New dinosaur named by University of Alberta research team
A new species of ankylosaur, an armored plant-eating dinosaur with a club for a tail, horns, and a distinctive pattern of grooves and bumps behind its eyes, has finally been given a name.
The species was discovered in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia in 2000 by a team of paleontologists lead by Dr. Philip Currie of the University of Alberta, but it was only this week that it was given the name Zaraapelta nomadis.
The name zaraapelta is a combination of Greek and Mongolian words meaning “hedgehog” and “shield.” Nomadis was chosen to honor the Mongolian company Nomadic Expeditions, which has helped paleontologists with evacuations in that region for two decades.
With files from Global News
Fun physical activities can improve children’s learning
A new study by Brendon Gurd, a Queen’s University researcher and professor of kinesiology and health studies, found that four minutes of high-intensity interval exercise can reduce off-task behaviour, such as inattentiveness, in primary school students.
This high-intensity interval exercise, or “FUNterval” as Gurd calls it, was given to Grade 2 and 4 students along with a non-active break on alternative days during instruction. It was only after the “FUNterval” breaks that classroom observers noticed less off-task behaviour.
Gurd believes that the innovative exercise method tested in this study may make it easier and more effective for Ontario teachers to meet the 20 minutes of daily activity that is required for primary school students.
With files from Queen’s Gazette
Saint Mary’s University unveils social media telescope
The Burke-Gaffney Observatory in Nova Scotia’s Saint Mary’s University presented its new telescope last month, which can examine objects 2.5 billion light years away.
The Planewave 0.6 metre CDK24 can also be synced to users’ social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, who will be able to move the telescope to an object and take a picture via remote control.
David Lane, the director of the observatory, hopes that this will get young people interested in science, math, and astronomy, and attract future students to the university’s science and math programs.
With files from CTV Atlantic
