Canada Science and Technology Museum
3 things you should know about asbestos, potatoes, and the Aurora Borealis
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May 31, 2024
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Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Meet Renée-Claude Goulet, Michelle Campbell Mekarski, and Cassandra Marion.
They are Ingenium’s science advisors, providing expert scientific advice on key subjects relating to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
In this colourful monthly blog series, Ingenium’s science advisors offer up three quirky nuggets related to their areas of expertise. For the June edition, they tell us why asbestos is so common yet so dangerous, how to grow potatoes, and the science behind the aurora.
Asbestos: amazing properties, terrible health hazard
Last summer, a flood in my neighborhood revealed a hidden danger in our homes – asbestos. All the basements on our block filled with water, requiring extensive repairs. In the process, many of my neighbours – myself included – found asbestos-containing material in our homes. Removing these materials involved lots of draped plastic, ventilation fans, people in masks and suits, and truckloads of yellow, hazardous waste bags.
Photo Credit
The thin fibres of asbestos are key to its useful properties, and the reason for its danger to humans.
Naturally, this got us all wondering about asbestos. What is it? Why is it so dangerous? And why use it at all if it’s hazardous?
The earliest known use of asbestos is from 4,500-year-old pottery in Finland. Ancient Finnish potters discovered a rock made of long thin fibers that they could mix with the clay they used to make pots. Incorporating the strong, flexible fibres into the clay allowed them to make bigger, thinner, and more heat-resistant pots.
‘Asbestos’ refers to six naturally-occurring minerals that grow in long, thin, flexible fibers. Asbestos is strong, durable, resistant to heat and chemicals, and cheap. It has been widely used for thousands of years due to its remarkable properties. From ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt until modern times, asbestos was widely used in:
- insulation for homes, pipes, and ships;
- protective clothing such as gloves and firefighting gear;
- aviation, naval, and automotive parts;
- building materials like tiles, shingles, cement, drywall, spackling, and even paint;
- household appliances like hairdryers and crockpots; and,
- even some beauty products.
Unfortunately, as useful as asbestos is, we eventually found out that it was too good to be true.
As early as 2,000 years ago, slaves working in asbestos mines were recorded as suffering from lung disease. After the first commercial asbestos mines opened in Quebec in 1879, asbestos-related health problems started being studied and published. One early study of workers in an asbestos textile factory found that after 20 years of employment, 85 percent of workers developed asbestosis, a serious lung disease caused by asbestos.
The strong, heat- and chemical-resistant fibres that make asbestos a useful material in industry also make them a hazard to our health. The tiny fibres can get deep into your lungs where they get stuck in the mucus lining, obstructing air flow. The sharp fibers cut your lung tissue, causing inflammation and scarring. Asbestos also causes cancer by damaging the DNA in your lung cells. Worse, your body is never able to recover. Since asbestos fibers will not dissolve in the mucus, your body cannot get rid of them, which means that damage will continue to accumulate.
The hazardous nature of asbestos resulted in Canada limiting asbestos use after 1981 and prohibiting it after 2018 with limited exceptions. However, asbestos is still found in older products and buildings – especially those made before 1980. Luckily, most of the fibres are so tightly bound within material that they cannot escape into the air unless they are disturbed (e.g., drilling, cutting, or breaking the material). It’s important to test before disturbing potential asbestos-containing material, but if it’s left alone, the fibres should stay put.
In fact, each of us breathes in about a million asbestos fibres per year just from being outside as asbestos-containing rocks naturally erode. Fortunately, like many things, it’s “the dose that makes the poison.” Repeated exposure to high levels of asbestos is dangerous, but unless you work in an asbestos factory or regularly demolish old houses without protection, you probably don’t have to worry.
While asbestos has remarkable properties, its health risks far outweigh its benefits. If you suspect your home contains asbestos, always consult a professional before attempting any renovations. By staying informed and cautious, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the hidden hazards of asbestos.
Disclaimer: this article is for informational purposes only. If you suspect you have asbestos in your home or workplace, please contact certified professionals.
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By Michelle Campbell Mekarski
A potato science primer; from planting to harvesting!
Potatoes are easy to grow, but they are not quite like other crops, so planting them can be a little confusing or intimidating! Fear not, knowing a little bit more about this productive and nutritious root vegetable will surely have you planting a few spuds and reaping the rewards in no time!
First a little about how potatoes grow. While we plant seeds for our other crops (carrots, tomatoes, squash,…), for potatoes, we plant the whole things themselves. These are called seed potatoes. Potatoes are a great example of vegetative reproduction, or, cloning. The potatoes that grow will be genetically identical to the one you planted.
When it comes time to plant potatoes, we may come across the following conundrum; do I need to buy seed potatoes or can I just plant potatoes from my cupboard.
Photo Credit
Don’t throw out those old potatoes you found in your cupboard, try planting them instead!
For a few reasons it’s generally recommended to plant seed potatoes. They are sorted for size uniformity, they are ready for planting, and we can find some varieties we don't find in the grocery aisle. The plants may be healthier too because seed potatoes don't carry disease, which is not guaranteed with eating potatoes. Finally, regular potatoes may have some growth inhibitors on them to prevent them from sprouting. All that being said, if your eating potatoes are sprouting, they will work in the garden and you don't necessarily need to spend the time and money to get specific seed potatoes. For farmers, however, buying certified seed potatoes helps curb diseases and pests in the field, and means better harvests!
In their growing cycle, potato plants make berries containing hundreds of seeds. So why don't we grow them from seed? First off, grown from seed, the potato plant only makes potatoes in its second year. And second, but most importantly, the potatoes grown from seed are genetically different from their parent plant, so you don't know what you're going to get. This is useful for breeders who want to make new potato varieties, but for growers who want to grow specific kinds, seed potatoes allow us to get the results we expect.
