Science, Health and Technology

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Spending time in nature promotes early childhood development

Want to ensure your child hits their expected developmental milestones? New UBC research suggests living in areas with high exposure to greenspace can help set them up for success.

Oct 21, 2021

Credit: UNclimatechange/Flickr

UBC climate experts and COP26 delegates

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) climate change conference is taking place from October 31 to November 12. UBC conference delegates as well as UBC climate, environment and sustainability experts are available to comment. 

Oct 21, 2021

Hydrogen plant schematic. UBC clean hydrogen technology deployed to Alberta in a $7 million collaboration. Image: MeridaLabs

UBC clean hydrogen technology deployed to Alberta in a $7 million collaboration

UBC-developed thermal methane cracking technology can produce up to 200 kilograms of hydrogen a day using natural gas, without using water, while reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.

Oct 21, 2021

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash

UBC experts on Great BC Shakeout and disaster preparedness

UBC experts are available to comment on Great BC Shakeout, the exercise and other aspects of earthquakes, natural disasters and emergency preparation and management.

Oct 20, 2021

Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash

Flu season is coming and it could be ugly: what you need to know

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, Canada is seeing a resurgence of many respiratory viruses—and many experts predict this year’s flu season could be severe. 

Oct 13, 2021

A southern resident killer whale feeding with J-pod members near Vancouver on Chinook salmon returning to the Fraser River. Credit: A.W. Trites/University of British Columbia

No apparent shortage of prey for southern resident killer whales in Canadian waters during summer

A popular belief that there are fewer Chinook salmon during the summer in Canadian waters for southern resident killer whales, compared to an abundance of fish for northern resident killer whales, has been debunked by a study led by scientists at the University of British Columbia.

Oct 12, 2021

Credit: Tim Bish/Unsplash

Planned home birth presents little risk where midwifery is well-integrated

In the state of Washington, a planned home birth with a licensed midwife is just as safe as a birth at a licensed birth centre.

Oct 7, 2021

SmartParent is Canada’s first parenting education program delivered by text message.

New text-message program helps ease transition to parenthood

For new parents, life with an infant is full of highs and lows: the first smile, the first fever, the first step, and the many sleepless nights.

Oct 7, 2021

Since cancerous tumours also rely on new blood vessel growth to survive and thrive, the researchers reasoned that a proven anti-cancer drug might halt the process in Alzheimer’s. Credit: Jesse Orrico/Unsplash

Cancer chemotherapy drug reverses Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice

A drug commonly used to treat cancer can restore memory and cognitive function in mice that display symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, new UBC research has found.

Oct 5, 2021

Credit: Cassiano Psomas/Unsplash

Marine heatwaves could wipe out an extra six per cent of a country’s fish catches, costing millions their jobs

Extremely hot years will wipe out hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fish available for catch in a country’s waters in this century, on top of projected decreases to fish stocks from long-term climate change, a new UBC study predicts.

Oct 1, 2021

Researchers found at-home exercise reduced depression levels significantly during COVID-19 lockdowns. Credit: Jonathan Borba/Unsplash

At-home exercise reduced depression levels significantly during COVID-19 lockdowns

At-home, app-based workouts were very effective at reducing people’s depression levels during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, finds a new UBC research trial whose findings were released today in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. 

Sep 28, 2021

Credit: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

Kids too young for a COVID-19 vaccine? How to keep them safe

With the arrival of the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Canada, and vaccines not yet approved for children under 12, what measures can parents take to protect kids who are not yet immunized?

Sep 28, 2021

Dr. Daniel Pauly

Dr. Daniel Pauly’s extraordinary life and work revealed in new book

Dr. Daniel Pauly is the world’s most-cited fisheries scientist, but life for the UBC professor has been far from easy. Now, readers can learn more in his biography, The Ocean’s Whistleblower, available this week.

Sep 24, 2021

Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Heightened food worries linked to worse mental health during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns may have worsened worries over food insecurity among many Canadians and negatively impacted their mental health, according to a nationwide survey conducted during the first wave.

Sep 23, 2021

Photo by Picsea on Unsplash

Busting myths about COVID-19 vaccines and fertility

UBC’s Dr. Deborah Money, professor in the faculty of medicine’s department of obstetrics and gynaecology, busts some of the many myths circulating about the vaccines’ impact on fertility.

Sep 23, 2021

Photo by Jason Hafso on Unsplash

UBC experts on 2021 Canadian federal election

UBC experts are available to comment on various election issues.

Sep 21, 2021

Credit: Dr. Tyler Eddy

Coral reefs are 50% less able to provide food, jobs, and climate protection than in 1950s, putting millions at risk

The capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services relied on by millions of people worldwide has declined by half since the 1950s, according to a new University of British Columbia-led study.

Sep 17, 2021

Photo by Marcelo Leal on Unsplash

Chemotherapy drug puts young children with cancer at high risk of hearing loss

A chemotherapy drug known to cause hearing loss in children is more likely to do so the earlier in life children receive it, new UBC research has found.

Sep 7, 2021

As Arctic waters heat up, the Arctic cod that survive on algae that grows under the sea ice will move northwards or become less abundant, say researchers.

Food for seals and other Arctic predators is shrinking — literally

Unchecked climate change may leave some Arctic predators surviving off of marine “junk food,” according to a new UBC study.

Sep 3, 2021

Photo: Kelly Sikkema /Unsplash

How to ease back-to-school stress for school-age kids

Heading back to school can be stressful for young people even when there’s no global pandemic to worry about, says Dr. Tyler Black, assistant clinical professor at UBC’s department of psychiatry.

Sep 2, 2021