Science

(Black Press Media Creative)

Blueprint for future crewed Mars Mission released

NASA’s upcoming Artemis Moon program can be seen as a practice run…

 

Members of Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force help load boxes of water into an airplane at an airbase in Komaki, central Japan, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, as they were preparing to take off for Australia on their way to Tonga to transport the emergency relief goods, following Saturday’s volcanic eruption near the Pacific nation. Japan’s Defense Ministry said it would send emergency relief, including drinking water and equipment for cleaning away volcanic ash. (Kyodo News via AP)

Tonga volcano blast was unusual, could even warm the Earth

January eruption shot millions of tons of water vapor high up into the atmosphere

 

A female sperm whale is seen breaching the water off the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, in a May 9, 2014, handout photo. As highly social animals, sperm whales live in small family groups called clans. These marine giants share similar codas or “dialects” belonging to the same cultural groups, also known as vocal clans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mauricio Cantor

Sperm whales’ clicking dialects are evidence of ‘non-human culture’, say scientists

‘Codas’ used by whale groups to mark cultural identity, in a similar way to human ethnic dialects

 

Jorge E. Macias-Samano, a research scientist at Simon Fraser University, holds a varroa mite trap that was removed from a bee hive at an experimental apiary, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. A team at SFU is testing a chemical compound that appears to kill varroa mites without harming the bees, in hopes it could one day be widely available as a treatment for infested hives. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. scientists hopeful in fight against mites that puncture and kill honeybees

Varroa mites kill bees by puncturing their exoskeleton, creating a wound that doesn’t close

Jorge E. Macias-Samano, a research scientist at Simon Fraser University, holds a varroa mite trap that was removed from a bee hive at an experimental apiary, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. A team at SFU is testing a chemical compound that appears to kill varroa mites without harming the bees, in hopes it could one day be widely available as a treatment for infested hives. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
This photo provided by NASA shows a rock collected by the Perseverance rover on Mars. NASA is launching two more mini helicopters to Mars in its effort to recover Martian rocks and soil samples and bring them to Earth. (NASA via AP)

‘No smoking gun’: Calgary scientists studying Mars soil for signs it supported life

Researchers exploring rock record to understand if there was a time Mars was habitable

This photo provided by NASA shows a rock collected by the Perseverance rover on Mars. NASA is launching two more mini helicopters to Mars in its effort to recover Martian rocks and soil samples and bring them to Earth. (NASA via AP)
Raye is an 18-foot fully-autonomous sailboat designed and constructed entirely by UBC students. It’s set to attempt a solo voyage from B.C. to Hawaii in either September 2022 or the following year. (Courtesy of UBC Sailbot)

B.C. to Hawaii: UBC students launching fully-autonomous sailboat on epic maiden voyage

‘Raye’ will attempt to cross the Pacific without human assistance or feedback

Raye is an 18-foot fully-autonomous sailboat designed and constructed entirely by UBC students. It’s set to attempt a solo voyage from B.C. to Hawaii in either September 2022 or the following year. (Courtesy of UBC Sailbot)
The first Artemis mission will travel 64,000 kilometres past the moon in preparation for future record-breaking human-crewed space missions. (Photo: NASA).

UBC researcher’s algae and yeast boarding NASA spacecraft to test deep space conditions

Corey Nislow wants to explore how organisms can survive radiation, other factors

  • Aug 29, 2022
The first Artemis mission will travel 64,000 kilometres past the moon in preparation for future record-breaking human-crewed space missions. (Photo: NASA).
New germ disinfection pods allow Fraser Health hospitals to disinfect equipment with UV light. (Fraser Health photo)

Robots using UV light to kill viruses and bacteria in Fraser Valley hospitals

Robots can disinfect rooms in as fast as 20 minutes and have done nearly 62,000 rooms in 21 months

  • Aug 29, 2022
New germ disinfection pods allow Fraser Health hospitals to disinfect equipment with UV light. (Fraser Health photo)
Simon Monteith, a.ka. Simon The Scientist, prepares the “Elephant Toothpaste” experiment in his dining room in Winnipeg, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2022. In this exciting experiment Monteith combines hydrogen peroxide and yeast and observes the results. Monteith is an award-winning social media personality who uses science to reach children his age and also children from the indigenous community. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

‘Sort of who I am’: Cree youth hopes to inspire others with science videos

Simon Monteith has produced roughly 60 educational videos so far

Simon Monteith, a.ka. Simon The Scientist, prepares the “Elephant Toothpaste” experiment in his dining room in Winnipeg, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2022. In this exciting experiment Monteith combines hydrogen peroxide and yeast and observes the results. Monteith is an award-winning social media personality who uses science to reach children his age and also children from the indigenous community. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Artemis 1 rocket stands ready for launch on Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The last time humans went to the moon, it was a destination. But when NASA’s Artemis 1 mission launches Monday, the moon will be more of a way station. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Raoux

Artemis space mission to moon ‘a stepping-stone’ to Mars and beyond

First of 3 Artemis missions set to launch Monday (Aug. 29)

The Artemis 1 rocket stands ready for launch on Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The last time humans went to the moon, it was a destination. But when NASA’s Artemis 1 mission launches Monday, the moon will be more of a way station. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Raoux
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a news conference in Montreal on Monday, August 22, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Canada, Germany sign deal to start hydrogen shipments by 2025

Pact sends message to Russia that its era as a global energy superpower is at risk

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a news conference in Montreal on Monday, August 22, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
(Black Press Media Creative)

Massive Asteroid set close approach to Earth since 1914.