The ideal potato size to plant is about the size of a golf ball. Any bigger and it can be cut into pieces to make multiple potato seeds before planting. Each piece needs to be large enough (again, golf ball size) and has to have least one "eye." The eyes are actually buds, or areas on the potato that grow into new plants!
Once the potato is in the ground, the buds grow upwards into plant shoots, while roots begin to form at the shoot base. The seed potato provides the food needed by the shoots to make stems, leaves, and roots, until the plant is established enough to feed itself. As it gets bushier, the plant starts to grow slender stems - called stolons - just below ground and outwards in the soil. The new potatoes start to form at the tips of these stolons and bulk up over the next few weeks. When they are ready, the plant starts to die and turn yellow. Time for harvest! If you look closely at a potato, you will be able to find the point where it was attached to the rest of the plant.
Because the stolons grow outwards from the underground part of the stem, piling up soil around the base of the plant as it grows – a technique called hilling – can provide a larger harvest. This is because the plant can send more stolons into the added hilled soil as it grows taller. Hilling also protects the potatoes from being exposed to sunlight. Light makes potatoes turn green and creates a toxic compound called solanin.
Growing potatoes can be a fun summer activity, and you don’t need a lot of space to do it: a bucket with drainage holes will do the job! Potatoes need a lot of water and nitrogen, so make sure to water often and that your soil contains enough nutrients – and watch with anticipation as your plants grow! Happy gardening!
By: Renée-Claude Goulet
Decoding the Mysteries of Aurora
On May 10, 2024, a powerful solar storm resulted in extraordinarily beautiful aurora illuminating the night skies, even in the southern parts of Canada and the US!
The Northern Lights, properly termed Aurora Borealis when in the northern hemisphere, and Aurora Australis when occurring in the southern hemisphere, are generally known as a colourful light show in the night sky when located near the Earth’s magnetic poles. Here we’ll take a closer look at the science behind aurora and how to best observe them.
Photo Credit
Brilliant aurora lighting up the sky on the shores of Georgian Bay, Ontario, at 45 degrees latitude, May 10, 2024.
The Science
Simply put, aurora are the result of the interaction between solar wind, the Earth’s magnetic field, and molecules in the upper atmosphere. More specifically, charged particles (electrons and protons) ejected from the Sun’s corona (outer atmosphere) radiate into space and come into contact with Earth’s magnetic field. Those particles are redirected around the planet along magnetic field lines to the poles. When collisions occur in series between the charged particles and gases in the upper atmosphere, energy is released and the sky fluoresces which gives the appearance of moving ribbons of light.
Organizations such as NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre provide aurora visibility forecasts based on solar wind data, magnetic field measurements and other space weather observations. They report and update prediction maps and also report a Kp index reading that indicates geomagnetic activity levels on a scale of 0 to 9, wherein higher values correspond to widespread aurora.
The Sun’s activity operates on an 11-year cycle, in which we happen to be approaching the predicted solar maximum – when the Sun is the most active. When the Sun is active, it has many sun spots and associated large magnetic eruptions on its surface. When those eruptions occur on the Earth-side of the Sun, our planet experiences a significant increase in solar wind or charged particles, and consequently, intensity of aurora. Most recently in May 2024, an incredible Kp9 solar storm was recorded and observed from most of North America, whereas most days it is restricted to the latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.
Aurora can appear as mesmerizing curtains blowing in the sky, and may vary in colour from green, red, purple, and blue. These colours are determined by the type of gas involved and the altitude at which the interactions occur. Green for example, is the most commonly observed colour, and is produced by interaction with oxygen molecules about 100 km above the Earth. Red aurora are also caused by oxygen at higher altitudes above 300 km. Nitrogen can produce blue or purplish-red aurora depending on the energy of the incoming particles.
Aurora not only enchant observers but also offer a fascinating glimpse into the dynamic interactions between our planet and the cosmos. In fact, most of the planets in our Solar System, excepting the atmosphere-less Mercury, experience some form of aurora. For best results, plan ahead to view the aurora at high latitudes, check the aurora and weather forecast (aiming for clear skies of course), and find a location well away from city light pollution. At times, the naked eye cannot make them out, but a decent camera set for long exposure may surprise you. As we approach the peak of the solar cycle, opportunities to see this celestial phenomenon should become more frequent, offering both seasoned sky watchers and new enthusiasts a chance to witness aurora magic.
By Cassandra Marion
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Michelle Campbell Mekarski, PhD
As the Science Advisor at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Michelle’s goal is to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the public — specializing in making science and technology engaging, accessible, and fun. Michelle earned a PhD in evolutionary biology and paleontology and has many years of experience developing and delivering science outreach activities. When away from her job at the museum, she can be found teaching at the University of Ottawa or Carleton University, digging for fossils, or relaxing by the water.
Renée-Claude Goulet
Renée-Claude Goulet is the Science Advisor at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, with over 15 years of experience in science communication. At the Museum, she develops exhibitions, educational programs, and resources that explore the science and innovation behind agriculture and food production. An Ontario Certified Teacher with a BSc in Biology and a BEd in Sciences, Renée-Claude is passionate about making complex topics accessible and engaging for all audiences.
Cassandra Marion, PhD
Cassandra is the Science Advisor for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. She has a PhD in geology and planetary science and exploration. Her research is focused on meteorite impact craters in the Canadian Arctic. She has more than a decade of experience in education and public outreach, developing and delivering science programming. She is dedicated to sharing her passion for Earth and planetary sciences with communities near and far, and improving science literacy in Canada.
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