott of NRC-Canada, Lamiya Mowla of Wellesley College and Kartheik Iyer of Columbia University)</em></p>
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<div class="field__item">茄子直播 astronomer Roberto Abraham says a galaxy nicknamed "Firefly Sparkle" by researchers likely has the same mass as our Milky Way galaxy did in its infancy</div>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>NASA鈥檚 James Webb Space Telescope has detected and 鈥渨eighed鈥� a galaxy 鈥� seen 600 million years after the Big Bang 鈥� that is similar to what our Milky Way galaxy might have looked like at the same stage of development.</p>
<p>Nicknamed the Firefly Sparkle, this young galaxy is gleaming with star clusters 鈥� 10 in all 鈥� that may be signs that early galaxies form by fragmenting into giant star clusters, with some surviving today as globular clusters.</p>
<p>The lead co-authors of the study, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08293-0">published in </a><em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08293-0">Nature</a>, </em>are Wellesley College鈥檚 <strong>Lamiya Mowla</strong> and Columbia University鈥檚 <strong>Kartheik Iyer 鈥� </strong>both former postdoctoral researchers at the University of Toronto鈥檚 <a href="https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca">Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics</a>.</p>
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<figcaption><em>Roberto Abraham (supplied image)</em></figcaption>
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<p><strong>Roberto Abraham</strong>, professor and chair of the David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics in 茄子直播鈥檚 Faculty of Arts & Science, is also part of the CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) team behind the research.</p>
<p>He recently shared his insights on the new discovery with the Faculty of Arts & Science news team.</p>
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<p><strong>How is Webb helping us understand things about the universe that we didn鈥檛 know before?</strong></p>
<p>Webb鈥檚 resolution and sensitivity allows us to study extremely distant objects 鈥� like those gleaming star clusters that initially drew us to the Firefly Sparkle galaxy 鈥� in crisp detail. We鈥檙e also able to 鈥渮oom in鈥� due to a natural effect known as strong gravitational lensing. In this case, a galaxy cluster in the foreground enhanced the Firefly Sparkle galaxy behind it, acting like a giant magnifying glass.</p>
<p>With Webb, we can go back in time and look at distant objects like the Firefly Sparkle and see objects in it that may be young globular clusters, which are seen today as dense groups of millions of ancient stars. Witnessing things that are ancient today being born in the distant past is mind-blowing. Seeing 10 of them forming this way makes the Firefly Sparkle a goldmine for understanding the earliest phases of formation and growth in galaxies.</p>
<p>Using Webb鈥檚 images and data, the researchers concluded that the Firefly Sparkle had the same mass as our Milky Way galaxy would have if we could 鈥渢urn back time鈥� to weigh it as it was assembling.</p>
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<figcaption><em>For the first time, astronomers have identified a still-forming galaxy that weighs about the same as our Milky Way if we could 鈥渨ind back the clock鈥� to weigh our galaxy as it developed. The newly identified galaxy, the Firefly Sparkle, is in the process of assembling and forming stars, and existed about 600 million years after the Big Bang (photo by NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Chris Willott of NRC-Canada, Lamiya Mowla of Wellesley College and Kartheik Iyer of Columbia)</em></figcaption>
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<p><strong>Why is knowing the 鈥渨eight鈥� of the Firefly Sparkle galaxy important?</strong></p>
<p>It gives us a glimpse of how much young galaxies weighed when the universe was very young. Today鈥檚 galaxies are way more massive. We鈥檝e known this for a while, but Webb lets us figure out how they get more massive and how they get so many stars within them. In some models, the stars form slowly via internal processes, while in other models they form in small galaxies that crash together and grow bigger. Galaxies like the Firefly Sparkle tell us that both things are happening, but the latter process is probably dominant.</p>
<p><strong>In 2022, the CANUCS team used Webb to identify the most distant globular鈥痗lusters known in what they dubbed <a href="/news/researchers-reveal-galaxy-sparkling-universe-s-oldest-star-clusters">鈥渢he Sparkler galaxy.鈥�</a> How does this new discovery build upon the previous one?</strong></p>
<p>The little points of light 鈥� 鈥渟parkles鈥� 鈥� seen in the Sparkler galaxy we studied in 2022 were four billion years old when their light was emitted, which was similar to the age of the universe then. Nine billion years later, in today鈥檚 universe, we know exactly what they look like: today鈥檚 globular clusters. With the new Firefly Sparkle galaxy, we鈥檙e closer to the starting point of growth, so we鈥檙e not 100 per cent sure what the little points of light in the galaxy evolve into.</p>
<p>You could say that looking at the Sparkler galaxy was like looking at a toddler: you鈥檙e pretty sure a toddler is going to eventually grow up to look like an adult. But with Firefly Sparkle, it鈥檚 like looking at an embryo: all sorts of animals have similar-looking embryos, so in this case what those sparkles turn into is more ambiguous.</p>
<p><strong>What are you excited to look for next with Webb?</strong></p>
<p>It鈥檚 more like, what am I <em>not</em> excited to look at next with Webb? All the data and images coming from Webb fill me with a sense of giddy joy 鈥� it feels a bit like the universe is letting us in on some pretty big secrets and we鈥檙e lucky to be alive right now.</p>
<p>In this case, we need to find more examples of systems similar to the Sparkler and the Firefly Sparkle to be totally confident that these little points of light in the Firefly Sparkle are indeed very young globular clusters. What we鈥檝e got now is a spectacular starting point. Canada has a long history of galaxy formation and globular cluster research, so I look forward to seeing us continue along that path.鈥�</p>
<p><em>With files from Space Telescope Science Institute/NASA</em></p>
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Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:38:22 +0000Christopher.Sorensen311385 at Work of Nobel Prize-winner John Polanyi celebrated in 茄子直播 exhibit
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Work of Nobel Prize-winner John Polanyi celebrated in 茄子直播 exhibit</span>
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-05-28T14:48:11-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 28, 2024 - 14:48" class="datetime">Tue, 05/28/2024 - 14:48</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p><em>University Professor Emeritus and Nobel laureate John Polanyi said he is "deeply humbled and grateful鈥� for the new permanent exhibit, which honours his seminal research and his advocacy for responsible science</em><em> (photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></p>
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<div class="field__item">The department of chemistry also recently renamed the research wing of the Lash Miller building in Polanyi's honour</div>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The groundbreaking work of <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/complete-list-university-professors/">University Professor</a> Emeritus <strong>John Polanyi</strong>, celebrated chemist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1986, is the focus of a new permanent exhibit at the Lash Miller building, home of the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science.</p>
<p>Through still images, video and equipment, the dynamic exhibit tells the story of Polanyi's career including his seminal work in the field of reaction dynamics 鈥� a branch of chemistry that investigates what happens during chemical reactions.</p>
