Science Matters archives
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After 25 years, it's time to stop spinning our wheels
January 3, 2013Every year that we stall makes it more costly and challenging, with increasing negative impacts on humans and our environment. More »
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Let's resolve to make it a real Happy New Year
December 13, 2012Wouldn't it be wonderful if world leaders resolved to look at life in a different light this New Year? They could follow the example of Bhutan. In 1971, the small... More »
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Are we trading away our rights and environment?
December 6, 2012Global trade has advantages. For starters, it allows those of us who live through winter to eat fresh produce year-round. And it provides economic benefits to farmers who grow that... More »
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Mega-quarry victory shows people have the power
November 29, 2012"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." These words, attributed to anthropologist Margaret Mead, capture the power that we, as citizens, have to... More »
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President Obama must show some climate leadership
November 22, 2012The race to become leader of the world's most powerful democracy often seemed disconnected from reality. During debates, the two main candidates stooped to insults, half-truths and outright lies. The... More »
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Life flourishes even in the cracks
November 15, 2012Have you ever thought about the grass that grows in sidewalk cracks? More »
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Will we learn from Sandy?
November 8, 2012The storm that wreaked havoc on Caribbean nations and the U.S. East Coast in late October offers a glimpse into our future. Along with recent heavy rainfall, flooding, heat waves... More »
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We can learn from nature's genius
November 1, 2012I've always been more interested in organisms that can move on their own than in stationary plants. But when I canoe or hike along the edge of lakes or oceans... More »
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China deal and budget sacrifice democracy to short-term goals
October 25, 2012Why, when so many people oppose the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project, would government and industry resort to such extreme measures to push it through? The problems with the plan... More »
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Taters versus craters: mega-quarry pits farmland against industry
October 18, 2012A billion tonnes of limestone lie beneath the rural countryside in Melancthon Township, 100 kilometres north of Toronto. A plan to remove it spotlights the challenges faced everywhere when the... More »
