Published in Focus·PinnedDarwin’s Eden awash in plasticsPenguin guano from the Galápagos is helping UBC researchers track microplastic pollution from around the globe — By Geoff Gilliard In 1835, Charles Darwin visited the Galápagos Islands as part of the round the world voyage that spawned his seminal On the Origin of Species. The book made the islands famous for their unique species and biological diversity, which arose as creatures arrived and then evolved in…Microplastic Pollution9 min readMicroplastic Pollution9 min read
Published in Focus·Nov 14, 2022The DNA of salmon heritageTwo UBC researchers are exploring the problem of dwindling salmon runs from opposite ends of the knowledge continuum—cutting edge genomics, and empirical evidence gathered over millennia by the Indigenous Peoples of the coast. — By Geoff Gilliard At least 7,000 years ago, the First Nations of the densely populated North Pacific coast had already grown prosperous from the ocean’s bounty, particularly near salmon fisheries. The salmon runs were surging in 1791 when Chief Kayapulano welcomed to his territory Spanish Captain José Narváez, the first…Salmon11 min readSalmon11 min read
Published in Focus·Updated Nov 14, 2022New bloodUniversity of British Columbia researchers have developed a process that could make blood types obsolete. — By Geoff Gilliard Dr. Stephen Withers has learned a lot about the economics of blood over the past few years. Blood donations dried up during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2022, Canadian Blood Services reported that the nation’s blood supply was critically low. Shortages also struck the U.S., Australia, much…Blood8 min readBlood8 min read
Published in Focus·Nov 14, 2022Wildfire smoke may warm Earth for longer than we thoughtBy Nealan Gerrebos and Dr. Allan Bertram, University of British Columbia Wildfires are a major source of air pollution. They are also predicted to worsen as climate change progresses. Within the smoke particles produced by these fires is a wide range of organic chemical compounds known as “brown carbon.” …Wildfires5 min readWildfires5 min read
Published in Focus·Jan 26, 2022Bird’s-eye viewHow UBC community members are flocking together to bird-proof campus buildings — By Silvia Moreno-Garcia Vancouver’s shiny, tall, mirror-like buildings are an attractive and much-photographed sight. So too is the local wildlife, with Vancouver boasting one of the highest densities of wintering birds of any Canadian city. Unfortunately, the combination can turn those beautiful reflective glass windows into bird killers.Birds7 min readBirds7 min read
Published in Focus·Jan 26, 2022It’s not too late to save the night skyBut governments need to get serious about protecting it — By Dr. Aaron Boley, University of British Columbia, and Dr. Samantha Lawler, University of Regina In early 2021, just after the Perseverance Rover landed on Mars, a purported image of the Martian night sky went viral. In that image, above the sleek metal of a Mars rover, the clearly defined…Astronomy6 min readAstronomy6 min read
Published in Focus·Jan 26, 202220/20: How drones could ‘see’ the world more accuratelyComputer vision and visual geometry are key to improving autonomous vehicles — By Silvia Moreno-Garcia UBC computer scientist Dr. Kwang Moo Yi studies computer vision and visual geometry — hoping to enable computer systems to better understand their environment, which could lead to truly autonomous drones, vehicles and robots. Can you tell us about your research? Autonomous drones, vehicles and robots need…Computer Science4 min readComputer Science4 min read
Published in Focus·Jan 18, 2022Bee-ting the heatCould insulated hives protect bees from next summer’s heat waves? — By Silvia Moreno-Garcia It was a macabre sight. Dozens of dead drone bees spread over the ground, looking as if they had literally exploded from the inside out. “When drones die from shock, they spontaneously ejaculate,” explains Dr. Alison McAfee, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories who has…Bees5 min readBees5 min read
Published in Focus·Jul 5, 2021Summer science for the whole familyLooking for STEM activities for your family this summer? The University of British Columbia has online resources for you to explore, or check out some of our in-person programming 🎟️. UBC partners The Beaty Biodiversity Museum offers downloadable activities, online exhibitions and videos. …Science2 min readScience2 min read
Published in Focus·Apr 20, 2021Celebrate Earth Day 2021 with UBC ScienceWe should care about our environment all year long, but Earth Day is a good reminder to pause and consider the myriad issues affecting our planet and envision how we can create a cleaner, fairer, more sustainable world for all. — This Earth Day, we look at some of the resources around UBC that explore the many ways humanity and our planet are interconnected. Earth 2020 Last year, UBC oceanographer Dr. Philippe Tortell edited Earth 2020: An Insider’s Guide to a Rapidly Changing Planet, a free selection of essays from scientists considering the ecological issues facing our planet. Researchers such as Dr. Sally Aitken explain why tree planting alone can’t fix climate change, Dr. Rashid Sumaila…Science2 min readScience2 min read