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<figcaption><em>The centrepiece of the exhibit is a replica of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry medal awarded to Polanyi (photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></figcaption>
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<p>The display includes original equipment used in Polanyi鈥檚 early research, a reproduction of the lab notebook used by his graduate student to document their experiments and a video chronicling the process of discovery 鈥� along with a replica of his Nobel Prize medal.</p>
<p>"It鈥檚 been my good fortune to be surrounded by brilliant colleagues and other supporters throughout my life and career," Polanyi said. "I'm deeply humbled and grateful for this marvelous display and ongoing recognition of my life鈥檚 work.鈥�</p>
<p>鈥淛ohn Polanyi holds a revered place in the history of the University of Toronto and his legacy is an inspiration for all of us,鈥� said 茄子直播 President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>. 鈥淭his installation is a compelling expression of his achievements. All those responsible deserve our thanks and congratulations.鈥�</p>
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<figcaption><em>The exhibit includes a reproduction of the notebook in which Polanyi鈥檚 graduate student Ken Cashion documented the results of the experiment that delivered the groundbreaking discovery (photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></figcaption>
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<p>Polanyi came to 茄子直播 from Princeton University in 1956, and not long after, made his seminal discovery: his detection of infrared radiation released upon the collision of hydrogen and chloride molecules was the first observation of energy produced from the vibration of new molecules immediately after their formation.</p>
<p>His work went on to influence the development of advanced instrumentation in domains like pharmaceutical research, medicine and chemical manufacturing 鈥� including the development of the first chemical lasers.</p>
<p>鈥淭he university made a significant investment in me, a young scholar,鈥� said Polanyi. 鈥淭he environment and the resources I received enabled me to pursue a new and unknown direction in chemical physics.鈥�</p>
<p>In 1974, he was named a University Professor 鈥� the highest academic honour bestowed by the university on its faculty members 鈥� and in 1994, the John C. Polanyi Chair in Chemistry was established.</p>
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<figcaption><em>The exhibit tells the story of the Nobel Prize-winning discovery in the field of reaction dynamics, and University Professor Emeritus John Polanyi鈥檚 advocacy for nuclear disarmament and the responsible use of science (photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></figcaption>
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<p>In tandem with the new exhibit, the department of chemistry also recently renamed the research wing of the Lash Miller building in his honour.</p>
<p>鈥淭he John Polanyi research wing and this new display will serve to permanently highlight John's legacy for current and future young scholars,鈥� said Professor <strong>Mark Lautens</strong>, chair of the department of chemistry. 鈥淛ohn has brought great visibility and prestige to the University of Toronto through his groundbreaking studies and his contributions that go well beyond scientific discovery. We are equally grateful [for] and proud of his advocacy for science, for peace and for a better world.鈥�</p>
<p>Inspiration for the exhibit came after Polanyi donated some of his equipment to the department of chemistry upon his retirement in 2020. A special celebration was held in his honour at Massey College in the fall of 2022, after which Professor <strong>Robert Batey</strong>, then department chair, with support from the Faculty of Arts & Science dean <strong>Melanie Woodin</strong> and the Offices of the President and the Vice-President, Research & Innovation, led the development of the exhibit to celebrate Polanyi鈥檚 impact and legacy.</p>
<p>鈥淛ohn has made tremendous contributions to the world of science as well as society at large through his advocacy for nuclear disarmament," said Batey. "We are proud to be able to celebrate his work this way in the place that has been his professional home for so many years.鈥�</p>
<p>鈥淭his display is a fantastic tribute to Professor Polanyi's remarkable career as a scientist, a teacher and a global citizen,鈥� said Woodin. 鈥淚t is a fitting acknowledgement for someone who has engendered a network of excellence that stretches across countries and continents.鈥�</p>
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<figcaption><em>University Professor Emeritus John Polanyi (pictured second from the right) was joined in viewing the exhibit by (l to r) department of chemistry chair Mark Lautens, portrait painter Brenda Bury and former department chair Robert Batey (photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></figcaption>
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<p>The department of chemistry and Toronto-based communications and design firm Snack worked closely with Polanyi on the development of the display, drawing from his extensive archive of memorabilia and donated equipment.</p>
<p>The exhibit also captures Polanyi鈥檚 advocacy for the responsible use of science and a keen social conscience that compelled him to campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons throughout his career. 鈥淎 great university that invests in science must also strain to warn of the accompanying risks to humanity," he said.</p>
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Tue, 28 May 2024 18:48:11 +0000Christopher.Sorensen307947 at New Lab for the Study of Global Antisemitism will be a hub for scholarly inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration鈥�
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">New Lab for the Study of Global Antisemitism will be a hub for scholarly inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration鈥�</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-01/crest.jpg?h=81d682ee&itok=xtnms9GK 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-01/crest.jpg?h=81d682ee&itok=GCX39KgZ 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-01/crest.jpg?h=81d682ee&itok=6tlbA1FN 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-01/crest.jpg?h=81d682ee&itok=xtnms9GK" alt="stone university of toronto crest">
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A new lab at the University of Toronto鈥檚 <a href="https://www.jewishstudies.utoronto.ca/">Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies</a> (CJS) will be a hub for scholars鈥痜rom across disciplines to examine the persistence of antisemitism in a global context.鈥€�</p>
<p>鈥淎ntisemitism has emerged in the global public discourse on a level that has not been seen in generations,鈥� says <strong>Anna Shternshis</strong>, director of the CJS and the Al and Malka Green Professor of Yiddish Studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science. 鈥淏y offering a space for convening and intellectual conversation, we hope to generate new insights on antisemitism as a phenomenon, and new responses for tackling its insidious pervasiveness around the world.鈥� </p>
<p>Shternshis鈥痠s a distinguished scholar with an international reputation for her expertise in Jewish culture in Russia and the Soviet Union, oral history as well as Yiddish music. <a href="/celebrates/anna-shternshis-receives-guggenheim-fellowship">Recently awarded a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship</a> for her work on Nazi-occupied Ukraine, she lectures widely around the world and her work has been featured in print media in 45 countries in 22 languages.</p>
