A guide to the August 21 total solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse over the United States on August 21 has people excited. Here in the Lower Mainland, we’ll see 87 per cent of the sun obscured by the moon.
Every person counts in effort to reduce HIV infection
A recent study that reveals the most accurate estimate of the number of Metro Vancouver men who have sex with men (MSM) is providing a better understanding of the scope of HIV among this at-risk population.
Students compete in robot rescue event
Student-designed automated robots will attempt to save “secret agents” from drowning in a tank of water.
Algorithms that can sketch, recreate 3D shapes
A University of British Columbia computer scientist has created a new software that can create a design sketch of an everyday object, addressing the challenge of accurately describing shapes.
How computers can detect emotion on social media
Human emotions can be difficult to understand, even for trained professionals. But what if a computer could decipher your feelings, perhaps even better than a therapist?
Breakthrough software teaches computer characters to walk, run, even play soccer
Computer characters and eventually robots could learn complex motor skills like walking and running through trial and error, thanks to a milestone algorithm developed by a University of British Columbia researcher.
Hostage situation or harmony? Researchers rethink symbiosis
Relationships where two organisms depend on each other, known as symbiosis, evoke images of partnership and cooperation.
Climate change jaw dropper: Great white shark could one day prowl B.C. waters
Great white sharks could one day be swimming in British Columbia waters, according to William Cheung, associate professor at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at UBC.
The psychological impact of wildfires
Nearly 40,000 British Columbians have been displaced due to wildfires in B.C. In this Q&A, a UBC professor discusses the psychological impact of wildfires.
Programs that teach emotional intelligence in schools have lasting impact
Social and emotional learning programs for youth not only immediately improve mental health but also continue to benefit children years later, according to new research.
Build bikeways and they will come
Cycling is a fun and healthy way to get to work, combining exercise and the great outdoors with a necessary trip. So what should cities keep in mind when it comes to getting people on their bikes?
Teens consuming less alcohol, but LGB youth rates declining more slowly
British Columbian teens of all sexual orientations are drinking less alcohol compared to youth in the late 1990s, according to a new UBC study that’s one of the first to compare trends in alcohol use among straight and sexual minority youth.
Serious pain afflicts a third of nursing home residents in last six months of life
Many nursing home residents have a fairly pain-free experience until the end of life, but at least a third suffer persistent, significant pain during their last six months.
Ten million tonnes of fish wasted every year despite declining fish stocks
Industrial fishing fleets dump nearly 10 million tonnes of good fish back into the ocean every year, according to new research.
How to stay sane when your child can’t sleep
Your child’s sleep problems may be making you depressed and unsure of your parenting skills, says a new paper by UBC sleep expert and nursing professor Wendy Hall.
Health experts on B.C. heat wave
UBC experts are available to discuss the health implications of the heat wave that is expected to hit parts of southwestern B.C. over the weekend. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement.
When the rubber hits the road: Recycled tires create stronger concrete
UBC engineers have developed a more resilient type of concrete using recycled tires that could be used for concrete structures like buildings, roads, dams and bridges while reducing landfill waste.
Subsidies promote overfishing and hurt small-scale fishers worldwide
Large-scale fisheries receive about four times more subsidies than their small-scale counterparts, with up to 60 per cent of those subsidies promoting overfishing.
How the popularity of sea cucumbers is threatening coastal communities
Coastal communities are struggling with the complex social and ecological impacts of a growing global hunger for a seafood delicacy, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.
European addictions specialists gather in Vancouver to discuss heroin-assisted treatment
Briefing and Q&A with addictions specialists from five European countries that offer heroin-assisted treatment for chronic opioid users.