Daily News

Posted on Nov. 28: Scientists show planets created in hundreds, not millions, of years

McMaster researcher James Wadsley has helped demonstrate that large gaseous planets like Jupiter could be created in hundreds, not millions of years, as previously believed. The research associate with SHARCNET (Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network) is part of a team of international astrophysicists from the U.S. and Switzerland, who have successfully created the first computer simulation that shows giant gaseous planets can be formed quickly. Their research is published in today's edition of Science. Wadsley became involved when he developed the gas computer code used for the research as a post-doctoral fellow while at the University of Washington in Seattle. Lucio Mayer, of the University of Zurich, is the lead author. The co-authors are University of Washington astrophysicist Thomas Quinn and Joachim Stadel, formerly of the University of Victoria in British Columbia and now at the University of Zurich. The popular theory holds that rocky planets like Earth were created as rocks orbiting in a disk around the young sun continuously collided, sticking to form larger and larger objects. Further from the sun, the collision process is thought to take millions of years. This theory is more difficult to accept for giant gaseous planets like Jupiter and Saturn because the planets have to form before nearby bright stars can disperse the gases that must be added to the theoretical rocky core. The new approach assumes that the disk is heavy with gas that can fragment under its own gravity to form gas giant planets in just a few hundred years without a preceding rocky stage.

Posted on Nov. 28: 25-year employees inducted into Quarter Century Club

In 1977, 96 new faculty and staff joined McMaster University. Last night, they joined a special group McMaster's Quarter Century Club. "In every decade, McMaster has grown and prospered," remarked President Peter George to the staff and faculty who contributed 25 years of service to the University. "You saw it happen. In fact, you helped to make it happen. None of what McMaster is today would have been possible without the faculty and staff who dared to dream, to ask the right questions, to go above and beyond the call of duty to help a colleague or a student. You have all risen to meet the challenge, and the University is very grateful." About 20 more employees than last year were inducted, as a result of the University marking cumulative service. Introduced in 2002, the intent of cumulative service recognition is to acknowledge the total service of employees, including those who left the University for a time and then returned to continue their work. Click here for a list of the inductees.

Posted on Nov. 27: Recycling 101: don’t contaminate trash

Pop quiz: True or false Coffee cups cannot be recycled Fine paper bins located in offices should be used to recycle paper only Newspaper, fine paper, envelopes and sticky pads can be put together in the paper recycling containers Contamination renders the entire recycling bin as garbage If you answered false to any of these questions, you may need a lesson in proper recycling. While McMaster's newly reinstated recycling program is one step closer to making the University more environmentally friendly, without the knowledge of how to recycle, these efforts may as well be trashed, says Stephanie Herod, a physical plant environmental student representative who is working with OMG Media to ensure that new recycling bins are installed throughout campus. Tossing garbage into the wrong bin can contaminate the entire container, she says. "Physical Plant can get this going but nothing can get recycled unless people do it correctly," she says. "People need to be educated about what goes in what bins and we need to generate enthusiasm in people to want to recycle."

Posted on Nov. 26: Solar car team fires up for the challenge

Zipping along Route 66 at speeds in excess of 70 km/h, the car won't burn an iota of gasoline. As the sun in the hazy Arizona sky burns overhead, the driver will clinch the wheel and power on in a race against more than 30 teams from around the globe. They call it Fireball II and they know it's going to be a force to be reckoned with. "We're going to be very competitive," says third-year commerce student Tammy Hwang about the American Solar Challenge just eight months away. "We plan to make it into the top five. I know that sounds ambitious, but we have the right kind of teamwork and skills to do it."

Posted on Nov. 25: Refining Directions information sessions begin tomorrow

McMaster has embarked on a new and important strategic planning process called Refining Directions. University President Peter George and Provost Ken Norrie invite all members of the campus community to attend one of three upcoming information sessions to find out more about this initiative, which will help McMaster plan and prepare for the years following the double cohort (beyond 2005). Session Dates and Times Tuesday, November 26: 3:30-4:30 p.m., HSC-1A4 Thursday, November 28: 2:30-4 p.m., Room 241 Downtown Centre Monday, December 2: 1-2 p.m., Room 319, McMaster University Student Centre Refreshments provided