<p>The new Lab for the Study of Global Antisemitism will be housed at the CJS, and its inaugural director will be <strong>Ron Levi</strong>, a professor at the <a href="https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/">Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy</a> and the department of sociology who is a Distinguished Professor of Global Justice. Levi鈥檚 research focuses on aspirations to law and justice, and on how we address crime, violence and atrocities during turbulent times. This includes a collaborative project studying hate and counter-hate speech that鈥檚 funded by the <a href="/news/u-t-and-hebrew-university-jerusalem-launch-research-and-innovation-partnership">University of Toronto-Hebrew University of Jerusalem Research & Innovation Alliance</a>. Levi is director of the <a href="https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/gjl">Global Justice Lab</a> in the Munk School, which works with justice systems under stress, and a recipient of the <a href="https://alumni.utoronto.ca/events-and-programs/awards/awex/jus-memorial-prize">Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize</a>.鈥�</p>
<p>鈥淭here is a long history of expertise on issues relating to antisemitism, across fields of study, within and beyond the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies,鈥� says Levi, 鈥渁nd I am eager to strengthen these connections, to learn from each other, to inquire, and to build our collective understanding of antisemitism and global responses to this challenge.鈥�</p>
<p>The goals for the new lab include bringing together scholars and students whose work connects, directly or indirectly, with the study of antisemitism. Among the lab鈥檚 first initiatives will be to convene an international scholarly lecture series on antisemitism across a wide range of fields of study, opening new opportunities for collaboration among researchers worldwide. The lab will develop research, teaching and study partnerships with other centres of knowledge for the study of antisemitism globally.</p>
<p>鈥淭he University of Toronto is well situated for this scholarship,鈥� says <strong>Trevor Young</strong>, 茄子直播鈥檚 vice-president and provost. 鈥淥ur academic community has long-standing reach and expertise on the social and cultural issues of societies worldwide. Within the Canadian context, the University of Toronto offers the opportunity to study antisemitism as a global and comparative phenomenon, thereby offering a unique academic perspective within the field.鈥濃€�</p>
<p><strong>Melanie Woodin</strong>, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, says 鈥渋t鈥檚 imperative that we continue to invest in scholarship in this area, and the connection to racism and exclusion broadly.鈥�</p>
<p>She adds that she is committed to bringing together expertise within the faculty and beyond, and foresees that the lab will also help the faculty grow its research and other scholarly activities in relation to the state of democracy.鈥�</p>
<p>In addition to the expertise within CJS, Woodin sees great opportunities for the lab to pursue academic collaborations 鈥� such as with the <a href="https://islamicstudies.artsci.utoronto.ca/projects/sirl/">Systemic Islamophobia Research Lab</a> (SIRL) in the <a href="https://islamicstudies.artsci.utoronto.ca/">Institute of Islamic Studies</a> and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, which has an area of focus on the future of democratic societies and is soon to launch a new series of talks on the Middle East conflict.鈥�</p>
<p>鈥淚t鈥檚 an understatement to say we are seeing a rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate, not just in places of higher learning, but in all facets of society,鈥� says Woodin. 鈥淚n search of any solutions, we must delve into the complexities before us and openly collaborate to examine how antisemitism continues to permeate the world around us.鈥�</p>
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Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:27:17 +0000Christopher.Sorensen305348 at 茄子直播 breaks ground on a new home for the Acceleration Consortium
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 breaks ground on a new home for the Acceleration Consortium</span>
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-11-15T09:14:37-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 15, 2023 - 09:14" class="datetime">Wed, 11/15/2023 - 09:14</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p><em>A rendering of the Lash Miller building expansion (image courtesy of Mikkelsen Arkitekter AS / Cumulus Architects)</em></p>
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<div class="field__item">The expansion of the Lash Miller building also includes upgrades to department of chemistry labs, classrooms and other spaces </div>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the expansion of the Lash Miller building on the St. George campus 鈥� a place that will serve as the new home of the <a href="https://acceleration.utoronto.ca/">Acceleration Consortium</a> while providing improved facilities for the department of chemistry.</p>
<p><a href="https://isi.utoronto.ca/">An institutional strategic initiative</a> launched in 2021, the Acceleration Consortium fuses artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering and chemistry to accelerate the design and discovery of new materials.</p>
<p>Using self-driving laboratories powered by AI, the consortium works to discover materials needed to build a more sustainable, prosperous and healthy future. </p>
<p>鈥淭he research being done at the Acceleration Consortium is a cutting-edge approach to materials discovery,鈥� said <strong>Melanie Woodin</strong>, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. 鈥淣ow, more than ever, we need such new technologies to help solve the world's most existential and intractable problems, from climate change to plastics pollution to cancer.</p>
<p>鈥淭his expansion is truly about advancing the university鈥檚 mission of research and teaching excellence.鈥�</p>
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<figcaption><em>From left to right: Mark Lautens, chair of the department of chemistry, Al谩n Aspuru-Guzik, director of the Acceleration Consortium, Anna Kennedy, chair of Governing Council, Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, and Robert Batey, former chair of the department of chemistry (photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></figcaption>
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<p>The university earlier this year <a href="/news/u-t-receives-200-million-grant-support-acceleration-consortium-s-self-driving-labs-research">received a grant of $200 million from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF)</a> 鈥� the largest federal research grant ever awarded to a Canadian university 鈥� to support the Acceleration Consortium鈥檚 research.</p>
<p>鈥淒eveloping such innovative technologies is made possible by the federal government's visionary investment. This grant allows us to do big science, ensuring Canada remains competitive on the international stage,鈥� said Woodin.</p>
<p>The building expansion will also include renovations to the department of chemistry, with upgrades being made to labs, classrooms and faculty and administrative space to provide students and scientists with enhanced facilities for research, learning and innovation.</p>
<p>鈥淚've watched the plans emerge from both the department and the Faculty side, and it's really an amazing project,鈥� said <strong>Mark Lautens</strong>, chair of the department of chemistry. 鈥淭he self-driving labs are the cornerstone of the AC, but there will be new lecture theatres and some amazing meeting spaces for chemistry that will figure very prominently in the design.</p>
<p>鈥淥ur students will be prepared for the future, regardless of how that future unfolds.鈥�</p>
<p><strong>Robert Batey</strong>, former chair of the department of chemistry, also reflected on the origins of the project, the founding of the Acceleration Consortium and the initial success in enlisting <strong>Al谩n Aspuru-Guzik</strong>, director of the consortium, to lead 茄子直播鈥檚 efforts in the emerging field of machine learning-guided materials development.</p>
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<figcaption><em>Faculty, staff and members of the design and construction teams gathered for a recent groundbreaking event (photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></figcaption>