On August 20, a humongous asteroid larger than Giza’s Great Pyramid passed…

(Black Press Media Creative)
The Canada Foundation for Innovation funding for UVic-based Ocean Networks Canada aims to increase equitable and inclusive participation in ocean observing, while also supporting the development of sophisticated data interpretation tools, products and services. (Courtesy Ocean Exploration Trust)

UVic national ocean observatory initiative to receive major funding boost

Ever-expanding Ocean Networks Canada awarded nearly $115 million over 6 years

The Canada Foundation for Innovation funding for UVic-based Ocean Networks Canada aims to increase equitable and inclusive participation in ocean observing, while also supporting the development of sophisticated data interpretation tools, products and services. (Courtesy Ocean Exploration Trust)
(Photo submitted via The Canadian Press)

Scientists to take ‘CAT scan’ of B.C. volcano to locate best geothermal energy spots

Heat could be harnessed as energy

(Photo submitted via The Canadian Press)
FILE - Climate activists Elizabeth Wathuti of Kenia, Vanessa Nakate of Uganda and Helena Gualinga of Ecuador attend the climate protest alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, May 26, 2022. A group of top climate scientists say the world needs to think about the ultimate climate catastrophe, human extinction, and how possible it is. They are calling on the world’s main climate science body to look at the ultimate climate catastrophes, no matter how remotely unlikely they are. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Chances of climate catastrophe are ignored, scientists say

“I do not believe civilization as we know it will make it out of this century”: B.C. scientist

FILE - Climate activists Elizabeth Wathuti of Kenia, Vanessa Nakate of Uganda and Helena Gualinga of Ecuador attend the climate protest alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, May 26, 2022. A group of top climate scientists say the world needs to think about the ultimate climate catastrophe, human extinction, and how possible it is. They are calling on the world’s main climate science body to look at the ultimate climate catastrophes, no matter how remotely unlikely they are. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
Reid Graham (left to right) of the Manitoba Historic Resources Management Branch, Todd Kristensen of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta and Robin Woywitka of MacEwan University excavate an archeological dig in the Fort McMurray, Alta., area in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Brittany Romano **MANDATORY CREDIT**

‘Very early’: Scientists date when humans first came to Alberta’s oilsands region

First signs of people around Fort McMurray appear to be 11,000 to 13,000 years ago

Reid Graham (left to right) of the Manitoba Historic Resources Management Branch, Todd Kristensen of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta and Robin Woywitka of MacEwan University excavate an archeological dig in the Fort McMurray, Alta., area in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Brittany Romano **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Sudip Shekhar says the test he is developing could detect multiple health problems, and could be used at drive-through testing centers, drug stores and even for at-home personal testing. (Photo: Crystal Schick/Yukon News).

B.C. researcher works to create small biosensor to make more accessible health tests

UBC professor is first Canadian to receive polymath award with $3 million research grant

Sudip Shekhar says the test he is developing could detect multiple health problems, and could be used at drive-through testing centers, drug stores and even for at-home personal testing. (Photo: Crystal Schick/Yukon News).
This image released by NASA on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, shows the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region. The conference on Aug 15-19 could have a huge impact on our understanding of space and time. (NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI via AP) (NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI via AP)

World’s top physicists to be in B.C. this summer to bring down science’s greatest mystery

The Quantum Gravity Institute could be the start of time travel, quantum devices or clean energy

This image released by NASA on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, shows the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region. The conference on Aug 15-19 could have a huge impact on our understanding of space and time. (NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI via AP) (NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI via AP)
The Morkin property in Southern Alberta. (Brent Calver/Nature Conservancy of Canada)

Fill your pack with snacks, scientists need to know how neat B.C. nature is

The BioBlitz, through the iNaturalist app, runs from July 28-Aug. 1

The Morkin property in Southern Alberta. (Brent Calver/Nature Conservancy of Canada)
Victoria Hand Project CEO Michael Peirone and mechanical systems designer Kim Arklie hold 3D-printed prosthetic arms similar to those distributed worldwide by the UVic-based non-profit. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Victoria Hand Project trying to share prosthetic technology with Ukraine

Team of UVic-based engineers call for support to send 3D printers to war-torn country

Victoria Hand Project CEO Michael Peirone and mechanical systems designer Kim Arklie hold 3D-printed prosthetic arms similar to those distributed worldwide by the UVic-based non-profit. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)