MTLQC – Montreal QC
Montréal QC ☕ Morning Chat
Good morning, Montréal.
We’re wrapping up the week with an edition that steps a little off the beaten path… because curiosity truly has no borders.
From a discovery in deep space to brilliant student projects in Manitoba, an ancient Egyptian mystery finally solved, and a well‑earned win for the Habs, here’s a roundup that broadens the mind while keeping us grounded right here at home.
Grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.
🔦 Lead Story
Astronomers observe a comet reversing its rotation for the first time
Astronomers have, for the first time, observed a comet reverse its direction of rotation. Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, they tracked the surprising behaviour of comet 41P/Tuttle‑Giacobini‑Kresák after its pass near the Sun in 2017.
That spring, data from NASA’s Swift Observatory already showed the comet spinning three times more slowly than it had in March. Hubble then revealed something even rarer: after nearly coming to a stop, 41P began speeding up again — but in the opposite direction.
Researchers attribute the reversal to jets of outgassing acting like tiny thrusters. As the comet approached the Sun, heat turned its frozen ices into gas, creating uneven jets capable of dramatically altering its rotation.
According to David Jewitt, co‑author of the study published in Astronomical Journal, these jets can “radically change the way a comet — especially a small one — spins.”
Such a transformation is exceptional; changes of this magnitude usually take centuries. Believed to have formed in the Kuiper Belt before being pulled inward by Jupiter’s gravity, 41P offers a rare chance to watch a comet evolve in real time.
And staying with the theme of exploring a little farther than usual…
⚡ Noteworthy
First Nations science fair draws hundreds of students in Manitoba
A First Nations science fair brought together hundreds of students from across Manitoba on Thursday at the Victoria Inn, where young participants presented projects ranging from water quality to robotics.
“The students are really blending modern science with traditional knowledge and culture to create something innovative,” said Thelma Nice of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre.
Among the standout projects: Demarcus Boulanger, a Grade 9 student from Bloodvein River First Nation, built a remote‑controlled underwater vehicle out of a Tupperware container complete with coding, wiring, and a camera. “I care about the environment and our water,” he said. “Everyone should know what’s in it.”
Water quality was also the focus of Grade 8 student Jordyn Cutlip from Grand River, who tested tap water from several homes and found high hardness and alkalinity levels.
Winners will represent their communities at the 2026 Canada‑Wide Science Fair in Edmonton this May.
LaGuardia crash survivors could sue Air Canada for nearly $300,000
Survivors of the LaGuardia crash may be able to sue Air Canada for up to $300,000 each. Aviation law experts say passengers injured in Sunday’s fatal collision have several legal avenues.
Passenger‑rights advocate Gabor Lukacs notes that under the 1999 Montreal Convention, airlines are liable for death or bodily injury. Each passenger could receive up to roughly $300,000, and they have two years to file a claim.
U.S. aviation lawyer Kevin Durkin adds that they could also sue the U.S. aviation authority and the local port authority.
The collision between the Air Canada aircraft and a fire truck killed both pilots and sent more than 40 people to hospital.
A 3,000‑year‑old Egyptian mystery solved through CT scans and DNA
For millennia, Egypt’s most famous palace conspiracy remained unsolved: a murdered pharaoh, a screaming unidentified mummy, and a papyrus describing a trial without revealing its outcome.
That changed in 2012, when Egyptologist Zahi Hawass and his team published forensic findings in the British Medical Journal. CT scans of Ramses III’s mummy revealed a 70‑mm cut beneath the larynx, severing the trachea, esophagus, and major blood vessels — a fatal wound.
DNA analysis then delivered the key discovery: Ramses III and the unidentified “Man E” shared the same Y‑chromosome haplotype, indicating a father‑son relationship. Compressed skin folds around Man E’s neck suggested strangulation or suffocation, possibly self‑inflicted. His goat‑skin wrapping matched ritual punishment for a condemned traitor.
A 2016 follow‑up study added one more detail: Ramses III’s left big toe had been severed by a different weapon than the one used on his throat, evidence of multiple attackers.
Back to Montréal now, with three stories from right here at home.
🏒 At Home
Zachary Bolduc ends a 31‑game drought and lifts the Canadiens to a 2–1 win over Columbus
The 23‑year‑old set up the opening goal and then scored the winner, his first since December 23.
“It feels good,” he said. “The year has been up and down, but I feel very comfortable now.”
Bolduc arrived in Montréal with high expectations after a strong start in St. Louis, and he has looked more confident in recent weeks. He also set up Jayden Struble’s first goal of the season.
“When you keep it simple, you stop second‑guessing yourself,” Jake Evans said. “He is just making the right plays.”
On a night when the first line did not produce, unexpected offensive contributors stepped up. That is important with 11 games left in a tight playoff race. The Canadiens face the Predators on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bell Centre.
Montréal’s immersive film festival SAT Fest wraps up on Sunday
The annual SAT Fest showcases 52 short films inside the SAT’s 360‑degree Satosphere dome. Filmmakers from 14 countries created works specifically for the full‑dome immersive experience.
Most screenings run from March 25 to 27. On Sunday, March 28, SAT Fest closes with its first‑ever family program, Petite SAT, with 40‑minute screenings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony and a celebration.
After the festival, Montréal audiences will be able to see a compilation of the award‑winning films from March 31 to April 29.
Montréal Metropolitan Airport unveils a new terminal opening in June
Montréal Metropolitan Airport says its new terminal will open in a few months as it prepares to welcome commercial flights.
💛 Coup de Cœur
Demarcus Boulanger, the Grade 9 student who built a remote‑controlled underwater vehicle because he cares about the environment and wants everyone to know what is in his community’s water. Proof that passion for science and the common good has no age limit.
🎬 Practical Corner
The Canadiens host the Predators on Saturday night
If you are looking for something to do Saturday evening, the Canadiens face the Predators at 7 p.m. at the Bell Centre. With 11 games left in a tight playoff race, every win matters. And after Zachary Bolduc’s performance on Thursday, the team seems to have found a bit of offensive depth at the right moment.
Last chance for SAT Fest this weekend
If you have not yet experienced the immersive films at SAT Fest in the Satosphere, you still have a few days. Regular screenings continue until Saturday, March 27. Sunday, March 28 is your last chance, with the Petite SAT family program at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony. A great cultural outing to end the weekend.
New terminal at Montréal Metropolitan Airport in June
For those travelling or who know someone who uses Montréal Metropolitan Airport, note that the new terminal will open in June. Good news for upcoming commercial flights.
👋 To Finish
That’s it for this Friday morning. An edition that takes us from deep space to Manitoba classrooms, through the mysteries of ancient Egypt and a well‑earned win for the Habs.
Sometimes it is good to look up and remember that our curiosity has no borders.
Have a great weekend, enjoy it, as for us, we will be right back here tomorrow.
Have a wonderful day today, Montréal. ☕
Leave a Reply