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<p>鈥淭his project really has been a long time in gestation. In 2017, we saw an opportunity to take advantage of a nascent and emerging field of science and technology, which is AI and machine learning, and how it might be applied to, and enabled by, chemistry and automation,鈥� Batey<strong> </strong>said.</p>
<p>The revolutionary work being done at the Acceleration Consortium will be key in positioning Canada as a world leader in materials discovery, with a state-of-the-art space that will not only house this important work, but also attract top tier talent.</p>
<p>鈥淭he AC building represents a new global era where countries are looking inward while at the same time collaborating with each other,鈥� said Aspuru-Guzik. 鈥淲e're building a team of people who are going to be able to take advantage of this new space and of the federal grant to move the needle and make Canada the leader in materials discovery.鈥�</p>
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<figcaption><em>A rendering of the interior of the Lash Miller building鈥檚 expansion (Image courtesy of Mikkelsen Arkitekter AS / Cumulus Architects)</em></figcaption>
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<p>The Acceleration Consortium considers and includes contributions from several other disciplines of study in its work.</p>
<p>鈥淲e are very excited that this project is also integrated with Canadian society in such areas as Indigenous scholarship, social sciences and economics,鈥� said Aspuru-Guzik. 鈥淢aterials discovery has to do with everything, and impacts society in a very complex way.鈥�</p>
<p><strong>Anna Kennedy</strong>, chair of 茄子直播鈥檚 Governing Council, acknowledged the impact the consortium has already made at the university.</p>
<p>鈥淪ince its launch, and under the expert guidance of Al谩n and other brilliant scholars, the AC has solidified itself as one of the university鈥檚 most impressive institutional strategic initiatives and as the embodiment of the University of Toronto鈥檚 capacity to support large-scale, high-impact interdisciplinary research.鈥�</p>
<p>Woodin also noted the importance of philanthropy in leveraging the historic support from the federal government and investment by industry partners.</p>
<p>鈥淚nspired giving by donors will enable us to build a contemporary space that will attract talent that's needed to advance the goals of the Acceleration Consortium, which will have major economic benefits for the Greater Toronto Area and for Canada,鈥� she said.</p>
<p>The Lash Miller building expansion is set to be completed in the spring of 2026. The complex project is being delivered through an integrated design team led by the university鈥檚 Planning, Design & Construction (UPDC) portfolio and a collaboration between Canadian firm Cumulus Architects and Danish firm Mikkelsen Architects, among other firms specializing in key areas of the project design and technical specifications.</p>
<p>The construction will be completed by Urbacon.</p>
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Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:14:37 +0000Christopher.Sorensen304470 at A cancer survivor, 茄子直播 grad Malia Robinson strives to support others on their healing journeys
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">A cancer survivor, 茄子直播 grad Malia Robinson strives to support others on their healing journeys</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-11/Malia-Robinson-Bio-Picture-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&itok=_VSC2V3H 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-11/Malia-Robinson-Bio-Picture-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&itok=0mN9D5Bb 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-11/Malia-Robinson-Bio-Picture-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&itok=iMZPSzkf 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-11/Malia-Robinson-Bio-Picture-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&itok=_VSC2V3H" alt="""">
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-11-08T13:29:41-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - 13:29" class="datetime">Wed, 11/08/2023 - 13:29</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p><em>Malia Robinson came to 茄子直播 as a mature student via the Transitional Year Programme (supplied image)</em></p>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Malia Robinson </strong>had to overcome an array of challenges to become a University of Toronto graduate. <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Arriving as a mature student amid a period of uncertainty and self-doubt, Robinson went on to complete an honours bachelor of arts degree in women and gender studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science, with minors in Buddhism, psychology and mental health, and contemporary Asian studies. </span></p>
<p>Along the way, she traveled to Central America for an experiential learning opportunity that altered the trajectory of her studies, volunteered at Women's College Hospital 鈥� having previously undergone surgery to treat cancer there 鈥� and won Woodsworth College's prestigious <a href="https://wdw.utoronto.ca/news/brookfield-peter-f-bronfman-scholarship-recipients-0">Brookfield Bronfman Gold Scholarship</a>. </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Now starting graduate studies</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;"> in 茄子直播's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Robinson recently spoke about her journey. </span></p>
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<p><strong>You came to 茄子直播 through the Transitional Year Programme as a mature student 鈥� what made you want to study here?</strong></p>
<p>I learned about 茄子直播鈥檚 Transitional Year Programme at a difficult point in my life where I felt like I had hit rock-bottom and had zero prospects for the future. Seeing post-secondary as an opportunity to start over and build a brighter future, I swallowed my fear and made the decision to apply. Looking back, I can honestly say it was the best decision I鈥檝e ever made.</p>
<p><strong>Why did you choose women and gender studies?</strong></p>
<p>I wanted to learn as much as I could about the histories, systems and policies that contributed to the pain and dysfunction I was seeing in the world.</p>
<p>As I studied about the social determinants of health, gendered biases in medicine, colonialism in the Canadian context, systemic violence, and the social, cultural, physiological and mental impacts of intergenerational trauma, I felt overwhelmed by the depth of suffering in the world and was compelled to use my lived experiences and education to alleviate that suffering in some way.</p>
<p>I also realized that I needed to broaden my understanding of the world to be able to meet people where they are at. To do so, I enrolled in contemporary Asian studies and took courses in Latin American studies, which helped me understand colonialism and neoliberalism in different regional contexts. This introduced me to the different ways diverse cultures have reclaimed their languages and spaces, and decolonized their food systems, educational systems and healing practices.</p>
<p>In turn, these courses compelled me to deepen my understanding of healing trauma on an individual and societal level. To facilitate this, I enrolled in Buddhism, psychology & mental health, which gave me the skills needed to care for my own embodied trauma and inspired me to train in somatic therapies.</p>
<p><strong>What personal challenges have you overcome during your studies?</strong></p>
<p>The biggest challenge I faced was my limiting beliefs about what I was capable of achieving. With the immense support I received from the Transitional Year Programme, Woodsworth College, <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/department/accessibility-services/">Accessibility Services</a>, <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/department/first-nations-house/">First Nations House</a>, my professors, peers and partner, I was able to step outside of my comfort zone, make mistakes, learn from my failures and challenge myself in new and exciting ways.</p>
<p>Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow. And I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to make my Uncle Yogi proud and honour my M茅tis roots.</p>
