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A low-cost, portable, solar-fuelled water desalination device developed by Dalhousie researchers could help address one of the most pressing problems in developing countries or remote areas: combatting water scarcity.  

The floating solar still can both desalinate water and generate thermoelectricity, and is made from humble components — used tires — compared with competing devices made from precious metals. 

The idea for the still stemmed from refractory plasmonics, a field that aims to develop thermally and chemically stable nanomaterials that can manipulate light in special ways under harsh conditions. 

A wicking system brings ocean water up to the foam surface of the device, where it’s evaporated by solar-heated plasmonic materials. With the salt left behind, the water recondenses on the clear plastic dome over the top of the device and is funneled down the sides where it’s collected in a sealed bag. — Kenneth Conrad

As Canada invests in a new fleet of submarines, it must also keep its aging Victoria-class vessels operational into the 2030s. That’s where Dalhousie’s Dr. Paul Bishop is making waves. A global expert in additive manufacturing, Dr. Bishop is partnering with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to create critical submarine components using advanced metal 3D printing.

The project tackles a major challenge: sourcing replacement parts for decades-old vessels when original manufacturers no longer exist. Dr. Bishop’s team is pioneering research into highly specialized naval alloys, turning them into printable powders and developing manufacturing “recipes” that Canadian suppliers can scale. The work has the potential to not strengthens military readiness and builds domestic defence capacity.

“This project isn’t just about making one or two components — it’s about building long-term industrial capacity in Canada,” says DRDC scientist Cameron Munro. “We’re developing processes and proving they work, so the Navy can use them in the future without needing to start from scratch.” — Andrew Riley

When Andrew Tate rose to prominence in 2022, the masculinity influencer became a polarizing fixture on social media platforms and raised questions about how his rhetoric might influence followers and how they might express that. 

Researchers at pilipili���� examined the issue by asking teachers if they were being affected in the classroom by Tate's messaging, which has been called misogynistic and intolerant. 

The researchers analyzed Reddit.com posts from June 2022 to February 2023, finding that students were parroting male supremacist rhetoric at school and making female teachers feel devalued.  
 

Teachers said they experienced threatening behaviour and that it affected their interest in continuing as educators, the atmosphere in their classrooms and the safety of the school environment. Some reported that boys told them outright that they don’t have to listen to women. — Dawn Morrison