News
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Heart problems triggered by climate change could devastate Chinook salmon stocks
December 22, 2014
Wildlife biologists are trying to predict how animal populations all over the world will respond to climate change. There are many examples of how projected future temperatures will dramatically affect the performance of a wide range of animal species. Some species will acclimate to warmer… read more
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UBC astronomer confirms a new “Super-Earth” planet
December 18, 2014
A University of British Columbia astronomer is a key player in the discovery of a new exoplanet, out beyond our solar system. Jaymie Matthews, who doubles as a mission scientist with Canada’s first space telescope, put the technology to work to confirm the existence of a new planet 180… read more
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UBC chemist named top young Canadian scientist
December 15, 2014
UBC chemistry professor Mark MacLachlan has been awarded the 2014 Steacie Prize in the natural sciences, Canada’s top award for young scientists and engineers. The award recognizes MacLachlan’s outstanding research and scholarly contributions to the field of supramolecular inorganic… read more
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Hummingbird’s hover surprisingly easy to hack
December 8, 2014
Hummingbirds’ remarkable ability to hover in place is highly contingent on the tiny bird having a completely stationary visual field, according to University of British Columbia research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. UBC zoologists Benjamin Goller and… read more
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National biocatalysis network looks to replace petrochemicals with green alternatives
December 1, 2014
UBC chemists are part of a new research initiative aimed at upgrading the sustainability of Canada’s industrial sector by replacing its lifeblood — petrochemicals — with green alternatives. UBC, Concordia University and the University of Toronto make up the Industrial… read more
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Alan Turing: Beyond the code-breaker
November 19, 2014
The Imitation Game, a big-budget biopic of British mathematician and computer science pioneer Alan Turing, hits Canadian theatres in December. The film profiles Turing’s work as a top-secret British code breaker during the Second World War, portraying the man who cracked Nazi Germany’s… read more
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Founding Google investor Cheriton donates $7.5 million to UBC computer science
November 14, 2014
UBC alumnus David Cheriton has donated $7.5 million to UBC to create a chair in computer science and a new first-year course in computational thinking. Cheriton is a professor of computer science at Stanford University, a technology investor and business mentor. In 1998, he was a founding… read more
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UBC projects tap microbial genomics to boost sustainable bioenergy
November 14, 2014
Two new Genome BC-funded projects led by UBC researchers will harness microbial community research to help tackle sustainable development challenges in biofuel and BC shale gas development. The initiatives, led by UBC microbiologist Steven Hallam in collaboration with researchers Sean Crowe and… read more
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Life in Earth’s primordial sea was starved for sulfate
November 6, 2014
The Earth’s ancient oceans held much lower concentrations of sulfate—a key biological nutrient—than previously recognized, according to research published this week in Science. The findings paint a new portrait of our planet’s early biosphere and primitive marine life… read more
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UBC receives $26.9 million for 70 research projects
October 27, 2014
From genetic mapping to wind turbines, the University of British Columbia (UBC) has received $26.9 million toward 70 research infrastructure projects from the BC Knowledge Development Fund in 2014. “Our government invests in innovation to grow and diversify our economy,” said Minister… read more