Science, Health and Technology

UBC experts on decriminalization of hard drugs

From Jan. 31, the federal and B.C. governments will decriminalize possession of small amounts of certain drugs—opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy—intended for personal use. UBC experts are available to comment.

Jan 26, 2023

fMRI shows decreased functional connectivity in the brain following exposure to traffic pollution.

Traffic pollution impairs brain function

First-in-the-world study suggests that even brief exposure to air pollution has rapid impacts on the brain

Jan 24, 2023

Why does the date of Lunar New Year change?

This lunar new year falls on Jan. 22, making it one of the earliest in recent history. So why does the date of the lunar new year change?

Jan 19, 2023

Southern Resident killer whales swimming. Photo Credit: Paul Cottrell, DFO. Usage: Single Use Only

Toxic toilet paper and long-lasting chemicals found in endangered killer whales

A chemical used in the production of toilet paper and ‘forever chemicals’ have been found in the bodies of orcas in B.C., including the endangered southern resident killer whales.

Jan 12, 2023

UBC pharmaceutical sciences researcher Dr. Corey Nislow will discuss how space flight has changed yeast and algae cultures. Photo: Justin Ohata/UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Event: Unboxing of space-travelling yeast and algae

Media are invited to capture the unveiling of two UBC science experiments that have circled the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis 1 lunar mission.

Jan 10, 2023

Co-first author Dr. Jimena Pérez-Vargas working in the Jean lab. Photo credit: Paul Joseph

B.C. sea sponge has COVID-blocking powers

UBC researchers have identified three compounds that prevent COVID-19 infection in human cells, derived from natural sources including a B.C. sea sponge.

Jan 9, 2023

A family of black bears cross a highway in Canada. Photo credit: Liam Brennan. Usage: Single Use Only

Most wildlife bridges are bear-ly wide enough

Canadian researchers measured wildlife overpasses around the world and found 71 per cent in North America are narrower than recommended.

Dec 19, 2022

UBC engineers want to save whales from drowning…in noise

Chronic ship noise can lead to stress, hearing loss and feeding problems for marine mammals like whales, dolphins and porpoises. UBC researchers are diving in to help address the issue.

Dec 15, 2022

Cells treated with the compound (right) showed reduced infection from the Omicron variant compared to untreated cells (left). Photo credit: Dr. Selvarani Vimalanathan, Molecular Biomedicine

From COVID-19 to the common cold: UBC scientists identify broadly effective, infection-halting compound

Researchers at UBC’s Life Sciences Institute have identified a compound that shows early promise at halting infections from a range of coronaviruses, including all variants of SARS-CoV-2 and the common cold.

Dec 14, 2022

Climate change contributing to real Christmas tree shortage

UBC Faculty of Forestry professor Richard Hamelin explains how climate change continues to plague the real Christmas tree market and what should be considered for improving the worldwide growing supply chain shortage.

Dec 9, 2022

On the left is a starving provoran. On the right, it has engulfed its prey.

Photo Credit: Tikhonenkov, Mikhailov, Gawryluk, Belyaev, Mathur, Karpov, Zagumyonnyi, Borodina, Prokina, Mylnikov, Aleoshin, and Keeling, Nature

New branch on tree of life includes ‘lions of the microbial world’

There’s a new branch on the tree of life and it’s made up of predators that nibble their prey to death.

Dec 7, 2022

Credit: Paul Joseph/University of British Columbia

$33.8M gift to transform MS research and save more lives, sooner

A $33.8 million gift has been donated to the University of British Columbia and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation for multiple sclerosis (MS) research and care—the largest known donation ever for MS research worldwide.

Dec 7, 2022

UBC biodiversity experts and delegates at COP15

UBC experts are available to comment on the 15th United Nations biodiversity conference, Conference of the Parties (COP15) which will take place Dec. 7-19 in Montreal.

Dec 6, 2022

Patients may be at higher risk of overdose when opioid therapy for pain is discontinued

Discontinuing opioids prescribed for chronic pain was associated with increased risk of overdose, according to a new study from the BC Centre on Substance Use and University of British Columbia-Okanagan published today in PLOS Medicine

Dec 1, 2022

UBC experts available to comment on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Saturday, Dec. 3 is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. UBC experts are available to comment.

Dec 1, 2022

The stories men tell themselves after getting dumped

When a partner breaks up with them, men often try to make sense of it by telling themselves stories about how it happened.

Nov 30, 2022

New study reveals high rates of iron deficiency in women during late-stage pregnancy

Pregnant women may need to take more supplemental iron than current Health Canada guidelines recommend, after two UBC researchers found high rates of iron deficiency in a recent study.

Nov 22, 2022

Logs on the beach can provide a measure of privacy for solo parkgoers as well as groups. Photo: Paulo Ramos/UBC Faculty of Forestry

Greenspaces should support mental health among young adults

New UBC research shows greenspace planning often fails to include the needs of youth and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24.

Nov 17, 2022

Seafood farming’s growth rate has already peaked, and now it’s in decline

Dr. Rashid Sumaila and Dr. Muhammed Oyinlola discuss why we can’t rely on just farmed seafood for our fishy needs.

Nov 14, 2022

Event: COP27 live briefing

Who pays for climate breakdown? Is Biden set to clinch a climate deal? Will the voices of Indigenous leaders, youth activists and others be heard? And what are the potential impacts for B.C. and Canada?