At Home: No Place to Go
As the holidays near, we’re often reminded to think of those who lack the comfort and security of a home to call their own. But according to a new study, there’s another vulnerable but often-forgotten group: those whose housing conditions are unsafe or unhealthy.
As the CBC reports, a new study notes that those who live ?in extremely poor housing conditions face the same health risks as those who are homeless.?
The study, helmed by researchers at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, called the situation a ?[h]idden [e]mergency? and stated that about 400,000 people ?are estimated to be vulnerably housed.?
The study focused on the vulnerably housed ?at the extreme end of the spectrum . . . including those living in rooming houses, single-room occupancy hotels and illegal basement apartments.? It revealed that the vulnerably housed shared similar characteristics with homeless people; for example, more than 50 per cent of both groups are suffering from mental health problems. In addition, ?[m]ore than a third have been assaulted in the past year.?
As Dr. Stephen Hwang, lead researcher in the study, told reporters, ?Before now . . . decision-makers have often thought of . . . the homeless and the vulnerably housed . . . as two distinct populations.” He added, “This study paints a different picture.?
Around the World: When I See a Dinosaur Fly
Winged dinosaurs: we all remember the concept from our childhoods, and there’s ample evidence from the fossil record to suggest their existence long ago. Yet although we always pictured them in flight, scientists have frequently theorized that some of the winged dinosaurs were in fact unable to fly due to their huge size and their resulting inability to launch themselves quickly into the air. A new theory, however, sets out to prove that these so-called flightless dinosaurs were in fact able to fly well.
As the CBC reports, British and American researchers have suggested that pterosaurs, previously thought flightless, could in fact go airborne. Although the pterosaurs? weight would have made it impossible for the dinosaurs to ?launch themselves into the air with their legs,? the adaptable reptiles allegedly used their arms instead.
According to the study, the pterosaurs ?took off by vaulting themselves into the air with their arms.? This would have given them a boost powerful enough to launch them to the height and speed necessary to sustain flight.
And once airborne, there were no difficulties. As researcher and Chatham University biologist Michael Habib told reporters, ?All the indications are they’re very good at flying.?
