News
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Do bacteria ever go extinct? New research says yes, bigtime
July 30, 2018
Bacteria go extinct at substantial rates, although appear to avoid the mass extinctions that have hit larger forms of life on Earth, according to new research from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Caltech, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The finding contradicts widely held… read more
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Theory of general relativity proven yet again in new research
July 4, 2018
In a novel test of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, an international group of astronomers has demonstrated that the theory holds up, even for a massive three-star system. Einstein’s theory states that all objects fall the same way despite their mass or composition, like a… read more
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Zoology welcomes new head
June 28, 2018
Professor Vanessa Auld begins a five-year term as head of UBC’s Department of Zoology on July 3. Internationally recognized for her research in neuroscience, cell and developmental biology, Auld earned her BSc in Microbiology from UBC and her PhD from the University of Toronto. … read more
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As penguins dive, their location data takes flight
June 27, 2018
Data sent from penguins to space and back to UBC could help researchers determine why the species’ breeding population fluctuates so dramatically. UBC researchers visited the South Atlantic in April to attach small transmitters to the backs of 66 Gentoo penguins from two colonies in the… read more
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UBC researchers create matchmaking service to combat antibiotic resistant infections
June 21, 2018
UBC researchers have matched small proteins, called peptides, with antibiotics so they can work together to combat hard-to-treat infections that don’t respond well to drugs on their own. The study builds on previous research that showed that the peptides are key to making harmful bacteria… read more
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Climate change has fish migrating faster than regulations can keep up
June 14, 2018
The world’s system for allocating fish stocks is being outpaced by the movement of fish species in response to climate change, according to a study undertaken by an international team of marine ecologists, fisheries and social scientists, and lawyers. “Fish fleeing warming waters will… read more
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Recycling may be confusing but volunteers help get it right
June 13, 2018
Trained volunteers at large-scale public events and festivals are the most effective way to ensure people recycle correctly, suggests new UBC research. Researchers used data from the annual Apple Festival, held at the UBC Botanical Garden and attended by more than 10,000 people, to compare the… read more
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One company owns half the patents for genes from marine species
June 6, 2018
A single corporation has registered nearly half of all existing patents associated with genes from marine organisms, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the Stockholm Resilience Centre examined the patents associated with marine species and found that… read more
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Hey Alexa: Amazon’s virtual assistant becomes a personal assistant to software developers
May 24, 2018
UBC computer scientists have turned Amazon Alexa into a tool for software engineers, tasking the virtual assistant to take care of mundane programming tasks, helping increase productivity and speed up workflow. Software engineers use many different tools for any one project. They work with… read more
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Three UBC physicists receive national honours
May 15, 2018
The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) awarded medals to three UBC physicists today, recognizing their work in quantum materials, particle physics, and theoretical high energy physics. It’s the largest number of CAP medal recipients the University has enjoyed in any one year. Andrea… read more