News
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How ancient microbes created massive ore deposits, set the stage for early life on Earth
November 27, 2019
New research in Science Advances is uncovering the vital role that Precambrian-eon microbes may have played in two of the early Earth's biggest mysteries. University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers, and collaborators from the universities of Alberta, Tübingen, Autònoma de… read more
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Aerial drones offer new perspective on resident killer whale behaviour
November 4, 2019
Scientists at the University of British Columbia are getting a rare glimpse into the underwater behaviour of northern and southern resident killer whales off the B.C. coast, with the help of aerial drones. The unique footage, filmed in collaboration with the Hakai Institute, will help… read more
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The frostier the flower, the more potent the cannabis: UBC study
October 28, 2019
Cannabis flowers with the most mushroom-shaped hairs pack the biggest cannabinoid and fragrance punch, according to new research from the University of British Columbia. While the cannabis leaf is iconic, it’s the chemicals produced by the tiny, frostlike hairs on cannabis flowers that give… read more
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Collecting the Impossible moss: BC species key to charting 1 billion years of plant evolution
October 23, 2019
An international team of researchers have completed a massive effort to sequence genes from more than 1,100 plant species—an undertaking that saw UBC botanists collect rare mosses from remote corners of BC, and travel to the South Pacific to collect parasitic plants. "One of the crucial… read more
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Why are bald eagles such great gliders? It's all in the wrist
October 23, 2019
Birds come in an astounding array of shapes and colours. But it’s their physical prowess—like a bald eagle’s incredible ability to soar—that captivates human imagination. An enduring mystery is why bird species with similar flight styles or body sizes don’t have… read more
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Atmospheric pressure impacts greenhouse gas emissions from leaky oil and gas wells
October 18, 2019
Fluctuations in atmospheric pressure can heavily influence how much natural gas leaks from wells below the ground surface at oil and gas sites, according to new University of British Columbia research. However, current monitoring strategies do not take this phenomenon into account, and therefore… read more
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Two UBC Science students receive Canada’s largest STEM scholarship
October 15, 2019
First-year UBC Science students Helen Zhang and Lauren Moody have been named 2019 Schulich Leader Scholars. They were among 1,400 nominees across Canada competing for 50 scholarships, valued at up to $100,000 each. “With 50 outstanding students selected in Canada each year it is all but… read more
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How a new UBC program is tackling the booming field of computational linguistics
October 8, 2019
We ask Google to pinpoint the nearest café all the time, but how are language and computers integrated? UBC Master of Data Science in Computational Linguistics director Bryan Gick and assistant professor of Computational Linguistics and Information Science Muhammad Abdul-Mageed, both… read more
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Climate change could pit species against one another as they shift ranges
September 30, 2019
Species have few good options when it comes to surviving climate change—they can genetically adapt to new conditions, shift their ranges, or both. But new research in PNAS indicates that conflicts between species as they adapt and shift ranges could lead experts to underestimate extinctions… read more
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UBC ecologist honored by American Museum of Natural History
September 26, 2019
Claire Kremen, a UBC ecologist and biologist whose research involves reconciling agricultural land use with biodiversity conservation, has been awarded an honorary degree by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Kremen received the degree Doctor of Science Honoris Causa from the AMNH… read more