<p><strong>How did your studies take you to Central America?</strong></p>
<p>In the summer of 2019, I participated in an experiential learning opportunity via the <a href="https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/experiential-learning/international-indigenous/deans-international-indigenous">Dean's International & Indigenous Initiatives Fund</a>, where I studied issues pertaining to Indigeneity and food sovereignty in Belize. This experience was one of the highlights of my undergraduate experience and was so impactful it changed the trajectory of my studies.</p>
<p>During this trip, I was inspired by the painstaking work that Indigenous Belizians undertook to revitalize the physical, emotional and generational health of their communities, and I came to the realization that I wanted to spend my life working in a similar capacity.</p>
<p>I really appreciated the guided tour of a local farm and getting the chance to learn about Mayan land rights, food systems and development initiatives. I believe that food is a powerful medicine and remember feeling inspired and humbled by the efforts locals undertook to protect their lands and traditional crops, and transmit their knowledge to the younger generations.</p>
<p><strong>How did you become connected with Women鈥檚 College Hospital?</strong></p>
<p>At the beginning of the pandemic, I underwent surgery at Women鈥檚 College Hospital to stop cervical cancer in its tracks. When I was in recovery, I was looking for a virtual opportunity to support folks during the crisis when I stumbled across New College鈥檚 <a href="http://://www.newcollege.utoronto.ca/programs/cel/">Community Engaged Learning Program</a>, which was looking for volunteers to help the <a href="https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/the-centre-for-wise-practices-in-indigenous-health/">Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health</a> draft a proposal to build a medicine garden at Women鈥檚 College Hospital.</p>
<p>At the time, I was struggling with the existential crisis that comes with anything cancer-related and felt like this was an incredible opportunity to channel my energy into building something meaningful that would support others who are at different stages of their healing journeys. I learned a lot during my placement and was excited to see the efforts of everyone involved give rise to a rooftop garden which officially opened this summer.</p>
<p><strong>You started a master of social work at 茄子直播 鈥� what would you like to do in the future?</strong></p>
<p>Once I鈥檓 qualified to offer counseling and work with trauma, I want to help people resolve their complex trauma issues and reconnect to their body鈥檚 inherent capacity for restorative sleep, health and wellness.</p>
<p>Given my incredibly positive personal experiences with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE), I wholeheartedly believe that somatic therapies 鈥� therapy that aims to treat PTSD and other mental and emotional health issues through the connection of mind and body 鈥� are the future of trauma therapy.</p>
<p>Because these therapies are still prohibitively expensive, I strive to provide accessible and affordable therapy to the people who need it most 鈥� and want to dedicate my life to supporting people on their healing journeys.</p>
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Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:29:41 +0000rahul.kalvapalle304348 at 茄子直播 hosts Palette Skills as they build a national ecosystem for upskilling
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 hosts Palette Skills as they build a national ecosystem for upskilling</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-05/iStock-1382264220-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=vsccI0CX 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-05/iStock-1382264220-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=lfIFipxI 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-05/iStock-1382264220-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=BT-Vonu6 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-05/iStock-1382264220-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=vsccI0CX" alt="Working professionals in a workshop setting, holding tablets">
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-04-27T14:35:43-04:00" title="Thursday, April 27, 2023 - 14:35" class="datetime">Thu, 04/27/2023 - 14:35</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p>Palette Skills, a national not-for-profit organization developing employer-led upskilling programs, is hosted by the University of Toronto (photo by PeopleImages/iStock)</p>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Building on a shared commitment to developing a workforce that meets the needs of a changing Canadian economy, the University of Toronto is the host institution for <a href="https://paletteskills.org/">Palette Skills</a>, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping Canada鈥檚 most innovative companies meet their talent needs by accessing untapped talent through industry-led rapid upskilling programs.</p>
<p>As host institution, 茄子直播 is leading the post-secondary community to demonstrate the importance of creating a national ecosystem for upskilling. The partnership will see 茄子直播 engage in collaboration around developing upskilling program models and knowledge transfer, aligning with 茄子直播鈥檚 mission of teaching and advancement of knowledge.</p>
<p>鈥淭he University of Toronto is proud to be the national host institution for Palette Skills,鈥� said President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>. 鈥淭echnological advancements are rapidly creating new employment opportunities, with major implications for all parties involved in shaping Canada鈥檚 workforce. We support the mission of Palette Skills to develop a national ecosystem to foster upskilling, and to establish new partnerships and talent pipelines that meet labour market needs.鈥�</p>
<p>茄子直播 will host Palette Skills in a space provided by the Faculty of Arts & Science.</p>
<p>鈥淭he collaboration will facilitate connections with industry leaders and other institutions in the development of the tools, training and support needed to make a direct and lasting impact on the Canadian economy, further improving the lives of Canadians,鈥� said <strong>Melanie Woodin</strong>, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science and a member of the Palette Skills board of directors. 鈥淭he development of powerful new insights will help identify the best ways to adapt to changing economies and will demonstrate the importance of rapid upskilling that serves the needs of every Canadian and of the country.鈥�</p>
<p>Recently, Palette Skills launched <a href="https://paletteskills.org/upskill-canada">Upskill Canada</a>, a new initiative to help the country make the most of its talent advantage while building a more inclusive economy in the process. Upskill Canada is a national talent platform that helps fast-growing companies access the talent they need to compete and succeed globally while creating new career pathways for workers to rapidly transition into high-demand roles.</p>
<p>鈥淲e are excited to continue working with the University of Toronto,鈥� said Rhonda Barnet, CEO of Palette Skills. 鈥淥ur collaboration with the University of Toronto, and the broader post-secondary community, is invaluable. Sharing lessons learned and best practices on upskilling approaches, employer engagement, equity, and diversity and inclusion (EDI) best practices helps unlock our talent advantage and ensures that Canadian industry can continue to compete and win in the global economy.鈥�</p>
<p>Palette Skills will begin accepting proposals from post-secondary institutes, industry and business associations and community organizations for launch-ready upskilling programs through its Upskill Canada initiative on April 28, 2023. 茄子直播 units interested in becoming a program delivery partner should contact the <a href="https://www.vpacademic.utoronto.ca/about/">Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs</a>, which is co-ordinating submissions.</p>
