News
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UBC zoologist solves the 100-year-old mystery of the floating phantom midge
January 26, 2022
In spring 2018, Dr. Philip Matthews spent a typical afternoon capturing dragonflies in the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) experimental ponds. Little did the zoologist know he was about to embark on a journey to solve a century-old entomological mystery involving a much smaller, but… read more
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Salmon camps show youth Indigenous science at work
January 25, 2022
Imagine a summer camp where you can watch grizzly bears catch salmon in streams, while learning about the migration and preparation of the fish hovering in the water at your feet. Welcome to the Salmon Science Camp for Nisga’a youth, run by Dr. Andrea Reid (she/her), principal investigator… read more
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$1.4 million gift helps UBC Botanical Garden grow its conservation, climate adaptation efforts
January 18, 2022
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Sunflowers’ invisible colours help them attract bees and adapt to drought
January 18, 2022
It turns out sunflowers are more than just a pretty face: the ultraviolet colours of their flowers not only attract pollinators, but also help the plant regulate water loss, according to new UBC research. The dense collection of yellow petals of a sunflower (technically an ‘inflorescence… read more
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CRCs appointed at UBC Science in ecology, computer science, and astrophysics
January 12, 2022
UBC Science receives funding for research in ecology, computer science, astrophysics, and microbiology through the appointment of three new Canada Research Chairs and one renewal. This honour is shared with a total of 188 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs across 43 institutions in Canada for… read more
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Machine learning and AI used to rapidly detect sepsis, cutting risk of death dramatically
January 10, 2022
A groundbreaking advance in quickly detecting sepsis using machine learning has been pioneered by researchers in the Hancock Lab and the department of microbiology and immunology at UBC. Sepsis is one of the biggest killers in the world, responsible for one in five deaths worldwide including… read more
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Data confirm link between respiratory stress and fish reproduction
January 10, 2022
A consistent metabolic ratio found across 133 Chinese marine and freshwater fish species provides new evidence in support of the idea that fish become sexually active – and spawn for the first time – in response to growth-induced respiratory stress. Using the maximum size, and… read more
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B.C. sea sponge has COVID-blocking powers
January 9, 2022
UBC researchers have identified three compounds that prevent COVID-19 infection in human cells, derived from natural sources including a B.C. sea sponge. The discovery paves the way for the development of new medicines for COVID-19 variants made from natural sources. And given nature’s… read more
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UBC Science appoints new Associate Deans Students, Academic
January 5, 2022
The Faculty of Science is pleased to announce two senior leadership transitions: Dr. James Charbonneau as our new Associate Dean Students, and Dr. Jaclyn Stewart as our new Associate Dean Academic, with their new roles effective January 1, 2022. They will replace Dr. Ian Cavers and Dr. Sara… read more
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New research shows gene exchange between viruses and hosts drives evolution
January 4, 2022
The first comprehensive analysis of viral horizontal gene transfer (HGT) illustrates the extent to which viruses pick up genes from their hosts to hone their infection process, while at the same time hosts also co-opt useful viral genes. HGT is the movement of genetic material between disparate… read more