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Thu, 27 Apr 2023 18:35:43 +0000Christopher.Sorensen301473 at Consider long-term effects before employing 'genetic welding' in natural populations: 茄子直播 expert
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Consider long-term effects before employing 'genetic welding' in natural populations: 茄子直播 expert</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-05/GettyImages-1191006978-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=FG136c39 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-05/GettyImages-1191006978-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=YS8zYn19 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-05/GettyImages-1191006978-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=mAgl1Qmi 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-05/GettyImages-1191006978-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=FG136c39" alt="a gloved hand using tweezers takes a piece out of a papercraft DNA helix">
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-04-25T12:33:57-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 25, 2023 - 12:33" class="datetime">Tue, 04/25/2023 - 12:33</time>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>With CRISPR-Cas9 technology 鈥� a specific and versatile gene editing technology that can be used to modify, delete or correct precise regions of DNA 鈥� humans can now rapidly change the evolutionary course of animals or plants by inserting genes that can easily spread through entire populations.</p>
<p>In an <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/genetics/fulltext/S0168-9525(23)00036-7">opinion paper published recently in the journal <em>Trends in Genetics</em>,</a> University of Toronto evolutionary geneticist <strong>Asher Cutter</strong> says we must scientifically and ethically scrutinize the potential consequences of this 鈥済enetic welding鈥� before we put it into practice.</p>
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left">
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<div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2023-04/Asher-Cutter_0.jpeg" width="337" height="395" alt="Asher Cutter">
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<figcaption><em>Asher Cutter</em></figcaption>
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<p>鈥淭he capability to do genetic welding has only taken off in the last few years, and much of the thinking about it has focused on what can happen in the near term,鈥� says Cutter, a professor in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science.</p>
<p>鈥淓thically, before humans apply this to natural populations, we need to start thinking about what the longer-term consequences might be on a time scale of hundreds or thousands of generations.鈥�</p>
<p>In classical Mendelian genetics, genes have a 50-50 chance of getting passed from parent to offspring 鈥� but this isn鈥檛 always the case. In a natural phenomenon known as 鈥済enetic drive,鈥� some genes are able to bias their own transmission so that they are much more likely to be inherited.</p>
<p>Genetic welding is the human-mediated version of this: introducing genes that have an unfair advantage when it comes to heritability in natural populations. Because these genes spread easily and rapidly through populations, they result in much faster evolutionary change than the usual slow plod that we see from natural and artificial selection.</p>
<p>In contrast to natural selection, genetic drives and genetic welding can perpetuate genes that don鈥檛 necessarily benefit the organisms that carry them 鈥� making them an attractive potential method to control problematic and invasive disease-bearing species.</p>
<p>For example, genetic welding has been proposed as a tool to control disease-bearing mosquito populations and invasive species. It could also be used to genetically engineer endangered species to be resistant to infectious pathogens that threaten them with extinction.</p>
<p>鈥淚t raises the question of how much should humans intervene into processes that are normally beyond our control,鈥� Cutter says.</p>
<p>鈥淚f ethicists, medical practitioners and politicians decide that it is acceptable in some cases to edit the 鈥榞ermline鈥� of humans 鈥� the population of cells that pass on their genetic material to offspring 鈥� then that would open the possibility that genetic welding could be used as a tool in that regard. This would open a much bigger can of worms by virtue of the fact that genetic welding could change the entirety of a population or species 鈥� not just a few individuals that elected to have a procedure.鈥�</p>
<p>Though it might be difficult to experimentally assess the long-term implications of genetic welding, Cutter says that thought experiments, mathematical theory, computer simulations and conversations with bioethicists could all play important roles, as could experiments in organisms with short lifespans and rapid reproduction.</p>
<p>Cutter鈥檚 research is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.</p>
<p><em>With files from Cell Press</em></p>
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Tue, 25 Apr 2023 16:33:57 +0000Christopher.Sorensen301415 at Detailed map of matter in the cosmos confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity, astronomers say
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Detailed map of matter in the cosmos confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity, astronomers say</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-04/Low-Res_ACTLensingMap-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=Ks6G_Qpd 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-04/Low-Res_ACTLensingMap-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=N5lnSjTV 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-04/Low-Res_ACTLensingMap-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=A4ABdVge 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-04/Low-Res_ACTLensingMap-crop.jpeg?h=afdc3185&itok=Ks6G_Qpd" alt="A new map of the sky showing dark matter was made with observations from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. The orange regions show where there is more mass; magenta where there is less">
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-04-11T11:45:24-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 11, 2023 - 11:45" class="datetime">Tue, 04/11/2023 - 11:45</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p>A new map of the sky showing dark matter was made with observations from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. The orange regions show where there is more mass; magenta where there is less (image by ACT Collaboration)</p>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Researchers from the <a href="https://act.princeton.edu/">Atacama Cosmology Telescope</a> (ACT) collaboration have submitted a set of papers to the <em>Astrophysical Journal</em> featuring a groundbreaking new map of dark matter distributed across a quarter of the entire sky and extending deep into the cosmos.</p>
<p>The result confirms Albert Einstein鈥檚 theory of general relativity 鈥� which predicts how massive structures grow and bend light 鈥� with a test that spans the 14-billion-year life of the universe.</p>
<p>鈥淲e have used the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the oldest light in the universe emitted soon after the Big Bang, to measure how dark matter 鈥� the invisible stuff that makes up the majority of the matter in the universe 鈥� is distributed on large scales,鈥� says <strong>Adam Hincks</strong>, an assistant professor in the University of Toronto鈥檚 David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts & Science.</p>
<div class="image-with-caption left">
<p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/2023-04/Low-Res_ACT_DebraKellner.png.png" style="width: 300px; height: 306px;"><br>
<em>The Atacama Cosmology Telescope in the </em>Chilean Andes <em>(photo by Debra Kellner)</em></p>
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<p>鈥淭he distribution agrees very well with theoretical predictions. It's a really satisfying result scientifically because it shows we have a robust understanding of how our universe grows and evolves. The fact that we can successfully explain how our cosmos works with this level of precision is amazing.鈥�</p>
<p>In addition to Hincks, the international collaboration includes fellow 茄子直播 astrophysicists <strong>Richard Bond</strong> from the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) and <strong>Ren茅e Hlo啪ek</strong> from the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics.</p>
<p>The 茄子直播 team also includes post-doctoral researcher <strong>Yilun Guan </strong>(Dunlap Institute and David. A. Dunlap department), who played a leading role in pre-processing and calibrating the raw data of the telescope; post-doctoral researcher <strong>Zack Li</strong> (CITA) who worked on models of how different astronomical objects appear at our wavelengths that were heavily used to ensure that our results were not contaminated by other signals from the sky. Several students also participated.</p>
<p>鈥淚 started working on ACT as a graduate student in 2008 while at Oxford University, and am really excited to come full circle, supervising and working with talented students and post-doctoral researchers on ACT,鈥� says Hlo啪ek.</p>
<p>鈥淲e saw the first detection of small-scale lensing from the ground with ACT in 2011 and now have a pristine measurement of these tiny deflections caused by the matter between us and this last scattering surface of the CMB. It is such a privilege to have worked with this data for almost 15 years and to do so with so many expert colleagues and the support of Canadian institutions like <a href="https://cifar.ca/">CIFAR</a> and the <a href="https://alliancecan.ca/en">Digital Research Alliance</a>.鈥�</p>
<p>Although dark matter makes up roughly 85 per cent of the matter in the universe and has shaped its evolution, it has remained hard to detect because it doesn鈥檛 interact with light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation. As far as astronomers know, dark matter only interacts with gravity.</p>
<p>To track it down, the more than 160 collaborators who have built and gathered data from ACT in the high Chilean Andes observed light emanating following the dawn of the universe鈥檚 formation 鈥� the Big Bang, when the universe was only 380,000 years old.</p>
<p>Cosmologists often refer to this diffuse light that fills our entire universe as a 鈥渂aby picture of the universe.鈥� The team tracked how the gravitational pull of large, massive structures 鈥� including those comprising dark matter 鈥� warps the CMB on its 14-billion-year journey to us, in the same way a magnifying glass bends light as it passes through the lens.</p>
<p>The measurements show that the 鈥渓umpiness鈥� of the universe and the rate at which the cosmos is expanding after 14 billion years of evolution are just what you鈥檇 expect from our standard model of cosmology based on general relativity.</p>
<h4>New insights into 'the crisis in cosmology'</h4>
<p>The results also provide new insights into an ongoing debate referred to as 鈥渢he crisis in cosmology.鈥� The crisis stems from recent measurements that use a different background light 鈥� one emitted from stars in galaxies rather than the cosmic microwave background. These have produced results that suggest the dark matter was not lumpy enough under the standard model of cosmology and led to concerns that the model may be broken. However, the team鈥檚 latest results from ACT were able to precisely assess that the vast lumps seen in this image are the exact right size.</p>
<p>鈥淭his quite different path to the cosmological parameters from CMB science is spot-on with what we got with the Planck satellite 鈥� another collaboration with significant 茄子直播 contribution 鈥� and with ACT. That the results are so accurate using this lensing method is amazing,鈥� Bond says.</p>
<p>鈥淚t also feeds into a major set of much-debated cosmological topics that may indicate that inferences about the universe from CMB and other early time observations don鈥檛 agree with more nearby measures with different data sets.鈥�</p>
<p>茄子直播鈥檚 contribution to the ACT collaboration also included the expertise and enormous computing power to process a vast amount of raw data and turn them into maps of the sky. The Niagara supercomputer, located at the <a href="https://www.scinethpc.ca/">SciNet supercomputer centre at 茄子直播</a>, was an essential resource for these results. SciNet is funded by the CFI under the auspices of Compute Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Research Fund鈥揜esearch Excellence and 茄子直播.</p>
<p>ACT operated for 15 years before being decommissioned in September 2022. Further papers presenting results from the final set of observations are expected to be submitted soon and the Simons Observatory will conduct future observations at the same site with a new telescope slated to begin operations in 2024. This new instrument will be capable of mapping the sky almost ten times faster than ACT.</p>
<p>鈥淚n cosmology, as in all of science, having independent measurements that test the same theoretical model is really important,鈥� says Hincks.</p>
<p>鈥淣ot only is our result at the forefront of sensitivity in using the Cosmic Microwave Background to probe the largest structures in the universe, it is complementary to measurements that look at different periods in the universe's history using different techniques. What we're finding is that the overall picture we have about the evolution of the cosmos is consistent. At the same time, our increasingly better measurements are allowing us to scrutinize the details of that picture when these different probes show apparent discrepancies.鈥�</p>
<p>The research was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania and a Canada Foundation for Innovation award.</p>
<p><em>With files from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope collaboration</em></p>
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Tue, 11 Apr 2023 15:45:24 +0000Christopher.Sorensen301062 at 茄子直播 prof to offer experimental course taught with AI tools like ChatGPT
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 prof to offer experimental course taught with AI tools like ChatGPT</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-04/paolo_granata-crop.jpeg?h=18a71e9e&itok=vYE0nge5 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-04/paolo_granata-crop.jpeg?h=18a71e9e&itok=lvAITg9z 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-04/paolo_granata-crop.jpeg?h=18a71e9e&itok=8eg_9T2g 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-04/paolo_granata-crop.jpeg?h=18a71e9e&itok=vYE0nge5" alt="Paolo Granata">
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-04-10T14:36:36-04:00" title="Monday, April 10, 2023 - 14:36" class="datetime">Mon, 04/10/2023 - 14:36</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p>Paolo Granata, associate professor and program coordinator in the Book & Media Studies program at St. Michael's College, has developed a new course that explores the ethics and impact of AI tools (supplied image)</p>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A new experimental University of Toronto course will be taught with artificial intelligence (AI) tools.</p>
<p>The advanced fourth-year seminar, AI as a Classroom, will be offered in fall 2023 by the Faculty of Arts & Science as part of the <a href="http://stmikes.utoronto.ca/program/book-media-studies">book and media studies program</a> at St. Michael鈥檚 College.</p>
<p>The seminar will address a variety of issues concerning artificial intelligence and its growing influence on society, including the ethics of AI and its impact on culture and media.</p>
<p>The course is the brainchild of <strong><a href="https://stmikes.utoronto.ca/about-us/contact-us/directory/paolo-granata">Paolo Granata</a></strong>, an associate professor and program coordinator in the book and media studies program who has a history of engaging in experimental pedagogy.</p>
<p>During the pandemic, Granata 鈥� who is also the founder of the <a href="http://mediaethics.ca/">Media Ethics Lab</a> and leads the <a href="https://thetorontoschool.ca/">Toronto School Initiative</a> and the <a href="http://www.3dgutenberg.ca/">3D Gutenberg Lab</a> 鈥� used virtual reality technologies to foster experiential learning. He sees the new AI course as a way of expanding these explorations of new media and the learning space.</p>
<p>鈥淭his is an exciting opportunity for students to explore the cutting edge of AI and its potential for education,鈥� Granata said. </p>
<p>The seminar will also engage with provocative questions about the role of the professor in the creation and curation of the learning experience 鈥� and in the potential of AI to enhance learning and promote proactive thought.</p>
<p>Using the most advanced technologies in the field, including <a href="/news/brave-new-tech-experts-say-ai-tools-chatgpt-and-ethical-questions-they-raise-are-here-stay">generative AI</a> and large language models 鈥� an AI system that uses a vast amount of training data to process and generate human-like language 鈥� the course will feature a customized version of ChatGPT that has been expressly trained on course research questions.</p>
<p>Throughout the course, students will develop skills in the use of artificial intelligence in order to develop cutting-edge critical analyses of AI from a variety of ethical, practical and philosophical perspectives. </p>
<p>Based on the late philosopher and 茄子直播 professor <strong>Marshall McLuhan</strong>鈥檚 adage 鈥渢he medium is the message,鈥� the course will provide an innovative context through which to investigate the potential for AI to enhance human agency in previously unimaginable ways, Granata said.</p>
<p>鈥淏y experimenting with AI tools in the classroom, we hope to provide our students with a unique and enriching learning experience that will prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century, where AI literacy is key.鈥�</p>
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Mon, 10 Apr 2023 18:36:36 +0000Christopher.Sorensen301053 at Researchers' model could help avert global helium supply crisis
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<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Researchers' model could help avert global helium supply crisis </span>
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<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-03-03T08:59:39-05:00" title="Friday, March 3, 2023 - 08:59" class="datetime">Fri, 03/03/2023 - 08:59</time>
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<div class="field__item">A tube of helium glows in the presence of a plasma ball (image courtesy of Oliver Warr, University of Ottawa; AEL AMS Laboratory)</div>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A new theoretical model developed by earth scientists at the University of Oxford, University of Toronto and Durham University may help alleviate a global supply shortage of helium 鈥� a naturally occurring gas critical for a wide range of medical, scientific and industrial applications, from cooling the magnets of MRI scanners to filling non-combustible balloons.</p>
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<p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT18075_0W7A0233-crop.jpg" alt><em>Barbara Sherwood Lollar (photo by Perry King)鈥嬧€嬧€嬧€嬧€嬧€�</em></p>
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<p>In <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05659-0">a study published <em>Nature</em></a>, lead author and Oxford post-doctoral researcher Anran Cheng and colleagues explain for the first time how helium-rich gas fields form just beneath Earth鈥檚 surface and could help in locating untapped reservoirs around the world. Cheng completed this research as part of her doctoral work at Oxford, supervised by study co-authors Chris Ballentine at Oxford and 茄子直播 University researcher <strong>Barbara Sherwood Lollar.</strong></p>
<p>鈥淗elium is in critically short supply worldwide, and current production methods are associated with significant carbon emissions that are contributing to climate change,鈥� says Sherwood Lollar, <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/">University Professor</a> in the department of Earth sciences in 茄子直播鈥檚 Faculty of Arts & Science. 鈥淭hese results may enable the identification of alternative, carbon-free sources of helium that are accessible due to natural processes 鈥� and may lead us to new hydrogen sources, as well.鈥�</p>
<p>Helium escapes from deep in Earth鈥檚 crust through bubbles of nitrogen gas diffusing from subsurface water. The process can take hundreds of millions of years, but when it happens these bubbles rise towards the surface due to helium鈥檚 buoyancy until they hit a rock type through which they can鈥檛 pass. According to the new model, the helium-rich gas bubbles then collect beneath the seal and can form a substantial gas field in the porous rock space beneath Earth鈥檚 surface.</p>
<p>By factoring in the presence of high concentrations of nitrogen gas 鈥� looking for nitrogen to find helium 鈥� the researchers for the first time used the model to determine the geological conditions necessary for the accumulation of nitrogen to become high enough to result in these helium-rich deposits. When the researchers applied the model to an example system 鈥� Williston Basin, a large sedimentary basin in North America 鈥� using expected nitrogen concentration values, the model predicted the observed nitrogen and helium proportions.</p>
<p>鈥淭his model provides a new perspective to help identify the environments that slow helium gases down enough to accumulate in commercial amounts,鈥� says Cheng.</p>
<p>Helium is a US$6-billion market, with the gas being essential for the operation of MRI scanners, computer chips and fibre optic manufacture, as well as state-of-the-art nuclear and cryogenic applications. A current global shortage has pushed supplies nearly to a crisis point, with prices skyrocketing in recent years. The situation has been escalated by Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, as the new Amur gas-processing plant in Russia was to supply 35 per cent of the global helium demand.</p>
<p>In addition, almost all of today鈥檚 helium is a by-product of methane or carbon dioxide natural gas production. This carries a significant carbon footprint and hinders ambitions to achieve net-zero carbon emissions globally by 2050. In contrast, the naturally occurring nitrogen and helium-rich gases that were the focus of this study contain no methane or carbon dioxide, so tapping them does not release carbon emissions.</p>
<p>The model also suggests regions where large amounts of hydrogen gas may accumulate underground since the radioactivity that generates helium also splits water to form hydrogen.</p>
<p>鈥淭his new understanding of helium accumulation provides us with the critical start of a recipe to identify where significant amounts of geological hydrogen, as well as helium, might still be found,鈥� says study co-author Jon Gluyas, professor at Durham University and executive director of the Durham Energy Institute.</p>
<p>With a global market of US$135 billion, hydrogen is used to create fertilizer and to produce many compounds essential for the food, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. Virtually all hydrogen gas is currently produced from coal and natural gas, and this alone accounts for 2.3 per cent of global carbon emissions. Hydrogen-rich underground deposits could provide an alternative carbon-free source.</p>
<p>鈥淭he amount of hydrogen generated by the continental crust over the last one billion years could power society鈥檚 energy needs for more than 100,000 years,鈥� says Ballentine.</p>
<p>Sherwood Lollar adds, 鈥淢uch of this hydrogen has escaped, been chemically reacted or used up by subsurface microbes 鈥� but we know from studying the gas in deep locations in the subsurface around the world that some of this hydrogen is indeed stored underground in significant quantities.鈥�</p>
<p>The work was funded by the China Scholarship Council, the UKRI Oil and Gas DTP, the University of Oxford department of Earth sciences, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and CIFAR.</p>
<p><em>With files from the University of Oxford and Jon Gluyas.</em></p>
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Fri, 03 Mar 2023 13:59:39 +0000Christopher.Sorensen180475 at